“Economy and Tourism” and “Community Empowerment” launch an initiative to train 1,000 entrepreneurs from Emirati families.

Within the framework of the campaign “The UAE is the Entrepreneurial Capital of the World”, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him”, the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the Ministry of Community Empowerment announced the launch of an initiative to train and qualify 1,000 entrepreneurs from Emirati families in the country in the field of entrepreneurship and establishing and operating projects. The initiative includes a development program implemented in cooperation with the New Economy Academy and in partnership. Strategy with the National Fund for Social Responsibility “Majara”.

This came during a meeting held in Dubai today, in the presence of His Excellency Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. Her Excellency Aisha Ahmed Yousef, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Community Empowerment; Sarah Shaw, Executive Director of Mejra – The National Fund for Social Responsibility, and Dr. Leila Faridoun, CEO of the New Economics Academy.

In this regard, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said: “The UAE, thanks to the directives of its wise leadership, pays special attention to developing the projects of entrepreneurs and owners of productive and creative projects, as they are a fundamental pillar for enhancing the growth and competitiveness of the national economy. The “Entrepreneurs from Emirati Families” initiative is part of the national efforts supporting the achievement of the goals of the “The UAE is the Entrepreneurial Capital of the World” campaign, as it It represents an embodiment of joint work aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the environment for entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises in the country, and motivating national talents to transform their ideas into sustainable productive projects that contribute to supporting economic development, thus consolidating the UAE’s position as an attractive destination for entrepreneurship and productive projects at the regional and global levels.”

In detail, the initiative aims to qualify 1,000 entrepreneurs from Emirati families in the country and raise their capabilities and practical skills in the fields of entrepreneurship and local production, by providing training and professional qualification and enabling them to develop their products in accordance with quality and competitive standards in the market. The training program also seeks to motivate entrepreneurs from Emirati families to establish new economic activities that contribute to enhancing the sustainability of their income and achieving self-sufficiency, as about 200 families will be trained annually for five consecutive years, and technical support and commercial and marketing guidance will be provided to them, to ensure the continuity and growth of their projects in the long term.

For his part, Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, said: “The Ministry of Economy and Tourism is keen to contribute to the development of the sector of entrepreneurs from Emirati families in the country based on its vision of the importance of this vital sector in building a productive and creative society that contributes to supporting societal sustainability in the country. In this context, we will work in cooperation with our partners through the new initiative for entrepreneurs from Emirati families to provide them with the necessary training and enable them to enter the markets.” With competence and strong expertise, which contributes to increasing their numbers, supports the consolidation of the values of self-reliance and the promotion of sustainable local production.”

For her part, Aisha Ahmed Yousef, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Community Empowerment, said that supporting entrepreneurs from Emirati families, and encouraging them to establish and launch their own projects, is at the forefront of the ministry’s priorities to develop their capabilities and hone their skills, so that they can be owners of pioneering projects with future visions that keep pace with development and innovation, in addition to enabling them to achieve economic independence by creating diverse sources of income for them, noting that this initiative comes as a reflection of the ministry’s strategy “From Care to Empowerment”, in an effort to achieve the goals of the UAE Centennial 2071 under the slogan “Towards a more cohesive society.”

She stressed the important role of this ambitious national initiative, which comes in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the New Economy Academy and in a strategic partnership with the National Fund for Social Responsibility “Majara”, in empowering entrepreneurs from Emirati families in the field of entrepreneurship, explaining that it is in line with the directives of the wise leadership, with the aim of encouraging and exploiting national energies and talents, and developing and growing their projects, to become brands in the world. Entrepreneurship enhances productivity and its supportive role in the national economy, contributing to building cohesive families that contribute to achieving sustainable development.

She pointed out the Ministry of Community Empowerment’s keenness to expand its community partnerships and cooperation with various entities in the UAE, whether at the governmental or private level, with the aim of building an integrated and participatory environment stimulating growth and sustainability, and empowering entrepreneurs from Emirati families to enter the local market efficiently and professionally, and improving their capabilities by providing the knowledge tools and resources necessary to launch their projects and enhance their ability to expand and spread. Inside and outside the country, and involving them in the comprehensive development process that the country is witnessing.

For her part, Sarah Shaw, Executive Director of Majara – The National Fund for Social Responsibility, said: “At Majara, we are pleased to contribute to this pioneering national initiative aimed at training and qualifying 1,000 entrepreneurs from Emirati families, which embodies the vision of the wise leadership in empowering the nation’s people and enhancing their economic and social participation.
Our support for this initiative stems from Majra’s role in promoting sustainable social responsibility, activating partnerships that enable individuals and institutions to contribute to achieving sustainable development, and consolidating the UAE’s position as a global capital for entrepreneurship.”

In turn, Dr. Leila Faridoun, CEO of the New Economy Academy, said: “At the New Economy Academy, we believe that economic empowerment is based on developing competence, skill, and specialized knowledge in all sectors, and our partnership within the initiative to train 1,000 entrepreneurs from Emirati families stems from this belief aimed at instilling entrepreneurial thought in everyone.”

She added: “The program implemented by the Academy works to provide participants with knowledge economy tools and enable them to manage their productive projects in accordance with the highest standards of quality and competitiveness. The program also aims to qualify entrepreneurs from Emirati families to be able to innovate and sustain production, face market challenges and advance their products to competitive levels. Training 1,000 entrepreneurs from Emirati families is a step forward.” A strategy that contributes to achieving societal and economic sustainability.

It is noteworthy that the number of entrepreneurs from Emirati families in the UAE witnessed remarkable growth during the year 2024, reaching 3,307 entrepreneurs from Emirati families, recording an annual increase of 4.5%, which is equivalent to the joining of 141 entrepreneurs from Emirati families compared to the year 2023, in which the number reached 3,166 families, which reflects the effectiveness of national initiatives and programs directed to support this vital sector and enhance Its contribution to the local economy.