Join the WIn Fellowship, part of the Atlantic Council’s empowerME initiative, for an insightful closing event of this cohort, titled “The potential of AI-business driven solutions on the SME industry in the UAE” scheduled for February 21st.

Driven by government initiatives and ever-growing foreign investments, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is rapidly transforming into a global hub for AI. Th UAE’s commitment to AI spans many years and billions of dollars, spawning a minister dedicated to AI, an upcoming state-backed AI company, and a National AI Strategy. The results speaks for themselves: the country outpaces others in the region in annual AI-contributed GDP growth, and some forecasts expect close to 14 percent of its GDP to stem from AI by 2030.

In parallel, the UAE’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are experiencing a boom of their own in UAE thanks to similar levels of government support. SMEs now account for approximately 63.5 percent of the UAE’s non-oil GDP, and the government aims to host 1 million such enterprises by 2030. AI innovations are providing these SMEs with a competitive advantage, enabling ambitious professionals to scale their businesses or disrupt their industries.

However, there’s a growing concern that the widespread adoption of AI might disproportionately impact women. This situation underscores an urgent need for women in the UAE, particularly women entrepreneurs, to develop AI-related knowledge and skills. Given the rising involvement of women in the UAE’s SME sector over recent years, they stand to gain significantly from embracing this technological progress.

This event will provide insight into how leveraging AI innovations in customer service, data analytics, marketing, and other forms of automation could supercharge SME growth and women entrepreneurship in the UAE.

SPEAKERS & MODERATOR

Abir Habbal
Managing Director of Data and AI
Accenture

Mohammed Wassim Khayata
Founder & CEO
Al Maryah Community Bank

Salim Chemlal
Director of Product
AI71

Amnah Ajmel
Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA
Mastercard

Sarah Saddouk
Director of Innovation
Entrepreneur Middle East IMPACT (Moderator)

Speakers bios

Explore WIn Fellowship

The potential of AI-driven business solutions on the SME industry in the UAE

Jun 14, 2023

The WIn Fellowship 2023-2024 cohort

Building on the success of its inaugural cohort, the Women Innovators Fellowship (WIn) is expanding to Bahrain and the UAE, in addition to Saudi Arabia, as it continues to empower more women entrepreneurs from the Middle East. The program is thrilled to announce this year’s eighty-six recipients of its 2023 WIn Fellowship. The participants will receive a year-long program of executive education, mentoring, and networking opportunities in collaboration with Georgetown McDonough School of Business and with the support of the United States embassies in the three target countries and PepsiCo.
The potential of AI-driven business solutions on the SME industry in the UAE

Feb 24, 2023

2023 WIn Fellowship Roadshow

The WIn Fellowship roadshow is led by the Atlantic Council’s empowerME Initiative in cooperation with Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business with support from US Embassy Riyadh, UPS, and PepsiCo. The WIn Fellowship Roadshow participants, chosen from a highly competitive cohort of more than thirty applicants, receive a fully sponsored trip to the United States for leadership training at Georgetown and meetings with US business and government leaders.
The potential of AI-driven business solutions on the SME industry in the UAE

Jun 14, 2023

WIn Fellowship 2023-2024 UAE

Meet our 2023-2024 WIn fellows from United Arab Emirates: a group of dynamic women entrepreneurs poised to expand their leadership and executive skills. They are on a mission to scale their startups to new heights, setting new benchmarks for success.

Recommended content

The potential of AI-driven business solutions on the SME industry in the UAE

Event Recap Dec 15, 2023

Decoding the dynamics of venture capital in the MENA region

By Diane Mohamed & Rachel Friedman

Event Recap for the virtual discussion on venture capital in MENA region.
Economy & Business International Markets
The potential of AI-driven business solutions on the SME industry in the UAE

Event Recap Nov 13, 2023

Fostering Growth: Women in Bahrain’s fintech sector

By Nibras Basitkey

Event recap for Bahrain second workshop, focused on Bahrain’s booming fintech industry and the growing role of women in the sector.
Economy & Business Middle East
The potential of AI-driven business solutions on the SME industry in the UAE

Event Recap Jul 24, 2023

Bridging the gender gap in venture capital

By Lynn Monzer, Nibras Basitkey

Event recap on the significance of venture funding for women entrepreneurs in the UAE.
Economy & Business Middle East
The potential of AI-driven business solutions on the SME industry in the UAE

Event Recap Jul 31, 2023

Empowering the future: The rising women workforce in Saudi Arabia’s private sector

By Lynn Monzer, Nibras Basitkey

Event recap on the empowering future of the workplace in Saudi Arabia and its impact on the private sector.
Economy & Business Future of Work

Sponsors & in country partner

empowerME

empowerME at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East is shaping solutions to empower entrepreneurs, women, and youth and building coalitions of public and private partnerships to drive regional economic integration, prosperity, and job creation.

Explore the initiative

Atlantic Council TV

Watch this event and more content on ACTV

Follow the conversations shaping our world. Available on all major platforms.

Start watching