For the first time in the UAE, Meta, in collaboration with The Entrepreneurial Nation, announced the launch of the ‘Boost with Facebook’ program to support the initiative’s goal of attracting and supporting startups and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the country.
The Entrepreneurial Nation, a Ministry of Economy project, aims to provide assistance through a series of public-private partnerships that assist entrepreneurs in establishing and expanding their businesses in the UAE, exporting their products, and tapping into digital marketing and sales.
The UAE hopes to attract 20 Unicorns, or startups worth more than $1 billion, through the initiative by 2031.
The Skill-Up Academy, the Scale-Up program, and the Start-Up track comprise the program’s three stages or tracks.
“The partnership with META is in line with our vision to create a support mechanism for the UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Dr. Hassan Alsayegh, Director of SMEs Development at the Ministry of Economy.
META is a critical enabler of SMEs in the UAE, and we look forward to building on our strong partnership to empower the sector.
By participating in the initiative, Meta is assisting in the digitisation of the UAE’s business community and assisting the government in transforming the country into the world’s Entrepreneurial Nation.
The ‘Boost with Facebook’ initiative recently began with a virtual workshop.
The session taught SMBs how to activate their social commerce activities on Meta platforms, such as how to create a virtual Storefront with Shops, how to reach the right audience with Personalised Ads, and creative tips to boost Instagram profiles, among other things.
Those who attended the workshop had the opportunity to learn about The Entrepreneurial Nation initiative and to be inspired by the success of other UAE small businesses, such as Mamalu Kitchen and Project Chaiwala, which have successfully capitalized on the potential of Meta platforms to improve business performance.
SMBs were given the opportunity at the end of the session to connect with Meta experts as part of a live Q&A and seek advice on how to navigate today’s digital-first world.
“We are excited to be part of The Entrepreneurial Nation initiative through our ‘Boost with Facebook’ program and upcoming opportunities this year,” said Azzam Alameddin, Meta’s Public Policy Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey.
We play an important role in providing the necessary digital infrastructure.
We are continuing those training efforts in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Economy, contributing to a thriving start-up ecosystem that will positively impact socioeconomic growth in the UAE.
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Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the backbone of the UAE economy.
According to TDRA, there are approximately 350,000 SMBs in the country, accounting for 86 percent of the private sector labor force and accounting for more than 60 percent of GDP.
The government has implemented economic assistance programs to assist business owners in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to updating numerous laws and launching initiatives such as the Entrepreneurial Nation, the UAE has taken a wide range of measures to create a more appealing environment for foreign investment, including a revamped visa and residency system and 100 percent foreign ownership.
