Government

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism convened a virtual roundtable discussion titled “Fostering Startup Growth and Empowering the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem”, bringing together key public and private sector stakeholders to explore growth opportunities for startups, with a strong focus on women entrepreneurs.

The session was attended by H.E. Badreya Al Maidoor, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector, alongside representatives from leading organisations including Emirates Development Bank, Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center, e&, DHL, Maxbyte, and Accelerate MEA.

During the roundtable, H.E. Al Maidoor emphasised that the SME and entrepreneurship sector is a key driver of the UAE’s knowledge-based economy, supporting innovation, diversification, and long-term competitiveness. She highlighted the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to build an advanced legislative and regulatory framework that enables entrepreneurs—particularly women—to overcome challenges and scale their businesses.

The Ministry also outlined a range of initiatives and programmes designed to support women entrepreneurs, including skills development, access to financing, advisory services, and market expansion opportunities. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of the national economy.

Key contributors shared insights on their respective support mechanisms. Emirates Development Bank showcased its financing solutions and capital access tools, while Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center highlighted programmes fostering innovation-driven startup growth.

Meanwhile, Emirates NBD detailed initiatives supporting women-led businesses, including fee waivers, discounted trade services, and enhanced banking solutions. e& presented digital infrastructure and technology solutions aimed at accelerating startup development, while DHL emphasised its logistics capabilities and training programmes to support international expansion.

Additional contributions from Maxbyte and Accelerate MEA focused on data-driven growth strategies, scalability frameworks, and navigating dynamic market conditions, equipping startups with tools to transition from early-stage development to sustainable expansion.

The roundtable reflects the UAE’s continued commitment to fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and innovation-led entrepreneurship ecosystem, with women entrepreneurs playing an increasingly central role in shaping the country’s economic future.

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