Emirates SkyCargo will open its cargo network spanning six continents to members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, under a new agreement signed with Dubai Chambers designed to push Dubai-based SMEs into international markets.

The deal gives participating small and medium-sized enterprises direct access to Emirates SkyCargo's freight capacity as well as Emirates Courier Express, the carrier's international door-to-door product. That service bundles transportation with customs clearance — a combination aimed squarely at time-sensitive shipments, where SMEs typically lack the in-house expertise to clear goods quickly in destination markets.

"Through this partnership with Dubai Chambers, we are committed to helping these businesses compete and thrive on a global stage by making international logistics and travel more accessible," said Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates.

For the airline, the arrangement widens its addressable customer base at the SME end of the market — a segment that traditionally books through forwarders rather than contracting capacity directly with carriers. By pairing network access with door-to-door courier capability and customs clearance, Emirates SkyCargo positions itself as a one-stop logistics provider for smaller shippers rather than a pure belly-capacity supplier.

Advisory and training components

Beyond capacity, the agreement has a structural supply chain dimension. Emirates SkyCargo and Dubai Chambers plan to run workshops and knowledge-sharing initiatives for SMEs and startups, and the two organisations will develop cargo advisory programmes to help participating companies tighten their supply chain operations as they expand internationally.

Khalid AlJarwan, Executive Vice President of Commercial and Corporate Services at Dubai Chambers, said the cooperation would give member companies better access to logistics services, global connectivity and specialised expertise.

The initiative aligns with Dubai Chambers' mandate to support the international growth of local businesses and deepen their integration with global supply chains — a stated goal of the partnership.

Rewards sweetener

The agreement also carries an incentive layer. New members who join Emirates Business Rewards through the partnership will receive 2,000 bonus points, adding a loyalty mechanism on top of the logistics services.

For freight forwarders serving Dubai's SME segment, the deal signals a carrier moving closer to the end shipper. SMEs that previously relied on intermediaries to arrange uplift on Emirates' network can now access the carrier's services, clearance included, through a chamber-facilitated channel. Forwarders retaining these customers will need to compete on consolidation, pricing and multi-carrier choice rather than simple access.

The workshops and advisory programmes are expected to be the first concrete deliverables of the partnership, giving participating companies structured support as they build export operations.

With the MoU in place, the trajectory now depends on uptake among Dubai Chamber of Commerce members — and on how quickly Emirates SkyCargo converts chamber membership into active shipping accounts across its six-continent network.