The founder of a new forum to encourage Emirati entrepreneurship has urged would-be business owners to make full use of the various government-sponsored advisory services to enhance their business prospects.
Anjez’s founder, Manar Al Hinai, said that while her organisation’s aim was to instil a passion for entrepreneurship among Emirati youth, it was vital to get the right advice at the same time.
“Passion is important but guidance is equally important,” said Ms Al Hinai, who is also a columnist for The National’s business section. “All too often people don’t know where to start, and they don’t know whether their idea is good enough to pursue or not. They just dive in without doing any proper business planning or speaking to professionals or advisers.”
Abu Dhabi is home to several entities that people can approach, such as the Khalifa Fund and twofour54, to discuss their ideas, get advice about establishing their business and determine whether there is demand for it , she said.
“[Anjez’s] aim is to inspire,” said Ms Al Hinai. “We’re really looking to reach out to high school kids and university students who might not know what they want to do with their lives, who are looking for guidance and inspiration. We want to share with them success stories from people who followed their dreams.”
Anjez held its first event in September, with a talk given by the AskAli founder Ali Al Saloom.
“It was really inspiring for the youth in the audience that evening to hear his story,” said Ms Al Hinai.
“When he started out people told him that he’d never succeed. He’s proof that when you’re truly passionate about something you will achieve it. Some of the audience were moved to tears by his story.”
Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi, otherwise known as “the Green Sheikh”, will deliver the second Anjez talk this Monday at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz, a member of Ajman’s royal family, is one of the UAE’s leading environmental protection advocates, and also serves as the chief executive of Al Ihsan Charity Centre.
Anjez intends to hold four events per year, with the next event scheduled to take place in late February or early March.
jeverington@thenational.ae
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