The UAE, like many other Gulf countries, is shifting to entrepreneurship as it quickly broadens its economic base from petrochemicals toward a knowledge-based economy. Global Tech Advocates, which seeks to connect entrepreneurs, investors, the private sector, and politicians via community activities, has established Tech UAE Advocates, its first network in the Middle East.
The Middle East and North Africa is home to several fast-growing tech entrepreneur hubs, with the UAE leading the way.
The UAE group will be led by Omar Hassan, founder of the Global Growth Hub (previously known as UK-MENA Hub), which seeks to connect the UK – MENA ecosystem. The private sector-led group will focus on access to capital, market access for entrepreneurs, thought leadership and policy exchange.
Global Tech Advocates has a network of more than 30,000 individuals and 26 groups that spans five continents. There are groups in China, Mexico, India, Japan, the US, Australia and many across Europe.
“There’s no grassroots tech community currently bringing entrepreneurs, investors, the private sector and policymakers together, creating one unified voice for the community,” Hassan said. “Also, this is a UAE wide group, which is one of the biggest challenges in unifying the different cities and hubs into one.”
In Dubai, the UAE’s financial center, 95% of firms are small and medium-sized enterprises that employ around 42% of the emirate’s workers.
David Parker, Director, Alternative Investments & Corporate at Vistra Group, and Eleanor Singer, Regional Director, Middle East at New Statesman Media Group, are the other two founding members.
