Emiratis in business on the rise

Women are coming into their own by taking the leap from homemakers or employees to entrepreneurs.

A 2007 study conducted by the International Finance Corporation and Centre of Arab Women for Research and Training found that most female business-owners in the Middle East were between 35 and 54 years — 79 per cent had post-secondary education and 65 per cent of them were married.

In research conducted by the Centre for Labour Market Research and Information (CLMRI) and The National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia), Emirati women in the workforce numbered 51,580 in 2003 — more than three times the estimate in 1995.

Nasim Yazdani, an Emirati entrepreneur based in Dubai, said: "UAE puts a great deal of effort in encouraging women to pursue an education and excel in work. It provides support to entrepreneurs, and my daughter and I are proud to be part of this progress."

About 70 per cent of women surveyed by CLMRI and Tanmia were employed before starting their own businesses. More than half of the women continued to hold jobs when running small enterprises. This level of success has a lot to do with governmental support.

Since its inception, Mohammad Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders has assisted in launching about 9,000 entrepreneurs.