Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, launched ‘Tejar Dubai’, the entrepreneur development programme, in cooperation with Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The programme is dedicated to provide a tailored individual learning experience to selected aspirant entrepreneurs and to arm them with the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure the success of their innovative ideas and creativity as well as their smooth entry into the world of business with their SME projects.
All Emiratis between age 15 and 35 years who have innovative business ideas can apply online on www.tejardubai.ae, and the selected candidates will be interviewed by the panel of experts.
The panel will be headed by Hisham Al Shirawi, 2nd Vice-Chairman, Dubai Chamber, and Chief Executive Officer of Oasis Enterprises, and includes Eng Yahya Lootah, Vice Chairman, S.S. Lootah Group, Abdulfattah Sharaf, CEO of HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, Dr Amina Al Rostamani, Group CEO of TECOM Investments, Vijay Malhotra, Chairman and CEO, KPMG, and Nilesh Ved, Chairman, Apparel Group.
The programme includes six months of extensive training for the selected candidates, depending on the individual needs, and teaches candidate to build relationships and develop a full business plan.
Shaikh Majid said that Tejar Dubai is one of the leading initiatives that will inspire the youth in the emirate to move forward towards development and progress required in various sectors. It will also lead to the empowerment of national entrepreneurs and encourage them to establish small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Entrepreneur Development Programme aims to foster the next generation of entrepreneurs by developing their skills and expertise through professional training while also cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship in the country.
Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Mohammad Bin Rashid Establishment for SME development, said: “Tejar Dubai is the first business incubator licenced by MBRE for SME and we will work hard with Dubai Chamber to provide all assistance required to promote the SME sector across the emirates as well as to support young emirates to venture into the private sector.”
Tejar Dubai’s candidate will be granted all benefits and facilities that the establishment gives to all SMEs, he added.
“We are going to provide all the legal and executive framework for this business segment.”
Moreover, Al Janahi called upon private sector to adopt similar initiative to diversify the business activities of SME sector as well as to nurture the innovative youth of Emiratis.
On his part, Hamad Buamim, Director General of Dubai Chamber remarked that this initiative aims to create a new generation of entrepreneurs.
“Tejar Dubai comes as part of the Chamber’s commitment to developing national talent and to offer them job opportunities and to open up avenues for their entrepreneurial projects in SMEs while also enhancing the reputation of Dubai in the world business arena,” he said.
Acknowledging the contribution of the SME sector to the emirate’s economic growth, Buamim said that while SMEs constitute over 90 per cent of Dubai companies and contribute 30-35 per cent to the UAE’s GDP which shows the significant role they play in employment and economic activities in the country, yet they get only financial assistance of no more than 5 per cent.
“This is why Dubai Chamber recognises the importance of this sector and the need to assist with its growth through young national talent,” Buamim said.
Successful story
Juma Al Majid, Chairman of Juma Al Majid Establishment, said that the private sector should bear responsibility and offer the young Emiratis the right opportunities as well as provide them with training.
Narrating his successful business story, he called upon the youth to be innovators and not imitators.
“Innovation and hardworking are the best ways to succeed in life and to realise the target.”
