It is often said that Dubai is the prime example of innovation: in less than half a century it has transformed from a relatively inconsequential fishing and trading emirate to a global commercial hub.
Its story also has inspired countless others to pursue their dreams. Many of those were showcased during Innovation Week last week, with more than 800 events and activities and scores of businesses launching their new ideas.
The third annual Dubai SME 100 ranking was also released, promoting those young businesses that have managed to make an impact, not only locally but internationally.
But about the same time, more sombre related news also broke. An increasing number of small business owners are fleeing the UAE because of unpaid debt — a total that has now rallied to $1.4bn, according to UAE Banks Federation chairman Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair.
SMEs are often the first to feel the brunt of economic pressures and with banks’ liquidity gradually drying up due to lower deposits from state oil revenues and slower growth across much of the economy, they are finding it difficult to access financing.
These businesses — built on innovation — are the backbone of the economy, accounting for as much as 90 percent of non-oil revenues. Their input will only become more significant as the UAE diversifies from oil and its heavy reliance on the public sector, both in terms of employment and development projects.
There is only one reason for business owners to run away: to avoid jail.
The UAE’s lack of bankruptcy legislation and its insistence on criminalising bounced cheques is causing it to lose what could be some of the brightest minds in the country.
It takes guts to start a company, but it also requires support, not only from banks but the country’s regulatory system. Entrepreneurs need to know they are safe to give it a shot, safe to take a chance. They need to know that the law will help, not purely penalise them.
If they do not have this support they will go where elsewhere — and plenty of countries have created highly supportive environments for entrepreneurs.
The best people at anything rarely gain success the first time round. They fail and they learn from their mistakes and get back up again — and sometimes again, and again. But without bankruptcy protection, they are not able to fail, let alone try again. They have no option but to vanish, leaving behind a trail of debt that ironically makes it more difficult for the next entrepreneur to gain the financial support they need to get off the ground.
The government has implemented multiple pieces of complex legislation that have greatly improved the financial system since the 2008-09 crash, but the dithering over a bankruptcy law has lasted for the better part of a decade.
The ongoing announcements of funding to support entrepreneurs — now totalling several billions of dollars — have been intended to welcome talented pioneers from anywhere in the world. The creation of free zones and incubators also served to attract the brightest and best.
There are good measures in place and there is no doubt the doors are open for innovators but the hospitality needs to be improved. The country cannot achieve its innovation goals alone — but neither can entrepreneurs.
*Correction: The Arabian Business November 8 issue included a comment piece with the incorrect spelling of the Kuwaiti Emir’s name. The correct spelling is, Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. We apologise for the error.
You can suppose about does generic viagra work faithfully now, or you can be patient for a whilst until you get as now. Those options that are now generic viagra complacent all.
