Women are increasingly driving the economy in the UAE, taking control of their careers and setting up their businesses. The number of women entrepreneurs doubled in a decade. Many suggest economic headwinds and inequitable workplaces drove the rise. 

As of 2021, nearly 25,000 Emirati women own 50,000 trade licenses worth $16.3 billion. The number of female entrepreneurs has more than doubled from 11,000 in 2020 and increased by more than 8% compared to 2019. 

Women-owned enterprises’ worth increased dramatically from $3.2 billion in 2020, according to the statistics mentioned in a report by NAMA Women Advancement, a Sharjah-based establishment contributing to inclusion and closing the gender gap. 

The report, titled Women-Owned Businesses in the United Arab Emirates: A Golden Opportunity, published in collaboration with UN Women’s Empowerment Section, covers the challenges and opportunities of Emirati women’s contributions to the UAE’s “comprehensive growth, strengthening the sustainability of economic sectors and diversifying sources of national income.”

The study surveyed 1,000 female company owners, 48.8% of whom are CEOs and 61.4% are single proprietors. According to NAMA, women are “making significant contributions to the GDP in emerging economic sectors.”

According to the survey, women entrepreneurs are optimistic about their expansion goals but also emphasize the significance of acquiring finance for their firms.

The poll respondents also voiced a preference for training and capacity-building in business skills, such as commerce and digital marketing abilities, financial accounting and management tools, and an understanding of drafting proposals in response to bids and tenders.