UAE: Ajman

More female employees are joining workplaces and boardrooms in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with gender equality a key target of a regional drive to improve environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.

With the current semester winding up, many higher education institutions in the Gulf are already planning an expanded offering of courses for the next academic year – with a focus on supporting the needs of the region’s post-pandemic economy.

The UAE’s robust current account balance cushioned the economy against the twin global challenges of Covid-19 and the oil price drop in 2020. Lockdowns were implemented to protect public health, and Emiratis migrated online.

Officials from Ajman are hoping that investors can be convinced that size does matter when it comes to setting up shop and are taking the message to overseas markets that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can be a good fit for the Ajman Free Zone (AFZ).

The emirate of Ajman is looking to broaden its tourism horizons, investing in new upmarket resorts and facilities while also hoping to attract a greater slice of the UAE’s business and conference trade. It will, however, have to compete with many of its near neighbours, which have already established a strong position in the market and have the infrastructure needed to support their tourism industries.