Emirati Women’s Day is a moment to recognise the achievements and growing influence of women in business and innovation across the UAE. Women-led startups are expanding their presence in technology, health, education, fashion, and sustainability, backed by a supportive ecosystem of government programmes, accelerators, and funding networks.
Across the UAE, female entrepreneurs are no longer on the margins. They are building scalable businesses and contributing significantly to the economy. Recent figures from the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) show a 71% increase in Emirati women participating in training programmes during the first seven months of 2025 alone, underscoring the momentum behind this shift.
The Funding Challenge
Despite visible progress, women-led startups still face barriers in raising capital. Globally, women entrepreneurs secure only a fraction of venture capital funding, and this imbalance is also present in the Middle East. Cultural norms, limited access to investor networks, and risk perceptions contribute to the funding gap.
To counter this, UAE institutions and regional partners have introduced targeted initiatives to help women entrepreneurs access finance, mentorship, and global markets.
Funding Opportunities for Women in the Middle East
Government and Semi-Government Institutions
- Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED): Provides financing, mentorship, and training. Since its creation, it has supported nearly 27,000 women through training programmes and delivered more than AED 200 million in value to women entrepreneurs.
- SWAN Programme: A KFED initiative dedicated to female-led home businesses in Abu Dhabi. It offers intensive training, mentorship, and access to a share of AED 1 million in grants to help transform home-based ventures into licensed enterprises.
- Dubai Women Establishment (DWE): Works to enhance gender inclusion by influencing policy and running leadership programmes such as the Women Leadership Exchange.
Financing and Loans
- Emirates Development Bank (EDB): Offers SME and startup financing accessible to women founders, including lower-rate loans and longer repayment terms.
- Emirates NBD Women SME Fund: A bank initiative designed specifically to provide funding and tailored support to women-owned SMEs.
Accelerators, Networks, and Platforms
- Womena / Womentum: Initially an angel investment network, Womena now runs Womentum, a tech accelerator and media platform supporting female-led startups across the MENA region.
- SheTrades MENA: Connects women entrepreneurs with international markets, supported by the International Trade Centre and Dubai Exports.
- #SheMeansBusiness (Meta & Emirates Foundation): Provides digital skills and entrepreneurship training for women across the UAE.
Industry-Wide Efforts
- Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024 spotlighted the fact that women-led startups receive only 2–5% of investment. To address this, initiatives such as She WINS Arabia are providing mentorship, investor-readiness programmes, and access to regional funding opportunities.
- The global funding gap for women entrepreneurs stands at an estimated $1.7 trillion. In response, initiatives like the WE Finance Code are pushing financial institutions to increase women’s access to credit and investment.
Beyond the UAE
- Bahrain’s Riyadat Financing Programme: Offers $100 million in funding for women-majority startups and SMEs, with over 300 businesses already supported. This underscores a growing regional commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs.
Path Forward
The UAE is steadily building one of the most supportive ecosystems for women-led businesses in the region. With government backing, dedicated financial products, and international partnerships, Emirati women are better positioned than ever to access funding and scale their ventures.
Emirati Women’s Day is both a celebration and a reminder: closing the funding gap is about unlocking the full potential of women entrepreneurs to drive innovation, create jobs, and shape the future economy.
