Dubai: Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, opened The Dubai Entrepreneurship Academy on Tuesday honouring the first batch of 104 graduates who completed intensive courses in Entrepreneurship Diploma and Professional Hospitality and Restaurant Management.
“The aim of establishing this academy is to elevate the standard of small and medium businesses as well as to support them to excel and succeed in the market,’ said Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development in Dubai (DED).
“We found that SME and most of the entrepreneurs lack the necessary information as well as the right knowledge on how to start up and run a business. This academy will be the best education channel for vocational training. ”
Dubai SME is running different training programmes to boost this business segment round the year. The Department has transferred the entire training programmes for entrepreneurs to be run through the Academy, focusing on genuine experiences from the local market, he added.
“This Academy will lead to a stronger support system for SME owners and future entrepreneurs and ensure that they have the necessary skills and experience to succeed. The programmes offered by this Academy will go a long way in turning entrepreneurial ideas into business plans and lead to more enterprises being launched in the UAE,” Al Janahi said.
The Academy’s programme will be focusing more on the retail sectors. Al Janahi added that they are expecting the number of enrolments to go up by 50 per cent this year.
These programmes are offered for both Emiratis and expatriates and at a minimal fee of Dh2,500.
Intisar Essa, an Emirati entrepreneur who graduate from the academy, said that the programmes provided the knowledge required to excel in her businesses.
“I have a two-year old business in fashion design and the programme has provided me with the right tools to manage my businesses properly on the financial level, human resources, marketing and customer services,” she said.
The programme educated us on how to build a solid base to your businesses and guide you to draw the right map and vision for any businesses, said Mohammad Darwish, owner of Oyoon Emaritya, photography business.
“Today, I have a base to stand on. The academy provided me with full details on how to start a business and how to run it successfully,” he said.
