Canva to Establish Regional Headquarters in Dubai, Strengthening Support for SMEs

Canva, the global visual communication and design platform, will establish its regional headquarters in Dubai, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion across the Middle East and Africa. The move is supported by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and aligns with the UAE’s national objectives for digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

The agreement was signed during the World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai, in the presence of Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, and Cliff Obrecht, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Canva.

Under the agreement, the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy will support the establishment of Canva’s regional headquarters, enabling the company to expand its operations in Dubai and serve businesses and creators across the wider region. The initiative supports Dubai’s strategy to build an integrated digital ecosystem and attract leading global technology companies.

Empowering SMEs Through Digital Design

As part of the collaboration, Canva will provide newly established SMEs operating in Dubai and the UAE with access to dedicated service packages through its digital design and visual communication platform. Scheduled to launch later this year, the packages will offer tools for design, productivity, and content creation, enabling businesses to produce high-quality digital content without the need for specialist design skills.

Commenting on the agreement, Al Olama emphasized Dubai’s commitment to fostering innovation-driven growth:

“Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for technology and digital innovation, supported by a flexible, business-friendly environment and advanced infrastructure. Our partnership with Canva is designed to enhance SME capabilities and support their growth within Dubai’s advanced digital ecosystem, particularly in creative sectors powered by artificial intelligence.”

Cliff Obrecht highlighted the strategic importance of Dubai for Canva’s regional ambitions:

“Dubai is home to millions of people building and creating at scale. Establishing our regional headquarters here allows us to work more closely with businesses, enterprises, and creators across the region, giving them access to Canva’s tools to bring their ideas to life. We’re excited to be part of what Dubai is building.”

Global Scale, Regional Impact

Founded in 2013, Canva operates in more than 190 countries, serving enterprises, SMEs, consumers, and students worldwide. The company is valued at approximately $42 billion, with over 260 million monthly active users and more than 40 billion designs created on its platform.

In the UAE alone, over 54 million designs were created on Canva in 2025, with nearly one in eight internet users in the country actively using the platform—underscoring Canva’s growing role in the region’s digital economy.

The Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, continues to play a central role in expanding the emirate’s digital economy in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).