By Staff Reporter
UAE Ranks First Globally in Entrepreneurship for Fourth Consecutive Year
The United Arab Emirates has once again secured its position as the world’s leading entrepreneurial hub, topping the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report 2024/2025 for the fourth consecutive year.
The report ranked the UAE as the best place for entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) among 56 economies assessed.
The UAE dominated 11 out of 13 key indicators among high-income nations, excelling in areas such as entrepreneurial finance, ease of market entry, government policies, research and development transfer, and entrepreneurship education.
Alia bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, attributed this achievement to the UAE’s visionary leadership and its commitment to fostering an integrated ecosystem for startups and SMEs. She highlighted the country’s strategic efforts in positioning itself as a global hub for entrepreneurship, aligned with the “We the UAE 2031” vision.
The report credited the UAE’s success to business-friendly policies, robust government initiatives, and a competitive investment climate. Key factors include the investment of $8.7 billion in SME growth through the Projects of the 50 initiative, the allowance of 100% foreign ownership of companies, and record-breaking foreign direct investment levels in 2023.
The UAE’s entrepreneurial culture also stands out, with 67% of adults aware of entrepreneurship opportunities and 70% of Emiratis seeing strong prospects for starting a business locally. Additionally, 80% of new businesses plan to integrate digital technology, and 55% already serve international markets.
Further solidifying its status, the UAE ranked first globally in the GEM’s National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI), reinforcing its ambition to reach one million SMEs by 2031.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
