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- The UAE’s award-winning female-owned small businesses will each receive a $10,000 grant from IFundWomen and a year of business mentoring.
- The winners were selected by an independent committee from more than 90 applicants from across the UAE from various sectors including textiles, education, food and beverages, professional services, beauty and wellness.
DUBAI, UAE – Visa, the global leader in digital payments, announced the winners of the UAE’s She’s Next grant programme at an awards ceremony held in partnership with First Bank Abu Dhabi (FAB) and the Dubai Business Women’s Council (DBWC). Under the initiative, five Emirati women-led businesses have been awarded US$10,000 grants and a year of business mentoring from IFundWomen to help their businesses grow and gain media exposure and networking opportunities.
The five winners were selected from more than 90 applications submitted by Emirati women entrepreneurs, from a variety of fields, from textiles to education, food and beverages to professional services, beauty and health. Winners are selected based on the evolution of their entrepreneurial journey, the strength of their business metrics, their digital presence and their ability to solve problems.
The jury members included Salima Gutieva, Visa UAE Regional Manager, Ganes RK, Visa Head of Business Solutions Middle East and North Africa, Nadine Halabi, DBWC Business Development Manager, Sara Al Binali, FAB Corporate, Commercial and International Banking Group Leader, Salil Ahuja, FAB Commercial Bank CVP and Head of Portfolio and Khuloud Al Omian, Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East and CEO of Arabian Press.
By participating in the program, all women entrepreneurs can gain practical insights from women leaders in the public and private sectors, as well as valuable tools and educational resources – including Visa’s Practical Business Skills program – that they need to develop and develop themselves Business.
Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President, said: “In a world where businesses across the board are battling the lingering effects of the pandemic and inflation, women-owned small businesses continue to prove their resilience and have a strong stake in their future performance. Great optimism.” & Group Country Manager – GCC, Visa. “Visa recognizes these women entrepreneurs, their dedication and continued contribution to our community, and is proud to support and follow them through our She’s Next initiative, which we are delighted to bring to the UAE for the first time. Not only are these women breaking new ground Many stereotypes about the types of businesses women run, but also clear evidence of their ability to grow and scale. We would like to congratulate the five recipients and look forward to supporting them through these grant and mentoring programs so they can continue work and thrive in these uncertain times.”
Sara Al Binali, Head of Corporate, Commercial and International Banking at FAB: “We’ve seen that as part of ‘She’s Next’, the range and creativity of business ideas has been outstanding, showcasing the drive and creativity of these ambitious women. Talent. The finalists and winners of the grant program are among the best of the best, and we hope everyone involved will benefit from this experience, including gaining practical insights from women leaders and helping them grow their businesses resources and knowledge. As the largest bank in the UAE, FAB has a deep understanding of the SME sector and we work with SMEs and entrepreneurs to provide the financial support and technical expertise that growing businesses need. We look forward to seeing the next She’s winners and participants thrive in the future and continue to empower women in the entrepreneurial economy.”
Nadine Halabi, DBWC Business Development Manager, congratulated and wished the winners of the She’s Next initiative all the best, emphasizing that the initiative aligns with DBWC’s mission to promote female entrepreneurship and help members leverage Visa’s expertise and extensive global network. “This particular initiative and collaboration not only paves the way for women-owned businesses across all industries to acquire the necessary tools and resources, but also helps them advance progress, while inspiring women entrepreneurs with new ideas and perspectives to Better meet the growing demands of the labor market.”
5 winners of 2022 UAE edition of ‘Her Next Initiative’
- Hafsa Qadeer, ImInclusive: An end-to-end platform that connects determined people to inclusive work and empowers employers to embrace inclusivity.
- Mirna Hamad, Kashida Design: Award-winning design studio Kashida creates luxurious home décor with fine Arabic calligraphy, adding a Middle Eastern flair to contemporary pieces.
- Viktorija Aksionova, Mindtales: A startup with a mission to transform the workplace health landscape in the region by providing accessible, convenient and inclusive digital health support.
- Sukriti Verma and Namrata Budhraja, Shift Eco: A platform that helps you transition to an eco-friendly lifestyle by giving you access to vetted and curated organic products to use in your home and personal care routines.
- Lara Hussein and Ceylan Uren, Waste Lab: An impact and data-led startup in the UAE that works with households and businesses to reduce food waste and build soil with nature-based solutions.
ImInclusive and Waste Lab’s will also continue to participate in “She’s Next: Spotlighting Women Entrepreneurs in the Middle East”, a virtual event organized by Forbes Middle East and Visa. The event will feature female business leaders from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco who will share their strategies for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
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About Visa Inc.
Visa (NYSE: V) is a global leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payment networks, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that an economy that engages everyone, everywhere, empowers everyone, everywhere, and sees access as the foundation of future money flows. Visit About Visa, visamiddleeast.com/blog and @Visamiddleeast to learn more.
Media Liaison
asda’a bcw, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Danya Isaac | Danesha Gulabani
Email: Dhanya.Issac@bcw-global.com, Danaisha.Gulabani@bcw-global.com
About the Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC):
Established in 2002 and affiliated with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, the Dubai Council of Women in Business is the UAE’s leading platform for personal and professional development of women in business in the emirate of Dubai.
Since its inception, the Council has worked to promote gender equality and encourage women to play an active role in nation building and sustainable development.
In addition to inspiring and encouraging women’s roles in society and the economy, providing education, training and networking opportunities to help achieve the well-rounded development and career aspirations of women in business in the UAE is at the heart of DBWC’s mission.
DBWC conducts tailored seminars and workshops exclusively for its members, providing women entrepreneurs and leaders with valuable information on the latest knowledge, skills and best practices. For more information on DBWC and how to join its visionary and influential community of pioneering women and benefit from its services and initiatives, visit www.dbwc.ae
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