UAE: One-year leave to start business secures future of employees and families, say Emiratis

Emirati youth, entrepreneurs and government employees have praised the UAE leadership's decision to provide public sector workers with a one-year sabbatical to launch their businesses.

Several citizens Khaleej Times spoke to have said a one-year paid sabbatical would allow youths to focus on their businesses in their most crucial early stages without compromising their family's financial commitments.

UAE citizens working in the government sector will be given paid leave at half their salaries to launch their businesses under a new initiative launched by the country's leadership.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced the new plans after chairing a Cabinet meeting at the Al Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

'One-year time is great to get a business going'

Alanoud AlHashmi, the founder and CEO of the Futurist Company, "His Highness Sheikh Mohammed is a visionary. He understands how important it is to support the country's citizens to achieve their dreams. We are a population of only 1.3 per cent (approximately) out of UAE's total population of 10.2 million. He understands that we come from a place of several hardships and the UAE leadership understands the value in supporting its youth."

Alanoud cited examples of businesses born in the UAE and said, "Look at Talabat and Souq.com. They have become unicorns in the country thanks to its business-friendly environment."

She added, "For Emirati youths to form such companies, they have to invest a lot of time and money, which could impact their family's lives as the cost of living in the UAE is very high."

The entrepreneur said the year-long sabbatical gives young people enough time to create a business model and a prototype, execute it and find investors.

"The decision is a powerful one from an innovation and economic standpoint. We might be a small country geographically. However, we are one of the most developed nation's thanks to our futurist approach," she stated.

Alanoud also said she wishes she had the same opportunities to launch her own business while working in government. "One of my businesses had to be closed as I could not devote enough time to it while working. This is a great plan, and those with great ideas must go for it," she said.

'Early stages of a business are crucial'

Saoud bin Hamoodah, an aerospace mechanical engineer based out of Abu Dhabi, said, "As UAE citizens, we are 100 per cent supportive of our govt regulations. The people of the UAE and the government are the same. I had a business a while ago. However, I am more focused on my engineering work at the moment. I would consider going back to being an entrepreneur."

Hamoodah also said the initiative serves local youths well as there is a lot of interest within the community to start their businesses.

Hessa Alhammadi, a government employee in the media sector, said, "I think such an announcement would put a large focus on the youth, and it would encourage them to pursue their goals."

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