UAE named greatest nation for entrepreneurs in 2025 

The UAE has been named the perfect place on this planet for entrepreneurs as international possession guidelines, authorities assist and finance choices make it simpler than ever to launch a enterprise within the nation.

The UAE has ranked first globally for the fourth consecutive yr within the World Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report 2024/2025.

The report additionally ranked the UAE as the perfect place for entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises amongst 56 economies assessed this yr.

UAE tops entrepreneur rating

The UAE secured the highest place amongst high-income nations in 11 out of 13 key indicators based mostly on professional assessments of institutional frameworks supporting the entrepreneurial atmosphere.

The areas by which the UAE excelled globally included:

• Entrepreneurial finance
• Ease of entry to funding
• Authorities insurance policies supporting entrepreneurship
• Authorities insurance policies on taxes and forms
• Authorities entrepreneurship programmes
• Entrepreneurship schooling in school degree and post-school degree
• Analysis and growth switch
• Industrial {and professional} infrastructure
• Ease of market entry by way of regulatory burdens
• Social and cultural norms associated to entrepreneurship

Alia bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, stated the achievement displays the outcomes of the UAE’s forward-looking imaginative and prescient, supported by the steerage of its sensible management, to construct an built-in entrepreneurship and SME ecosystem.

She added that the UAE’s continued recognition as the highest atmosphere for entrepreneurship and the main vacation spot for startups globally for the fourth yr in a row represents the nation’s regional and worldwide progress.

She famous that this accomplishment demonstrates the UAE’s dedication to offering a beautiful and impactful entrepreneurship local weather aligned with world greatest practices, enabling startups to develop in superior and digital financial sectors, and providing financing initiatives and options that assist the nation’s positioning as a worldwide hub for the brand new economic system by the following decade, in keeping with the targets of the “We the UAE 2031” imaginative and prescient.

The report highlighted that the UAE’s entrepreneurial atmosphere continues to flourish and advance globally, supported by business-friendly insurance policies, distinguished authorities initiatives and a aggressive funding local weather.

One of many key contributing components to this success was the UAE’s funding of $8.7bn to spice up innovation and the expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises as a part of the Initiatives of the 50 initiative.

The report additionally cited the allowance of 100 per cent international possession of firms and the constant improve in international direct funding, which reached file ranges in 2023.

It additional identified that the entrepreneurial tradition within the UAE is marked by excessive consciousness and ambition among the many inhabitants.

Roughly 67 per cent of adults know an entrepreneur or imagine they’ve the required expertise to start out a enterprise.

In the meantime, 70 per cent of Emiratis see robust alternatives to launch a enterprise domestically, 78 per cent of recent entrepreneurs prioritise social and environmental affect over revenue, and 75 per cent of early-stage entrepreneurs plan to develop their groups and make use of at the least six individuals within the subsequent 5 years.

Moreover, 80 per cent intend to combine digital know-how into their enterprise operations, 78 per cent are motivated to generate excessive revenue or wealth, and 55 per cent of entrepreneurs serve prospects outdoors the United Arab Emirates, strengthening the nation’s place as a worldwide centre for enterprise and funding.

The UAE was additionally ranked first globally in the identical report below the GEM’s Nationwide Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI), which assesses every nation’s supportive atmosphere for entrepreneurship based mostly on scores derived from nationwide specialists’ evaluations.

This helps the United Arab Emirates imaginative and prescient to achieve a million SMEs by 2031.