84% of Women in the UAE Consider Starting Their Own Business

Financial independence, flexibility, and social impact are the top motivators for women pursuing entrepreneurship. Millennials (53%) lead this shift, followed by Gen Z (44%), with the most popular sectors for women-led businesses being food and beverage (26%), online selling (22%), and cosmetics (19%). Encouragingly, 98% of women business owners expect revenue growth in the next five years, surpassing their male counterparts at 85%.

Despite this optimism, confidence and funding remain key barriers. Women are three times more likely than men to cite lack of confidence as a challenge (30% vs. 10%), while 67% of women identify insufficient funding as their biggest hurdle. Additionally, 40% of female founders struggle with developing a business plan or accessing necessary infrastructure, underscoring the need for stronger mentorship and financial support.

Women entrepreneurs in the UAE are increasingly turning to side hustles, with 56% engaged in freelancing, tutoring, or content creation. Meanwhile, AI adoption is on the rise, with 75% of women founders using AI tools, reporting greater efficiency gains compared to men. However, cybersecurity remains a concern, as 35% of women entrepreneurs have experienced fraud attempts. As the UAE’s startup landscape evolves, bridging the confidence gap and improving access to resources will be key to unlocking the full potential of women entrepreneurs.