Page 646 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - APRIL 2025 (Part 2)

The areas in which the UAE excelled globally included: entrepreneurial finance, ease of access to
funding, government policies supporting entrepreneurship, government policies on taxes and
bureaucracy, government entrepreneurship programmes, entrepreneurship education at school
level and post-school level, research and development transfer, commercial and professional
infrastructure, ease of market entry in terms of regulatory burdens, and social and cultural norms
related to entrepreneurship.

Alia bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, said the achievement reflects
the results of the UAE’s forward-looking vision, supported by the guidance of its wise leadership, to
build an integrated entrepreneurship and SME ecosystem.

She added that the UAE’s continued recognition as the top environment for entrepreneurship and
the leading destination for startups globally for the fourth year in a row represents the country's
regional and international progress.

She noted that this accomplishment demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to providing an
attractive and impactful entrepreneurship climate aligned with global best practices, enabling
startups to grow in advanced and digital economic sectors, and offering financing initiatives and
solutions that support the country’s positioning as a global hub for the new economy by the next
decade, in line with the objectives of the "We the UAE 2031" vision.

The report highlighted that the UAE’s entrepreneurial environment continues to flourish and
advance globally, supported by business-friendly policies, distinguished government initiatives and
a competitive investment climate. One of the key contributing factors to this success was the UAE’s
investment of US$8.7 billion to boost innovation and the growth of small and medium-sized
enterprises as part of the Projects of the 50 initiative. The report also cited the allowance of 100
percent foreign ownership of companies and the consistent increase in foreign direct investment,
which reached record levels in 2023.

It further pointed out that the entrepreneurial culture in the UAE is marked by high awareness and
ambition among the population. Approximately 67 percent of adults know an entrepreneur or
believe they have the necessary skills to start a business. Meanwhile, 70 percent of Emiratis see
strong opportunities to launch a business locally, 78 percent of new entrepreneurs prioritise social
and environmental impact over profit, and 75 percent of early-stage entrepreneurs plan to expand
their teams and employ at least six people in the next five years. Furthermore, 80 percent intend to
integrate digital technology into their business operations, 78 percent are motivated to generate
high income or wealth, and 55 percent of entrepreneurs serve customers outside the UAE,
strengthening the country’s position as a global centre for business and investment.

The UAE was also ranked first globally in the same report under the GEM's National
Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI), which assesses each country's supportive environment for
entrepreneurship based on scores derived from national experts’ evaluations. This supports the
UAE’s vision to reach one million SMEs by 2031.

https://www.wam.ae/en/article/biz53mu-uae-ranks-1st-globally-global-entrepreneurship