Empowering Emirati women through entrepreneurship: Success factors and financial resource acquisition perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to identify the business success and financial resource acquisition factors, the problem areas and developmental issues allied to Emirati female entrepreneurs in the United Arab Emirates. A survey questionnaire method was used to collect data from 224 Emirati female entrepreneurs. To understand the sources of advice sought to start the business, factors affecting success of the business, specific UAE conditions that affected business operations, and the problems Emirati women entrepreneurs faced in being self-employed, a factor analysis using Principle Components method subject to varimax rotation was conducted. Findings revealed that Emirati women entrepreneurs consider 3 main factors that will affect the success of their businesses. The Management Skills and Customer Support factor seems to dominate. Therefore, factor inputs (personnel, capital, training, Government) and reputation factors are important but they are balanced with Management skills and customer support. The major problem that the Emirati women entrepreneurs faced in being self-employed are efforts to manage (i.e. too much work, responsibility, and no time for family). Also, it was found that Emirati women entrepreneurs consider Infrastructure factors such as location, parking, awareness of procedural changes, and lack of clarity in policies as dominant UAE factors that affect their business operations in the UAE.