📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

DIFC Is Looking For Homegrown Creative Talents To House Within Its Gate Avenue UAE's homegrown talent can now have the chance to setup presence in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), one of the region's leading financial hub, as well as center for lifestyle, arts and culture.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

DIFC

UAE's homegrown talent can now have the chance to setup presence in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), one of the region's leading financial hub, as well as center for lifestyle, arts and culture. As part of aligning with UAE's vision to leverage prospective human capital, and its aim to support SMEs by providing a platform for their ventures to flourish, DIFC has launched a nationwide competition to attract homegrown brands to join Gate Avenue at DIFC. Open to UAE nationals and residents, the competition is seeking entrepreneurs and startups in the fashion, homeware, jewelry and lifestyle concepts sector.

Contestants can submit new or existing brands to have the opportunity to showcase their concepts in a kiosk or within a collective retail space called the Design Emporium, which is at the South Zone of Gate Avenue at DIFC. Winners would get a discounted registration fee of US$1,000 for the first three years, supplemented with a 50% discount on the lease fee, plus be able to position themselves in one of the city's financial hub center and showcase local creativity amongst international and regional brand entities. The competition kicks off from February 26, 2018 to April 8, 2018, followed by the announcement of five winners on May 1, 2018.

DIFC Authority CEO Arif Amiri comments that the initiative is part of their priority to empower talent in the UAE, and it is merely the beginning to seeing more promising concepts in the DIFC, "Through this competition, we aim to attract inspiring local brands to enrich the retail and lifestyle offering at Gate Avenue and showcase creativity to DIFC's growing community. The competition is only one element of our greater promise to support the development of human capital in the region." If you're interested, register on the website. Applications open on February 26, 2018.

Related: Calling Fintech Entrepreneurs: DIFC And Accenture Launch FinTech Hive In The UAE

Side Hustle

3 Secrets to Starting a Small Business Side Hustle That Gives Your Day Job a Run for Its Money, According to People Who Did Just That — and Made Millions

Almost anyone can start a side hustle — but only those ready to level up can use it to out-earn their 9-5s.

News and Trends

RAKBank Launches Its Inaugural SME Confidence Index Report In Collaboration With RFI Global

With SMEs contributing over 50% to the UAE's gross domestic product (GDP), the report also forecasts a strong economic outlook for the nation in 2024.

Growing a Business

7 Reasons Why Trademarks Are Important to Your Business

Trademarks are inexpensive to obtain and grow in value as your business grows. It is never too early to trademark your brand

Business News

James Clear Explains Why the 'Two Minute Rule' Is the Key to Long-Term Habit Building

The hardest step is usually the first one, he says. So make it short.

Growing a Business

What the Color of Your Logo Says About Your Company (Infographic)

The Golden Arches just wouldn't communicate the same thing if they were purple.

Franchise

The 9 Advantages of Franchising

Is franchising right for you? Discover the nine advantages franchising offers that may benefit your business.