Access Abu Dhabi
Expand your company and experience the future of business and innovation.
"Access Abu Dhabi is all about IN‑powerment. This means empowering women and minority founders with more access to ownership, decision-making authority, and most importantly, investment as they scale internationally.”
—
SARAH OMOLEWU
Founder and Managing Partner
SARAH OMOLEWU
Founder and Managing Partner
“Supporting women and minority businesses in their global expansion to Abu Dhabi is a tribute to my Lebanese entrepreneurial mother who laid the groundwork for my success.”
—
Kevin O'Leary
Access Abu Dhabi Ambassador
Kevin O'Leary
Access Abu Dhabi Ambassador
The Opportunity
A premier global destination
Abu Dhabi possesses advanced infrastructure, a diverse and stable economy, hyper connectivity, a superlative talent pool, world-class lifestyle and lucrative business opportunities.
The Program
Unlimited opportunity, exponential value
Kevin O'Leary is spearheading an initiative providing companies,
particularly minority and women-owned entities, guidance and access
to Abu Dhabi’s thriving business and innovation ecosystem.
The Advisors
Connection to world-class expertise
A dedicated advisory board led by Kevin O’Leary is standing by to provide you with unparalleled guidance to Abu Dhabi.
The Lifestyle
Prime destination
Imagine growing your business in a cosmopolitan city teeming with rich culture, world-class art, unforgettable natural landscapes and a blossoming entertainment scene.
#ABUDHABIDIDYOUKNOW
Abu Dhabi through a different lens
Interesting facts you may not know about the UAE’s diverse capital.
Abu Dhabi is home to an award-winning international financial sector, a thriving capital market and three of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds.
Women play a key role in the economic landscape of the UAE, occupying 66% of jobs in the public sector – one of the highest proportions worldwide.
(Women's Economic Empowerment Global Summit)
Abu Dhabi is a cosmopolitan city and style of dress is similar in range to that of any major metropolis in the world. That said, respectful attire is standard. As with all cultures, Emiratis sometimes prefer to wear traditional attire, including konduras (long white robes) and headscarves for men, and abayas (long black robes) and headscarves for women.
Abu Dhabi and its neighboring emirates maintain balanced relationships with the international community. Most recently, a new day has dawned for the UAE and Israel as relations were officially restored in 2020 when both nations signed the Abraham Accords, serving as a declaration of peace, cooperation and constructive diplomatic relations.
In addition to hosting Formula 1’s season finale race, Abu Dhabi successfully resurrected UFC Fight Island on Yas Island to conduct competition safely at the height of Covid-19 in 2020.
Abu Dhabi has received dozens of nods from the Guinness Book of World Records including: the largest indoor theme park in the world spanning 1.65 million square feet (Warner Bros. World), fastest roller coaster in the world (Formula Rossa at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi) and the largest carpet in the world (Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque).
Abu Dhabi allows foreign investors to maintain 100% ownership of their entities.
For the last five years Abu Dhabi has been ranked the world's safest city.
(Numbeo Safety Index by City 2020)
Abu Dhabi is ranked 12th globally for ease of doing business. Once you have access to the right networks and stakeholders (hint, hint), setting up and growing your business in the emirate can be a breeze.
(World Bank Ease of Doing Business Study, 2020)
More than 1.48 million people across 200 nationalities call the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, home.
(Official Portal of the UAE Government)
Abu Dhabi is ranked the number one happiest city in the Arab world.
(UN Cities Happiness Index, 2020)
Abu Dhabi has more than 400 miles of coastline and 200 islands (read: amazing beaches).
Abu Dhabi is home to an award-winning international financial sector, a thriving capital market and three of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds.
Women play a key role in the economic landscape of the UAE, occupying 66% of jobs in the public sector – one of the highest proportions worldwide.
(Women's Economic Empowerment Global Summit)
Abu Dhabi is a cosmopolitan city and style of dress is similar in range to that of any major metropolis in the world. That said, respectful attire is standard. As with all cultures, Emiratis sometimes prefer to wear traditional attire, including konduras (long white robes) and headscarves for men, and abayas (long black robes) and headscarves for women.
