In recent years, the quest to decipher the entrepreneurial "code" or DNA has gained significant traction worldwide; it has also ignited a global discussion riddled with opposing views and theories. This, of course, comes as no surprise. The overriding question of whether entrepreneurs are born or bred sparks a hefty debate, and one which tackles a long-standing concern: can an entrepreneurial spirit actually be cultivated, or is it purely innate? In general, arguments supporting the former outweigh the latter by far.
The truth is, understanding the anatomy of an entrepreneur is a tricky landscape to navigate – and one that comprises a slew of complex processes and dynamics. Still, in the past decade, unlocking this phenomenon has emerged as a central issue – of national importance – here in the UAE. The Government has placed entrepreneurship high on the national agenda, recognising its role as a catalyst for a strong, balanced and diverse economy.
Despite the existence of numerous UAE-based entrepreneurial initiatives, we still do not have a large number of young business pioneers. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, in 2011, the UAE had the second lowest rate of established entrepreneurs, at just 2.7 per cent. That same year, fewer than seven adults per 100 intended to start a new business.
Given these figures, it is absolutely imperative that, together, we question how to better nurture the next start-up generation. First and foremost, we must identify the character traits that punctuate the personality of a successful entrepreneur and ensure that those are instilled among UAE youth during their most formative years.
There is no doubt that the entrepreneurship mindset is marked by distinctive characteristics and patterns of thinking. Most entrepreneurs possess a unique type of temperament – one guided by a reluctance to play by the rules. This entrepreneurial outlook is the culmination of a series of social, behavioural and intrinsic factors, all of which straddle the line between nature and nurture.
What remains clear, however, is that an entrepreneurial pursuit doesn’t necessarily have to be ingrained in a person’s genetic code; it can also be stimulated at a young age, and successfully seeped into a child’s consciousness. And so, instead of encouraging young graduates to navigate the entrepreneurial path post-academia, we must create initiatives to boost pioneering thinking pre-graduation and during students’ developmental years. This inevitably means promoting a more proactive approach to entrepreneurship both from an education and home life standpoint.
It is time to ask ourselves: what can we do to ensure that the seeds of entrepreneurship are planted into the psyches of Emirati children early on?
It has long been stipulated that the ability to build creative innovators with strong leadership skills is what forms the crux of a successful education system. In the UAE, our education programmes are steeped in the tradition of academic development; however, our curricula don’t posit or even present a direct connection between entrepreneurship and economic self-sufficiency. This is precisely why entrepreneurship education – at pre-university levels – is so vital: it would allow young students to sharpen their creative prowess, learn to operate at a gut level, enhance their leadership abilities and even shape their social psychological development.
Simply put, it is about building an academic programme that fosters an entrepreneurial spirit so that, once these young Emiratis enter the professional world, they are not left staring into the abyss of instability. Indeed, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report revealed in 2011 that 51 per cent of adults who did not start a new business in the UAE were held back by a fear of failure.
An efficient education can push people to be intellectually independent and better able to embark on an entrepreneurial career trajectory. In short, the entrepreneurial path is fraught with challenges; and so exposing young Emiratis to entrepreneurship early on is key to bridging the chasm between a groundbreaking vision and real-world fears.
Family life is also part and parcel of an individual’s entrepreneurial experience. Parents can help craft their children’s entrepreneurial capacity by imbuing them with a deep understanding of this particular world and imparting a self-made ethic at an early age. This entails forging a high-performing culture of innovation within the household – one that advocates individualism and self-belief, spurs self-efficacy, praises entrepreneurs as role models, urges independent reasoning, sanctions adventure and incites risk-taking.
This process can be facilitated with the creation of family-oriented science fairs, sessions and discussion panels geared towards youth-driven entrepreneurial activities and actions. Raising awareness of government-led initiatives can also aid aspiring entrepreneurs in finding the tools and resources to bring their idea to fruition. This is essential as the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report found that, in the UAE, more than 65 per cent of individuals looking to launch a business relied solely on family and friends as an advisory network. That is simply not sufficient.
To conclude, qualifying our budding UAE entrepreneurs early on is critical if we seek to truly tap into their full potential. To achieve this, there needs to be a seismic cultural shift in the Emirates – one that brings about the changes needed to harness the power of entrepreneurs and secure our nation’s prosperous future.
Ahmad bin Byat is the chairman of du, chief executive of Dubai Holding, director general of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority, and a member of the board of trustees of the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
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Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Company%20Profile
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Sri Lanka squad for tri-nation series
Angelo Mathews (c), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan and Wanidu Hasaranga
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
Company%20profile
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Slow loris biog
From: Lonely Loris is a Sunda slow loris, one of nine species of the animal native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore
Status: Critically endangered, and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list due to growing demand in the global exotic pet trade. It is one of the most popular primate species found at Indonesian pet markets
Likes: Sleeping, which they do for up to 18 hours a day. When they are awake, they like to eat fruit, insects, small birds and reptiles and some types of vegetation
Dislikes: Sunlight. Being a nocturnal animal, the slow loris wakes around sunset and is active throughout the night
Superpowers: His dangerous elbows. The slow loris’s doe eyes may make it look cute, but it is also deadly. The only known venomous primate, it hisses and clasps its paws and can produce a venom from its elbow that can cause anaphylactic shock and even death in humans