Female founders fuel growth across UAE, MENA

In recognition of International Entrepreneurship Day, Maryam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), highlights the growing potential of female SMEs and how they are becoming an integral part of the future of business in the UAE and region:

The UAE and broader MENA region are experiencing an economic shift as we move towards our goals of diversification and future-readiness; all influenced by factors such as globalism, climate pressures, and fast-paced technological leaps. Helping to drive this transformation is an ambitious and quickly rising demographic within the business market, and a powerful force ready to make their mark: Women Entrepreneurs. These founders are actively architecting the region’s future, one new venture at a time, masterfully blending ambition with purpose; and resilience with innovation.

This surge in female-led enterprise represents a fundamental structural change, and the UAE exemplifies this momentum, where recent studies reveal a notable 84% of women considering entrepreneurship. With 47% of the female population identifying as entrepreneurs, women now also constitute close to 50% of the UAE’s thriving SME sector, fundamentally altering the business landscape. Their confidence is also striking, and an overwhelming 98% of women business owners expect revenue growth over the next five years.

These entrepreneurs are making significant inroads across diverse sectors, and while consumer-driven industries like food and beverage (26%), online retail (22%), and cosmetics (19%) remain prominent, women are increasingly staking claims in the high-growth fields essential to the region’s economic future. Founders are launching impactful ventures in fintech, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and technology, demonstrating incredible versatility and strategic vision.

Yet, ambition requires adequate support, and by bridging the gap between vision and reality demands more than capital; it requires strong community, mentorship, and a conducive regulatory environment. Support platforms, including our efforts at the Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), play a fundamental role in fostering ecosystems that offer vital mentorship, skill development, and peer networks, accelerating market access and scaling.

The impact of these women resonates far beyond their personal aspirations and as they launch and scale SMEs, they become powerful tools for job creation and broader economic participation.

Today, women founders across the UAE and MENA are driving economic renewal and shaping its identity. Realising this potential demands sustained commitment through targeted funding and robust support networks to bridge the gap between ambition and access. SBWC is here to do exactly this, and as the region navigates a future defined by technology and sustainability, women stand firmly at the forefront, evolving from visionary starters into the leaders of tomorrow’s economy.

Sharjah: In recognition of International Entrepreneurship Day, Maryam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), highlights the growing potential of female SMEs and how they are becoming an integral part of the future of business in the UAE and region:

The UAE and broader MENA region are experiencing an economic shift as we move towards our goals of diversification and future-readiness; all influenced by factors such as globalism, climate pressures, and fast-paced technological leaps. Helping to drive this transformation is an ambitious and quickly rising demographic within the business market, and a powerful force ready to make their mark: Women Entrepreneurs. These founders are actively architecting the region’s future, one new venture at a time, masterfully blending ambition with purpose; and resilience with innovation.

This surge in female-led enterprise represents a fundamental structural change, and the UAE exemplifies this momentum, where recent studies reveal a notable 84% of women considering entrepreneurship. With 47% of the female population identifying as entrepreneurs, women now also constitute close to 50% of the UAE’s thriving SME sector, fundamentally altering the business landscape. Their confidence is also striking, and an overwhelming 98% of women business owners expect revenue growth over the next five years.

These entrepreneurs are making significant inroads across diverse sectors, and while consumer-driven industries like food and beverage (26%), online retail (22%), and cosmetics (19%) remain prominent, women are increasingly staking claims in the high-growth fields essential to the region’s economic future. Founders are launching impactful ventures in fintech, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and technology, demonstrating incredible versatility and strategic vision.

Yet, ambition requires adequate support, and by bridging the gap between vision and reality demands more than capital; it requires strong community, mentorship, and a conducive regulatory environment. Support platforms, including our efforts at the Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), play a fundamental role in fostering ecosystems that offer vital mentorship, skill development, and peer networks, accelerating market access and scaling.

The impact of these women resonates far beyond their personal aspirations and as they launch and scale SMEs, they become powerful tools for job creation and broader economic participation.

Today, women founders across the UAE and MENA are driving economic renewal and shaping its identity. Realising this potential demands sustained commitment through targeted funding and robust support networks to bridge the gap between ambition and access. SBWC is here to do exactly this, and as the region navigates a future defined by technology and sustainability, women stand firmly at the forefront, evolving from visionary starters into the leaders of tomorrow’s economy.