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29 March 2024

Over 1,000 from UAE schools at YEC 2016

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By Staff

The 2016 edition of the annual Young Entrepreneur Competition (YEC), held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, will begin at Dubai Festival City Mall on March 30. Organised by Dubai SME, the agency of the Department of Economic Development mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, YEC 2016 will host 500 business projects designed by 1,031 students from schools and universities across the UAE until April 2.

Ibtihal Al Naji, General Co-ordinator of YEC, said: "The Young Entrepreneur Competition is currently in its 11th year and the 2016 edition is characterised by an unprecedented level of innovation and creativity in the participating projects as well as in the design and layout of the kiosks. The competition reflects Dubai SME’s focus on instilling and nurturing a spirit of enterprise among the younger generation in the UAE.”

Expressing her appreciation for the support extended by Dubai Festival City Mall, Al Naji said the event underlines the role of the private sector in fostering entrepreneurship. "We thank the Dubai Festival City Mall for hosting the Young Entrepreneur Competition, and we consider them a strategic partner in promoting a spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship among the younger generation."

Al Naji added the competition attracted 1,000 entries this year, of which 500 were selected for their outstanding levels of innovation and quality. Among the finalists, 150 projects are from the 5-11 age group and the remaining 350 are from students aged 12-25.  

The organising committee gathered feedback from over 500 students this year to understand their requirements and preferred time for the competition as the event, since its inception in 2005, has evolved into a keenly watched and sought after platform for talent search and research.   

"This year the competition saw 140 projects from 240 students in the 5-11 age group, compared to 100 projects from 150 students in the 10th edition. Handicraft, painting, recycled products, text books and stationery as well as children’s games are the major activities preferred by students in this age group for their projects,” Al Naji said.

“The remaining 350 projects are presented by 791 students from various emirates in the UAE. We could see a high level of innovation and creativity in these projects, which we believe raises the bar on competition and allows the students to compete in a real world of business. A large number of the projects involve crafts, recycled products, information technology and fine arts,” said Al Naji.

Abdul Aziz Al Mazam, Chief of the Registration Committee of YEC stated that the competition opens the way to the world of entrepreneurship for participants. "The competition aims to spread the spirit of entrepreneurship and help students overcome the difficulties they face in the business world. By giving students the opportunity to manage their own businesses and test their entrepreneurial skills in an actual business environment the competition provides them with the inspiration to establish their own businesses in future.”