Women Entrepreneurs Thrive in UAE: Women-Only Coworking Spaces & Support Ecosystems in 2025

The UAE is experiencing a quiet entrepreneurial revolution, with female founders reshaping the region's business landscape in 2025. Women-led startups are securing unprecedented access to capital, mentorship, and dedicated workspaces, fundamentally transforming what it means to be a woman entrepreneur in the Middle East. From dedicated coworking hubs to government-backed funding initiatives, the infrastructure supporting female business leaders has never been stronger.​

The Business Case for Female Entrepreneurship

Despite comprising 50% of the population, women-led startups receive only 1.2% of venture capital in MENA—yet they consistently deliver superior returns on investment compared to all-male teams. This funding gap represents massive untapped economic potential. Recognizing this opportunity, UAE institutions are actively building support systems designed specifically for female founders, viewing women's entrepreneurship as essential for economic diversification and sustainable growth.​

According to Mastercard research, 84% of women in the UAE aspire to start their own business, yet barriers including limited access to influential networks, regulatory complexity, and digital resource gaps prevent many from pursuing these dreams. Targeted support systems are directly addressing these obstacles.​

Premier Women-Only Coworking Spaces

Dubai's women-only coworking ecosystem has expanded dramatically, offering thoughtfully designed spaces that prioritize both functionality and community building.​

The Bureau (Gold & Diamond Park) stands as Dubai's leading women-focused workspace, founded by sisters Nikita and Rhea Patel. Features include stylish coworking lounges, private offices, meeting rooms, an on-site café by Jones The Grocer, and a podcast studio. Day passes start at AED 120, with monthly memberships beginning at AED 950. The Bureau hosts regular networking events, workshops, and wellness programs, creating a holistic environment supporting professional and personal growth.​

SheSpace Dubai offers luxury coworking in Downtown Dubai specifically designed for female entrepreneurs, with hot desks starting at AED 1,000/month and private offices available on request. Beyond workspace, SheSpace provides business support services and mentorship programs addressing the unique challenges women face scaling ventures.​

The Co-Spaces Women's Hub (Jumeirah Lake Towers) fosters female entrepreneurship through flexible workspaces, access to mentorship programs, business workshops, and community support groups. The holistic approach recognizes that business success requires both practical resources and emotional support networks.​

Additional quality spaces include:

• Thrive Women's Workspace (Al Barsha): Day passes from AED 110, monthly memberships from AED 1,000

• The Bloom Space (Dubai Marina): Hot desks from AED 950/month, offering workshops and mentorship

• Female Founders Hub (Dubai Silicon Oasis): Day passes from AED 90, memberships from AED 800, emphasizing startup accelerators and funding opportunities

• Empower Women's Coworking Lounge (Al Barsha): Hot desks from AED 850/month

Funding and Investment Support

Beyond workspaces, female entrepreneurs access dedicated funding initiatives. She WINS Arabia, launched by the International Finance Corporation and Abu Dhabi Global Market, provides capacity building and training to women-led startups across MENA. The program connects trained entrepreneurs with trained fund managers through networking events and pitch competitions, directly addressing the capital access gap.​

Visa's "She's Next" initiative offers grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 alongside access to networks including leaders from First Abu Dhabi Bank, National Bank of Kuwait, and Bank Muscat. This structured approach recognizes that capital alone isn't sufficient—network access remains crucial for entrepreneurial success.​

Sharjah's Leadership in Female Entrepreneurship

The Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC), operating under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, represents comprehensive institutional support. SBWC provides networking opportunities, capacity-building programs, and advocacy, solidifying Sharjah's position as a hub for female-led innovation.​

Nama Women Advancement, a Sharjah-based entity, supports women in health, education, livelihood, and business ventures through targeted mentorship, business guidance, and access to essential resources. This holistic approach addresses not just financial capital but social capital and curated platforms for sustained knowledge exchange.​

Government-Backed Initiatives

The UAE's National Strategy for Empowerment of Emirati Women creates policy frameworks designed specifically to increase female participation in the private sector and entrepreneurial activities. This isn't symbolic—it reflects strategic economic imperatives as Gulf nations accelerate post-oil diversification.​

The Dubai International Financial Centre operates a dedicated accelerator for women-led fintech ventures, recognizing that financial technology represents transformative opportunity for female entrepreneurs with innovative solutions addressing market gaps.​

RAKEZ's BusinessWomen Package provides affordable solutions for female entrepreneurs setting up in UAE free zones, with streamlined processes and dedicated support services.​

Success Stories and Market Potential

The TiE Women MENA 2025 competition recognized exceptional female founders across sectors including compliance, AI, edtech, clean beauty, femtech, and HR tech, with winners receiving equity-free grants and mentorship. Nearly 200 licensed, women-founded businesses participated, demonstrating robust entrepreneurial activity and diverse sectoral representation.​

Female-led ventures are particularly strong in fintech (like Nuha Hashem's neobank Zywa), e-commerce platforms targeting regional markets, and health-tech solutions addressing underserved populations. These entrepreneurs bring nuanced understanding of local market dynamics, enabling them to address critical gaps that international competitors often miss.​

Looking Forward

As female entrepreneurship becomes mainstream across the UAE, the convergence of dedicated workspaces, accessible capital, government support, and cultural acceptance creates unprecedented opportunity. For women entrepreneurs worldwide considering launching ventures, the UAE in 2025 represents a genuinely supportive ecosystem where ambition meets infrastructure—a powerful combination that transforms aspiration into achievement.