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Growth Of UAE Entrepreneurial Activity Among Highest In Arab World Reveals British Council Seminar
Published Mar 23, 2010
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The UAE is leading the way in entrepreneurship development in the Arab world by creating a culture of innovation and initiative among UAE nationals who are motivated to be entrepreneurs. This has resulted in a remarkable increase in job creation as revealed at a recent seminar hosted by the British Council in association with Edexcel at Yas Rotana Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
Mark Andrews, MENA Regional Director, Edexcel, a leading provider of internationally recognized academic and professional qualifications, said: “A massive number of UAE nationals are graduating every year which requires serious measures to accommodate the rising number of graduates. The country, through a vision of creating a knowledge-based society and promoting business excellence, has encouraged entrepreneurship amongst UAE nationals.”
Melanie Relton, Middle East Regional Vocational Education Manager, British Council added: “UAE is part of a region where 60% of the population is under 25, according to the International Labour Organisation. This makes it imperative and challenging to generate enough jobs for all the young people entering the labor force every year. The country has created an ideal business ambience that encourages entrepreneurship amongst nationals and expatriates alike through flexible legislations, tax free environment, government support and ample opportunities across the IT, tourism, trade, healthcare, management consultancy and banking sectors.”
Andrews added: “Generating more jobs for the region’s work force is crucial to reduce the rapidly increasing unemployment rates in the Middle East. As part of our Effective Behaviours for Work programme which we are currently piloting in the UAE, we are creating activities to support the development of entrepreneurial skills in young people which is crucial to employability.”
“Despite the rising unemployment rate, the Middle East faces a critical shortage of experienced and highly skilled employees, with major local and international companies experiencing difficulties in filling executive and middle management positions,” Andrews pointed out.
“There is a concern that many skilled young Arabs are seeking opportunities outside their countries, creating a critical shortage of experienced and skilled employees. Supporting the orientation of all young people leaving education is essential to ensure that there is a larger pool of talent young people that will drive forward the countries ecomony,”said Relton.
The seminar is part of the British Council’s Enterprise Challenge, a free national competition for colleges and training organisations involved in vocational education and training. It is designed for students aged 16-25 and aims at encouraging the development of their enterprise, communication and planning skills.
Andrews added: “Through their ideas for finding solutions to challenges, UAE students are encouraged to be creative and develop their skills of team work, problem solving, communications, financial literacy and leadership.”
90 students, in teams of 6, from vocational institutions across the UAE have taken part in the initiative. The winning team will be the UAE enterprise ambassador to represent the country in international enterprise events as part of the British Council’s Global Enterprise Challenge.
Andrews concluded: “The seminar aimed at developing the employability skills of the UAE graduates by helping them excel in the corporate world.”
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