The UAE has once again secured the top spot in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report for 2024-2025, maintaining its position as the world’s leading destination for entrepreneurship. The country outperformed 56 other economies, fostering a thriving environment for entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The UAE excelled in 11 of 13 key indicators, including entrepreneurial financing, government policies, ease of market entry, and social attitudes towards entrepreneurship.
This success reflects the country’s comprehensive development strategy, which is marked by efficient governance, proactive planning, and adaptability to global changes and challenges. Alia Abdulla Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, emphasized the UAE’s commitment to creating an attractive and dynamic entrepreneurial climate. The UAE continues to empower startups to expand into digital and advanced economic sectors while providing tailored financing solutions and initiatives that support business growth,” she said.
UAE excels in entrepreneurship indicators
The UAE’s strategic investment of $8.7 billion to foster innovation and accelerate the growth of SMEs has been a key driver of its entrepreneurial success. The country also recorded a historic increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2023, further cementing its position as a global hub for business, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The GEM report revealed that 67 percent of adults in the UAE either know an entrepreneur or believe they have the skills to start their own business. In comparison, 70 percent of the population sees substantial opportunities for launching a business locally. Additionally, 78 percent of new entrepreneurs prioritize social and environmental impact alongside profitability, reflecting a forward-thinking business mindset. The UAE’s top ranking in the National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI) reaffirms its world-leading business environment.
This achievement aligns with the UAE’s ambitious vision of reaching one million SMEs by 2031, further strengthening its position as a global hub for innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship.
Photo by Amir Hanna on Unsplash