The UAE Encourages Female Entrepreneurs

Founded in 2016 by a group of serial entrepreneurs in Dubai, the Mind Cloud program offers tailor-made education programs, business advisory, and mentorship for tech start-ups. The National spoke to several female participants from the UAE to discuss the challenges they face to start their own company in the region.

All the respondents agreed that finding the balance between work and family has been the major obstacle. Mahnaz Liaghat, an interior designer from Bahrain, added that she was satisfied she finally doing something she is passionate about. According to her, it is the male prejudice and gender stereotyping she has to handle on a daily basis. Thanks to the program, she now knows how to find solutions to all her issues and where to ask for help if needed.

Sagarika Khalkho is another participant in the program. Born and raised in India, she moved to Dubai in 2003. After gaining significant experience in commerce, she decided to run her own business in the field. Now she establishes connections between foreign and local trading companies. She affirmed the Mind Cloud program taught her many valuable business lessons. After joining the initiative, Mrs. Khalkho turned upside down the way she was executing her business. She was also thankful for the network she managed to create. The female entrepreneur is now looking forward to Expo 2020.

Najia Maqsood, a Pakistani native, came to Dubai 10 years ago. After working in the banking sector for five years, she now wants to establish a humanitarian association to help educate refugee children. She has been struggling to find financial support for her project but admits that being part of an entrepreneurial project like this one helps a lot. According to Mrs. Maqsood, the women nowadays need to take up more intellectually demanding roles. She also added that women should not fear to act not that soft and feminine when it comes to demanding equal pay. Mrs. Maqsood concluded that the key to female success is getting out of their comfort zones.

The UAE has been working hard to encourage female entrepreneurship. In 2015, it established the Gender Balance Council. It aims to make the country one of the leading nations worldwide regarding gender equality by 2021. Currently, the UAE ranks 85 out of 122 countries in the Gender Progress Index. However, it has the highest ranking out of all GCC countries.

According to Genny Ghanimeh, the Mind Cloud Academy founder, the women mainly lack self-esteem, vital business and negotiations skills. They also need access to networks and mentors to help them grow. Mrs. Ghanimeh added they were four types of people who are interested in the program: enthusiastic entrepreneurs who wish to start their own company; small business owners, struggling to find the right connections; fresh college graduates actively looking for opportunities, and corporate employees who want to learn more about entrepreneurship. Mind Cloud Academy has a lot to offer for each of them, said Mrs. Ghanimeh.

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