Dubai: The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) today announced the launch of the 'Employee to Entrepreneur Programme', an initiative aimed at empowering employees of DIEZ and its affiliated economic zones to establish and expand their own startups. The programme aligns with the national campaign 'The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World' launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
According to Emirates News Agency, the initiative seeks to promote a culture of entrepreneurship across the emirate, reinforcing DIEZ's commitment to accelerating Dubai's economic growth and fostering innovation. By nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset and equipping employees with the capabilities required for success, the programme aims to transform innovative concepts into thriving businesses that contribute to the UAE's knowledge-based economy.
Yousuf Behzad, Chief People and Strategic Transformation Officer of DIEZ, stated that the programme directly supports the strategic objectives of the national campaign and aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to position Dubai among the world's top three urban economies and establish 30 unicorn companies by 2030. The programme aims to identify entrepreneurial talent within DIEZ's workforce and transform their ideas into real, impactful ventures.
Behzad added that the programme is built on the comprehensive support and empowerment ecosystem that defines DIEZ and its affiliated economic zones. It leverages the Authority's incentives and other strategic initiatives to empower employees to launch innovative businesses that will drive sustainable economic growth.
The programme leverages DIEZ's business support and development ecosystem, including its infrastructure, tailored licensing packages, business setup services, and strategic initiatives, to support employees in turning their entrepreneurial ideas into viable ventures. This includes advisory and investment support from Oraseya Capital, DIEZ's dedicated investment arm specialized in startup funding; opportunities for project development and prototype testing within SANDBOX, DIEZ's accelerator programme for emerging tech companies.
Additionally, the programme provides access to services offered by Scality, an innovative programme designed to help tech startups establish and scale their operations in the region. Participants will benefit from the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), the largest technology hub and co-working space of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, among other key initiatives within the DIEZ ecosystem.
The programme is structured around three main phases: the idea development phase, the planning and model building phase, and the launch and expansion phase, which connects participants with potential investors. The programme's first edition attracted a range of innovative ideas across sectors including technology, mobility, healthcare, design, and more, reflecting the talents and expertise within DIEZ's workforce. Ideas were evaluated based on their economic feasibility, local market value, scalability, growth potential, alongside their strategic relevance and social and economic impact considerations.