Pathways to Growth

The UAE’s recent Emirati Women’s Day was, once again, a day to celebrate the progress of our nation’s women for so many reasons, including business and entrepreneurship.  

Emirati women today own 135,171 commercial licenses, a huge increase of 23 percent compared with the end of 2023. Additionally, Emirati women own more than 128,412 SMEs, while a further 135,171 projects are also owned by Emirati businesswomen, revealing their substantial contribution to economic development. 

Despite these achievements, it is crucial to continue promoting the role of Emirati women. According to UN Women, around 41 percent of female business leaders cite lack of access to markets as their main challenge in the UAE; 38.8 percent note access to finance, and 33.5 percent highlight high market competition.  

Having more Emirati women in senior positions and as founders would lead the charge in leveling this playing field, with numerous positive outcomes. Firstly, it can drive economic growth by tapping into a broader talent pool and fostering innovation. Women bring unique perspectives and ideas, which can lead to the development of new products and services. 

Secondly, women in leadership roles can help create more inclusive workplaces. They can advocate for policies that support work-life balance and gender equality, benefiting all employees. This can lead to higher employee satisfaction and retention rates. 

Thirdly, women entrepreneurs can play a crucial role in funding and advising other startups. By investing in and mentoring new businesses, they can help create a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. This creates a positive cycle of empowerment and progress, benefiting society as a whole. 

BUILDING A TALENT PIPELINE  

To ensure that Emirati women can continue to advance, it is essential to build a pipeline of talent. This involves creating a structure that allows women to follow a clear career path within their companies, or build their own businesses. 

Many successful Emirati women have reached their positions by going against the grain, often without a structured process to support their entrepreneurial journeys. And in the past, entrepreneurs generally, and especially female ones, were seen as mavericks. Today, entrepreneurship is a viable career path, but the necessary infrastructure and support systems are still lacking. This places the onus on individuals to break free from social constraints, a burden that should be alleviated through systemic support. 

Creating a pipeline of future role models requires practical steps to address these challenges. For instance, providing childcare support and creating networking opportunities can significantly reduce the barriers women face. Women are less likely to know an entrepreneur, which limits their access to contracts and opportunities. By fostering networks and creating processes that accelerate women's participation, we can mitigate these challenges. 

The social and opportunity costs of entering entrepreneurship and innovation are disproportionately higher for women than for men. Societal expectations often dictate that women prioritize family obligations, leading them to start businesses in tried-and-tested areas like retail or food and beverage. This is not due to a lack of ideas, but rather a lack of support systems. 

Policy interventions can play a crucial role. The UAE has already implemented a gender parity policy and mandates that all listed companies have at least one woman on their boards. Additional policies could further support women's integration into the workforce and emerging sectors, aligning with the national policy for empowerment. 

ALIGNING WITH NATIONAL POLICY 

At startAD, we are committed to fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and beyond. Over the past two years, our Emirati Women Achievers (EWA) Awards have celebrated the remarkable contributions of Emirati women across various sectors.  

This year, we announced plans to build on EWA, by launching the Impact Hub for Emirati Women Achievers, aimed at further driving the participation of Emirati women in entrepreneurship – as founders, mentors, role models, and investors. Designed to be in alignment with the National Strategy for Empowerment of Emirati Women, it offers long-term support for Emirati women in business and innovation, and it invites the community to come on board as patrons, partners, and participants.    

One of our primary objectives is to discover and highlight the great work that women are already doing, positioning them as role models for others to follow. Our research shows a significant gap in the availability of younger Emirati role models in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship. While there are older Emirati role models who are widely admired, and other remarkable women who have assumed leadership positions, the younger generation often lacks visible figures to emulate who are just a few steps ahead in their career paths. This is not due to a lack of effort or achievement; rather, the incredible work being done by Emirati women in these fields has not been adequately spotlighted. 

Our vision to spotlight these women and build a talent pipeline aligns with the broader ecosystem-level theory of change outlined in Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030, which emphasizes increasing the participation of Emirati women in the workforce. Our goal is to help double the number of Emirati women role models in innovation and entrepreneurship. By focusing on developing these role models, we believe we can have an exponential impact on inspiring newer generations of Emirati women to become ambitious and step out of their comfort zones. 

This aspiration is not merely a social responsibility, but an economic imperative. By addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities, the UAE can create a more inclusive and prosperous future. Building a route map for the success of talent, and providing support and resources for women in business, will ensure that Emirati women can continue to make significant contributions to the nation’s growth and progress. And that will be worthy of many more causes for celebrations in the future.