Investigating the Use of Social Media in Entrepreneurship Activities in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

The evolution of social media is one of the most significant elements of today's economic growth. Social networks have facilitated the exchange of information between producers and consumers, and created business opportunities for new startups making it one of the most powerful tools for business and marketing. Recognizing the important role of ICT in the diversification of the economy, the UAE government has developed strategies for encouraging innovation and investment in the sector. This research explores the use of Internet social media in startups and entrepreneurship activities in UAE. Some of the most well-known social media platforms on the Internet are Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. The number of startups on social media in UAE is on the rise. Some of the challenges facing these startups include the continuously changing environment of social networks, lack of entrepreneurial knowledge or experience, and lack of funds and government support. In order to better understand the challenges and experiences of current social media entrepreneurs, a survey questionnaire was conducted on 103 existing business owners. Data gathered included information on founder education and training, company ownership, strategy and operations, and perceived obstacles to growth. Survey results indicated that two-thirds of the respondents were women and two-thirds were under the age of 35, suggesting the possibility that social media startups are attractive options for young female entrepreneurs. Despite the fact that 57% of the respondents have some universitylevel education, the survey identified a lack of entrepreneurial knowledge and training as the single biggest obstacle to growth, followed by the need for additional funding and policy support. Moreover, the study indicated that social media was a 'life changer' and has created many job opportunities. These findings were used as the basis for the development of recommendations on how to improve the innovation ecosystem for social media Internet startups.

Date of Award	Dec 2016
Original language	American English
Supervisor	TOUFIC Mezher (Supervisor)