Professional network LinkedIn says the number of “entrepreneurs” in the UAE has nearly doubled in the past year. In its latest study of the movement of individuals across job functions and industries, the world’s largest professional networking platform on the Internet reveals that the number of its members in the UAE who identify entrepreneurship as their job function increased by a year-on-year (YoY) growth rate of 98.3 per cent.
In addition, the UAE is attracting the highest percentage of LinkedIn members noting entrepreneurship as their occupation from other countries within the Middle East region. “The UAE has evolved to be a preferred destination for talent, entrepreneurs and innovators from across the world,” says Ali Matar, head of LinkedIn Talent Solutions for Southern Europe, Middle East and North Africa.
Matar said the findings clearly confirm the country’s status as a strong economy and an appealing working environment that is highly capable of competing on a global scale. “It boasts a fully integrated environment that nurtures ideas generated by youth and aims to boost entrepreneurship through comprehensive support systems.”
The professional services industry saw the maximum number of go-getters, followed by technology sector. The retail and consumer products, healthcare and staffing sectors also attracted new dealmakers. The study, which analysed profiles created and completed within one year since March 2015, also found that there has been an increase in the percentage of candidates from the UAE who have an account on LinkedIn and have moved to work for smaller companies.
There was a ten per cent YoY increase in the number of those who indicated that they worked for a company with fewer than 200 employees. “Building an environment in which entrepreneurship can flourish is one of the key priorities within the UAE’s wider innovation agenda. Today, this includes expanding access to information and modern digital tools, as well as fostering a culture of invention across the public and private sectors,” says Hussain Al Nowais, chairman of the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development.
