Meta and The Entrepreneurial Nation program have launched ‘Boost with Facebook’ program in the Emirates that is aimed at attracting and supporting startups and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the country.
The Entrepreneurial Nation, a project by the Ministry of Economy, aims to offer support through a series of public-private partnerships that help entrepreneurs set up their ventures in the UAE and expand them, export their products and tap into digital marketing and sales.
Through the initiative, the UAE aims to become home to 20 Unicorns (startups valued at more than $1 billion) by 2031. The program encompasses three stages or tracks: the Skill-Up Academy, the Scale-Up program and the Start-Up track.
Dr. Hassan Alsayegh, Director of SMEs Development at the Ministry of Economy, said, “The partnership with META is in line with our vision to create a support mechanism for the UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. META is a key enabler of SMEs in the UAE, and we look forward to continuing this strong partnership to empower the sector.”
The ‘Boost with Facebook’ initiative kicked off with a virtual workshop recently. The session offered training to SMBs on how they can activate their social commerce activities on Meta platforms, for instance, how to create a virtual Storefront with Shops; how to reach the right audience with Personalized Ads; and creative tips to boost profiles on Instagram, among others.
Those who attended the workshop got the chance to learn about The Entrepreneurial Nation initiative and draw inspiration from the success of other UAE small businesses namely Mamalu Kitchen and Project Chaiwala, who have effectively capitalized on the potential of Meta platforms to improve business performance.
At the end of the session, SMBs were given an opportunity to connect with Meta experts as part of a live Q&A and seek advice on how to navigate today’s digital-first world.
Azzam Alameddin, Public Policy Director for Middle East, North Africa & Turkey at Meta, said, “We have an important role to play, providing the necessary digital skills for startups and small businesses to recover and achieve results online. We are continuing those training efforts in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy, helping further boost a burgeoning start-up ecosystem to positively impact socio-economic growth in the UAE.”
There are around 350,000 SMBs in the UAE, accounting for 86 percent of the labor force in the private sector and making up over 60 percent of GDP, according to TDRA.