A report by "Namaa" and the United Nations: 25,000 female entrepreneurs own 50,000 commercial licenses worth 60 billion dirhams
77.6% of company owners in the UAE are women under the age of 40
Small business initiatives have opened the way for thousands of female entrepreneurs to start their own businesses.
From the source
48.8% of female entrepreneurs in the country are CEOs.
From the source
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The results of a recent survey, which included a sample of 1,000 female entrepreneurs in the UAE, showed that the percentage of female business owners under the age of 40 in the country currently stands at 77.6%, indicating that 48.8% of them are CEOs, while 61.4% of them run companies as sole owners without partners. .
The results of the survey came as part of the report “Women-Owned Companies in the United Arab Emirates: A Golden Opportunity”, which was issued in cooperation between “Nama for the Advancement of Women” and the United Nations Women’s Agency. and diversifying sources of national income, while the report concluded with recommendations that respond to the aspirations of female entrepreneurs to improve access to financing sources and local and global markets.
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The report indicated a clear increase in the number of Emirati female entrepreneurs, as 25,000 Emirati female entrepreneurs owned 50,000 commercial licenses worth 60 billion dirhams in 2021, compared to 23,000 women running companies worth 50 billion dirhams in 2019, and 11,000 Emirati businesswomen running Companies worth 12 billion dirhams in 2010.
And he indicated that 13% of the women are co-owners with more than 51% of the shares, while 25% are business leaders with less than 51% of the shares, pointing out that most of the women’s businesses are mainly micro-enterprises with a percentage of 72%, and 24% are small projects, And only 3% are medium projects.
challenges
According to the report, the challenges facing female entrepreneurs centered on three main axes: marketing, financing and competition, as 41.2% of the survey participants expressed that the main challenge they face is the need to access markets, while 38.8% stated that easy access to finance, capital and loans Banking is a major challenge, while 33.5% consider the high competition in the markets to be their main challenge.
sustainable system
The “Nama” and UN Women report praised the entrepreneurial system in the UAE, which is characterized by strength, flexibility and sustainability, noting the great progress it has made to strengthen the regulatory framework that takes into account gender equality, through a series of legal, political and institutional measures, to prevent various forms of discrimination at all levels. The basis of gender in employment, economic participation, and access to credit or loans, as the UAE ranked first in the world in entrepreneurship, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report for the year 2021-2022.
The report also noted the efforts of the Emirate of Sharjah in building a sustainable economy by promoting youth entrepreneurship, emerging technology-based industries, enhancing competitiveness, and improving business opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises, and thus it shows a steady increase in new registered companies.
comprehensive vision
The report included a comprehensive vision of the reality of small and medium enterprises and women-owned companies, their access to finance, and suggestions and recommendations on ways to develop their business, pointing to the great progress made by the UAE in various regulatory frameworks to take into account gender equality and combat all forms of discrimination against women in economic participation. and employment, with the assistance of a set of laws, legislation and institutional measures in the public and private sectors.
A major driver of legislation
The report pointed out that businesswomen's councils in the UAE were the main driver of national legislation on companies and businesses that encourage increased women's participation in entrepreneurship through micro-enterprises, stressing that Emirati girls are constantly encouraged to continue to thrive in business leadership and start their journey in entrepreneurship. minimum requirements.
The report stressed the importance of the main initiatives supporting women in terms of small and medium enterprises and domestic activities, as it opened the doors for thousands of female entrepreneurs to start their businesses, citing the launch of "Namaa for the Advancement of Women" in Sharjah, the "Badri" Academy for Knowledge and Capacity Building, and the "Irthi" Council. for contemporary crafts.
Statistical guide
Commenting on the results of the report and the survey, Reem Bin Karam, Director of “Nama for the Advancement of Women,” said: “We strongly support the results of the report, which will be a pioneering statistical evidence in enhancing the role of women as a major component of the comprehensive development that the UAE is witnessing, by seeking to adopt recommendations resulting from the report, which confirms the importance of continuing to develop policies and legislation supporting women in the business sectors, and providing a comprehensive and reliable database on the path of equal opportunities for both sexes.
She added, "We are working to form an integrated system that takes care of women's capabilities and paves the way for them to reach pioneering results through which they contribute to supporting the national economy."
digital transformation
For her part, Director of the UN Women Liaison Office for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Dr. Moza Al-Shehhi, said that “despite the challenges facing women entrepreneurs, it is encouraging to see their speed in adapting and using digital transformation to streamline their operations and support the growth of their companies.” ».
She stated that "many women entrepreneurs used innovative methods to direct their businesses, and take advantage of a share of market opportunities in new sectors during 2022, but the biggest obstacles are obtaining financing, accessing markets, and sustaining business growth."
Confidence in growth plans
All respondents in the survey showed confidence in their business growth plans, emphasizing the importance of continuing policies to facilitate access to financing sources.
All participants also agreed on the added value of joining a women's association or network that would provide comprehensive support for entrepreneurship, starting with networking, training and mentoring, to advisory services and institutional guarantors of credit plans.
The participants pointed out the importance of communicating with mentors, trainers, companies that incubate ideas, creative projects, and initial capital investors.
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