CSR And Social Entrepreneurship: Insights From SBWC's Roundtable On Community Engagement In UAE

The third Roundtable talk, "CSR and Social Entrepreneurship: Pathways to Vision and Opportunity," focused on enhancing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the UAE. Organised by the Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) and the American University of Sharjah’s School of Business Administration (SBA), it aimed to encourage companies to contribute more to society. The event brought together government officials, experts, and entrepreneurs from across the UAE.

Maryam bin Al Shaikh, Director of SBWC, opened the fourth edition of the forum. She reiterated the Council's dedication to supporting initiatives that bolster entrepreneurship and elevate Sharjah and the UAE's global business standing. This commitment aligns with efforts to strengthen the local business ecosystem.

Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations in Sharjah and Co-founder of Seafood Souq, was among the distinguished speakers. He emphasised his perspective as an entrepreneur, noting that entrepreneurs often rely on government support when facing challenges due to its safety net culture. He stressed educating investors over entrepreneurs is crucial for fostering social enterprise angel investors.

The forum featured several notable speakers, including Sara Shaw, Director of the National CSR Fund "Majra"; Dr. Jamal Maalouf from SBA; Salma Gharama from Ma’an; Ceylan Oren from The Waste Lab; Nadine Zeidan from MENA Impact; Dr. Saeed Al Hassan from Manhat; and Dr. Narjess Boubakri, Dean of SBA. Each shared insights into enhancing CSR and entrepreneurship within the region.

This session was part of a broader series initiated by SBWC in collaboration with SBA. The series aims to empower women entrepreneurs by facilitating knowledge exchange and developing innovative solutions for positive change in the UAE's business landscape. These dialogues are designed to foster an environment where women can thrive in entrepreneurship.

Sheikh Fahim highlighted that there is ample disposable income available in the region. He suggested that strategic planning is necessary to unite investors effectively. His remarks underscored the importance of creating a supportive investment climate for social enterprises.

The roundtable underscored a collective effort to improve CSR practices while promoting social entrepreneurship as a pathway for growth and opportunity within the UAE's evolving business environment.

With inputs from WAM