Page 200 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2025 Part 1

3/4/25, 3:25 PM Home | Emirates News Agency
The initiative’s discussion sessions, held on 26th and 27th February, were attended by Alia bint Abdullah Al

Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, and Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for
Government Development and the Future, alongside a diverse group of entrepreneurs, startups, investment

funds, business incubators and accelerators, and global technology and innovation companies.

These discussions were part of Investopia 2025, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour
bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court

The initiative featured 15 sessions with 48 speakers, including ministers, senior officials, and industry experts.
Discussions focused on artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, tech-driven entrepreneurship, the future

of SMEs, innovative investment strategies, and the role of technology in financial models. Other topics

included mechanisms to support SMEs in expanding within the new economy and the significant role of
female entrepreneurs in driving positive impacts on society and the national economy.

The opening session featured Alia Al Mazrouei and Sarah Shaw, Executive Director of the National CSR Fund

(Majra), who highlighted the initiative’s role in empowering enterprises in future economy sectors. They
explored strategies for supporting entrepreneurship and ensuring sustainability while reinforcing the UAE’s

status as a global business hub.

Alia Al Mazrouei emphasised that Future100 has become a key enabler for SME growth in the UAE’s new
economy, helping them expand into regional and global markets. She noted that the UAE’s leadership has

established a competitive legislative framework that attracts entrepreneurs and startups worldwide, providing
essential initiatives for their success.

SMEs currently account for 94 percent of all businesses in the UAE, with 25,000 founded by Emirati youth in

2024 alone. The country is home to over 50 government and private business incubators and accelerators,
contributing to its recognition as the top global destination for business and economic activities in 2024,

according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). The UAE also ranked first globally in the GEM
Entrepreneurship Index for 2023-2024 for the third consecutive year, excelling in key indicators such as

financing, market accessibility, and government support.

She stressed that developing national entrepreneurship is a strategic priority for the UAE and a core pillar of
the country’s economic agenda, led by the Ministry of Economy in collaboration with government entities, the

private sector, and academic and research institutions. She outlined new initiatives designed to enhance the

country’s competitiveness and increase entrepreneurs’ success rates from 30 percent to 50 percent over the
next decade.

Key initiatives include Riyada Fund, which allocates AED300 million to support entrepreneurial ventures, and

the UAE Entrepreneurship Council, which aims to unify national efforts to accelerate SME growth and
strengthen collaboration between key stakeholders. She encouraged entrepreneurs and startups to leverage

these enablers and incentives, along with the Future100 initiative.

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