New initiative aims to support UAE’s female entrepreneurs

A new initiative designed to help aspiring and established female entrepreneurs to connect, learn and grow has been launched in the UAE.

Launched in February, DXB Female Founders (DFF) will run monthly events dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs in the UAE. The events will feature interactive workshops, expert-led sessions and inspiring stories designed to equip women with the essential skills and knowledge to succeed in business.

The inaugural event on 12 February highlighted ‘Founder Stories’, featuring Saba Yussouf, General Partner of Nettle Ventures. A successful entrepreneur, she sold her first company at 24 for £2 million and now leads a $60 million biotech firm.

She shared key insights on investor readiness, what investors look for and how founders can better prepare for funding.

Another speaker featured at the event also featured Marisa Peer, a best-selling author. Her talk focused on overcoming limiting beliefs, building self-confidence, and achieving entrepreneurial success.

The events series is sponsored by Google Cloud. Faranak Farahmand Pour, Director of Global Strategic Initiatives at Google Cloud, said: “Through our support of the DXB Female Founders event series, we aim to help unlock the immense potential of female talent in this region and contribute to the UAE’s ambitious goals for economic growth and technological advancement.”

Nicki Bedford, Founder & CEO of DXB Female Founders, added: “DXB Female Founders is dedicated to providing women entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and network they need to succeed – while being surrounded by a supportive community of women who genuinely want to see each other succeed.

“Our monthly series offers practical workshops, mentorship opportunities, and a supportive community to help women overcome challenges, scale their businesses, and achieve their full potential.”

Bedford said that by equipping women with essential skills, fostering valuable connections, and providing access to experienced mentors through the DFF network, initiative aims to fuel the growth of the UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The series directly aligns with the nation’s ambitions for technological leadership, economic diversification, and fostering a culture of innovation, she said.

Bedford added: “We are incredibly grateful for Google Cloud’s sponsorship and their commitment to empowering women in tech. Their support will enable us to reach more women and provide them with unparalleled access to resources and expertise.

“The DXB Female Founders series is more than just an event; it’s a strategic incubator for ideas, collaboration and leadership development, designed specifically for the UAE’s burgeoning entrepreneurial community.”

UAE launches cybersecurity strategy

The UAE’s National Cybersecurity Strategy was officially unveiled at the World Government Summit (WGS) 2025 in Dubai earlier in February.

Launching the initiative, Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the Cyber Security Council (CSC), said the strategy was part of the UAE’s efforts to keep pace with major and rapid transformations across various sectors, particularly in advanced technology, further cementing the country’s position in artificial intelligence and the digital economy.

Al Kuwaiti said that the recently approved five-year National Cybersecurity Strategy, endorsed by the UAE Cabinet, is built around five key pillars.

These pillars are designed to enable the safe and rapid adoption of innovations while ensuring a secure, resilient, and robust digital environment.

He further highlighted that the strategy includes specific goals and initiatives aimed at strengthening and growing the national economy, in addition to protecting critical infrastructure.

He noted that global losses from cyberattacks, cyber warfare, and cyberterrorism were estimated at around $10tn in 2024, underscoring the UAE’s early recognition of the need to enhance its cybersecurity framework in line with global best practices.

To this end, the UAE has invested over $2bn in cybersecurity and digital transformation.

Al Kuwaiti also revealed that the Cybersecurity Council is currently finalising several policies, including a cryptography policy, which will be implemented in the first quarter of 2025.

Additionally, the council is working on new cybersecurity standards to enhance institutional compliance and security measures.