More scope for creativity, innovation: Sheikh Hamdan
dubai — Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has said that the investment environment within the UAE has witnessed significant changes over the past years under the leadership of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with significant opportunities for creativity and innovation opening up as the world moves towards knowledgebased investments.
Sheikh Hamdan’s comments came on the occasion of the launch of the second edition of the “State of Digital Investment in Mena 2013-2016” report by Dubai SME in partnership with ArabNet.
For the fourth year in a row, the UAE remains the region’s tech startup hub, home to about onethird of all Mena investors, with the number of venture capitalists at 19 being highest in the region, according to the report.
Sheikh Hamdan added that the Government of Dubai has accordingly made it a priority to attract investments in line with the UAE
Dubai has created an environment where entrepreneurs are able to access exceptional opportunities
Sheikh Hamdan
Vision 2021 and Dubai Plan 2021 as well as to position the UAE as a preferred global investment destination.
“The directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to develop an investor-friendly economy and provide data to ensure successful investments whether locally or from around the world, have led to tangible and documented achievements as the UAE maintained its position an investment destination of choice in the region. The UAE has clear legislative and regulatory frameworks that not only protect the rights and interests of investors but also enable emerging investors and entrepreneurs to achieve the highest degree of success,” said Sheikh Hamdan.
He pointed out that Dubai is keen to put this approach into practice by continuing to develop the potential of the investment climate and provide it with all the elements of success to keep pace with the latest global economic trends. Sheikh Hamdan noted that Sheikh Mohammed has always welcomed investments in creativity and innovation from the different economic sectors, which in turn has attracted many of the big names in the world of digital investment to Dubai and the UAE.
“Foreign investment is at the core of our strategy for growth, prosperity and regional expansion and entrepreneurs find Dubai the ideal gateway to a future of opportunities. Dubai has created an environment where entrepreneurs are able to access exceptional opportunities,” Sheikh Hamdan added, citing the example of Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce company, which recently entered the region through its acquisition of Souq.com, a company that began its success story in Dubai and later made its way to the global market. — Wam