The UAE Entrepreneurship Council discussed developing a national entrepreneurship strategy to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of small and medium-sized businesses, according to the announcement.
The meeting, chaired by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and chairman of the council, also reviewed results from the “UAE, Capital of Entrepreneurship” campaign launched in September 2025.
The campaign delivered AED 202 million in government procurement, launched 41 government initiatives across nine areas with 10 partner entities in five emirates, and trained more than 400 UAE nationals. It also added 405 businesses to the supplier register and supported 100 student projects. The campaign’s procurement included AED 78.6 million through 55 contracts with seven government entities and AED 123.4 million at the federal level.
The council discussed phased implementation of the proposed strategy, coordination between federal and local authorities, and mechanisms for governance, monitoring and impact measurement. Recommendations developed with the OECD focus on access to finance, innovation, internationalisation and measurement, alongside improvements to the regulatory environment.
It also reviewed the Mobile Accelerators in Villages initiative, which aims to expand entrepreneurs’ access to licensing, financing, incubation and market opportunities.
The UAE’s SMEs account for 95% of businesses and 85% of private-sector jobs, according to the announcement. The country ranked first globally for the fifth consecutive year in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025/2026 report.
Source: Al Etihad
