The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) UAE 4.0 recently wrapped up its fourth edition with a closing ceremony at NYU Abu Dhabi. This program, a joint effort between the US Mission to the UAE and startAD, aims to provide women with the necessary resources to launch and grow successful businesses.
The recent event saw the participation of 12 female-owned local businesses, showcasing their products and services at the celebratory closing ceremony attended by U.S. Ambassador to the UAE, Martina Strong. Over the past four years, businesses supported by AWE UAE have made a significant impact on the local economy, generating USD 42 million in revenue, raising USD 9.2 million in funding, and creating 524 jobs.
This year’s cohort included a diverse range of businesses such as Bookends, an online platform for second-hand books, IZI Health, offering integrative preventive care solutions, and Baby Spa, Dubai’s first baby spa focused on infant stimulation. Other businesses in the cohort included High Street Resources, Winifred Mills, and Vanilla Rose, among others.
Daleya Uddin, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Dubai, commended the program for its global impact, with 74 percent of AWE graduates reporting higher incomes and 29 percent hiring additional staff post-completion. Hana Barakat, Senior Associate Director of startAD, highlighted the program’s contribution to building a competitive knowledge-based economy in the UAE.
Looking ahead, the U.S. Mission to the UAE will host the first State Department MENA region Women’s Economic Empowerment (WE Empower) Summit led by U.S. Ambassador Martina Strong. This summit aims to bring together policymakers, female founders, industry leaders, and media to discuss strategies for promoting women’s economic empowerment.
For more information about AWE UAE, interested individuals can visit startad.ae/awe.
