How Emirati Women are Making Strides in Business across the UAE

Initiated by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak in 2015, Emirati Women’s Day is observed on 28^th August every year to celebrate and encourage female trailblazers who are accomplishing wonders in various sectors and contributing to the UAE’s development. By recognizing Emirati women in business, the day’s events inspire ambition and leadership, promote gender equality, and drive female empowerment. And it has been working. In fact, as per Nama Women Advancement, 25,000 women entrepreneurs in the UAE owned around 50,000 businesses with a total value of USD 16.3 billion in 2022. A recent survey conducted on 1000 women business owners also revealed that 61.4% are sole proprietors while 48.8% are CEOs.

So, let’s take a look at those who have earned a special name for themselves when it comes to women in business growth, UAE, and the factors driving more Emirati ladies to pursue lofty dreams and achieve impressive milestones.

Top Women Entrepreneurs in UAE

While baby ecommerce shops, fine jewelry, cafes, and home salon services are popular female-owned businesses, Emirati women are making waves in many other sectors. Here are some top names:

• Hana Al Rostamani: Among UAE women in finance, Hana Al Rostamani is a famous name. Backed by over two decades of experience in finance and banking, she is First Abu Dhabi Bank’s first female CEO.
• Aisha Bin Bishr: She is Smart Dubai’s Director General and at the helm of UAE’s digital transformation and brings 20 years of experience in innovation and technology to the table.
• Alia Al-Serkal: She founded the prestigious Al-Serkal Group that has a formidable presence in construction, real estate, and logistics. Alia Al-Serkal is known for her focus on innovation and growth.
• Sara Al Madani: The Founder and CEO of E-Net Systems, Sara Al Madani offers cutting-edge tech services and solutions across the UAE and inspires women to pursue fulfilling careers in STEM.
• Manal Alaryani: As the Director at Little Helpers Nursery, Manal Alaryani is not just a businesswoman but also someone who intends to raise awareness about the needs of children with physical and mental disabilities. She aims to help them reach their full potential with the best support and opportunities.
• Jumana Al Darwish: A decade ago, Jumana Al Darwish founded The Happy Box, a brand that sells educational activity packages for children and ensures happy and productive family time. Happy Hearts Global and The Happy Studio are her brainchild too.
• Perihan Abouzeid: PeriCare’s Founder and CEO, Perihan Abouzeid’s motto is to boost postpartum recovery in women and support the wellbeing of working mothers through FemTech products.

Now, let’s understand what is driving the emergence and growth of female-led businesses in UAE.

Factors Helping Women to Succeed in Business across the UAE

Every year, Emirati Women’s Day is a reminder of how inclusive and supportive the business environment is in the UAE. The country not only leads in gender equality in the MENA region, but also devotes strategic effort to bridge the gender gap across industries. Government initiatives, free zones, company partnerships, and digital solutions (including payment solutions for women entrepreneurs) are the other drivers:

• Government-Led Initiatives: The UAE government has multiple initiatives to train and educate women as well as provide them with the necessary resources to start their own ventures and enjoy the same opportunities as men. The Dubai Business Women Council, Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development, and Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development are among the entities that offer networking, training, financing, mentorship, and innovative environments.
• Free Zones: These special zones in the UAE support those who are new to the world of business, especially women. Female entrepreneurs receive guidance on acing legal documentation, navigating a competitive landscape, acquiring essential resources, and capitalizing on opportunities.
• Partnerships with Government Agencies: Women entrepreneurs UAE can join hands with government agencies to obtain the resources and training needed for operating businesses smoothly and successfully. The partnership between the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and JP Morgan Chase Foundation is a great example of the same.
• Digital Solutions: Advanced digital tools are helping women business owners to save time, increase operational efficiencies, improve logistics, save costs, and derive data-backed insights to make informed decisions. The use of digital payment gateways UAE is especially helping businesswomen to enhance customer experience and boost the bottom line.

By partnering with an online payment gateway provider like PayTabs, women entrepreneurs can accept payments via different modes, safely, efficiently, and quickly. They can sell more, grow the customer base, and minimize transaction costs. Plus, they can expand to other countries with multi-currency support, ensure robust cybersecurity, gain consumer trust, and drive long-term loyalty.

Realize Your Dreams this Emirati Women’s Day

To reiterate what this write-up has already covered, the UAE is a promising place for ambitious women entrepreneurs to realize dreams. Aided by government support, company partnerships, free zones, inclusivity, and advanced digital solutions, women can go the extra mile in business, compete with male counterparts, and contribute to the nation’s economic growth and development like never before. So, if you are a woman entrepreneur in the UAE, make the most of training, financing, and other initiatives to grow faster. And don’t forget to partner with a reliable payment gateways provider like PayTabs to establish a seamless and efficient payment ecosystem.