Entrepreneurs Urge More SME Space and Financing at Make in the UAE
Emirati entrepreneurs at Make in the UAE urged greater exhibition space for small and micro businesses, financing products tailored to startups and a dedicated tender platform to secure local contracts.
Entrepreneurs Call for More Small-Business Space at Make in the UAE
Several Emirati founders attending the Make in the UAE event in Abu Dhabi said expanded exhibition allocations would help more small firms reach buyers and partner organisations. Participants reported that the platform has already enabled meetings with suppliers, potential purchasers and larger corporate and institutional buyers.
Mona Al Hammadi, founder of Mineral Energy, described how a family health problem in 2017 led her to develop a patented topical product and to scale that idea into a commercial venture. She said this was her second appearance on the Make in the UAE stage and that greater floor space for micro and small enterprises would reflect the rising number of national startups.
Startups Seek Dedicated Tender Platform and Local Contracts
Several entrepreneurs asked organisers to create a procurement and tender platform focused on startups and SMEs to help them win domestic contracts. They argued that a structured procurement channel would provide predictable revenue streams and faster business growth for companies still building capacity.
Speakers said such a mechanism would not only increase the volume of deals made at the event but would also help newer firms move from exhibition exposure to formal supply agreements with government and private buyers.
Manufacturers Highlight Supply-Chain and Shipping Challenges
Manufacturers at the event described ongoing logistical challenges, particularly around shipping and global supply chains, that hinder rapid scaling and export. Noura Al Muraykhi, who established Quantum Pharma in Abu Dhabi four years ago, said her business grew from a single hand-sanitiser product to a broader range of health and pharmaceutical items.
Al Muraykhi noted that while supply-chain constraints remain, the event showcased local raw materials and suppliers that could substitute imports and reduce lead times. She urged organisers to pair product displays with practical matchmaking services that connect manufacturers to domestic input suppliers and logistics partners.
Product Innovation and Market Success Among Emirati Founders
Founders displayed a wide variety of homegrown products that reflect both cultural heritage and modern consumer demand. Ghamdan Mabhout of Al Khairat Foods described a flavored water line launched after the company’s 2019 founding that has since achieved strong sales locally and abroad.
Samar Al Marri showcased a range of Sidr-based beverages developed to soften the naturally bitter taste and presented a coffee product infused with Sidr flavouring positioned for younger consumers. Craftsman Salem Al Mansouri said the event gave traditional artisans a first-time platform to present heritage items to new markets and buyers.
Government Backing Spurs Industrial Opportunities for Youth
Participants credited sustained government support for enabling entrepreneurship and industrial experimentation, saying policy and institutional initiatives have opened pathways to factory set‑up and product development. Several founders encouraged peers to start small, focus on product quality and scale deliberately to build durable businesses.
Speakers described current support as a “golden” window for innovators, urging youth to select market-ready, differentiated ideas and to use institutional support channels, incubators and associations to accelerate commercialisation.
The entrepreneurs’ requests converge on three practical measures for the next Make in the UAE cycle: larger, reserved exhibition space for small and micro enterprises; financial products designed for scale‑up needs; and a targeted procurement or tender platform to convert exposure into contracts. Attendees said implementing these changes would increase deal flow, strengthen domestic supply chains and help Emirati startups move faster from prototype to sustained production and export.
