- According to Forbes 30 under 30, London is the best city in the world to become an entrepreneur
- UK is ranked the second highest global financial centre on the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI)
- Middle East is currently the fastest growing category in UK’s International educational sector
- Over 13,000 undergraduates from UAE and KSA accepted at UK universities in 2021
- iUK predicts enrolments into UK educational institutions from the Middle East to increase by a 20% in 2022
- Over the last seven years, InvestUK has assisted 350 global entrepreneurs from 34 countries
Dubai, UAE: According to dealroom.co, the UK is Europe’s leader in the technology sector with over $75 billion in investment. As a globally connected market, the UK provides businesses with competitive talent and strong policy support, which explains why 71 of Europe’s 268 unicorn start-ups have their headquarters in London. The UK’s dynamic business environment and unmatched access to global markets have made it one of the top destinations for new business start-ups in Europe.
iUK Academy, an approved IOEE Enterprise Academy and part of the prestigious InvestUK Group, has developed an innovative Entrepreneur Experience program to assist the world’s best entrepreneurs and innovators in establishing successful businesses in the United Kingdom. Following a successful market test last year that attracted over 60 international students, 30% of whom were from the Middle East, iUK Academy today announced the launch of its innovative Entrepreneurship programme in Dubai. Through this launch, the academy hopes to attract ambitious entrepreneurs from the Middle East and equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to transform their innovative ideas into successful UK businesses. Based on the strengthening relationship between the UK and the Middle East, Rupert Gather, Chairman of the iUK Academy, predicts a 20% increase in enrolment from the Middle East over the course of 2022.
Rupert Gather, Chairman of iUK Academy adds, “With four of the top 10 global universities located in the UK, international education is a vital export for the UK. As a $20bn industry attracting nearly 300,000 global students a year, the UK is aiming to increase its global market share of international students by a third, to consolidate its position as the best-ranked destination for international students behind the US. Middle Eastern international students are one of the fastest growing groups, particularly UAE and KSA, who are seeking high academic standards, the deep culture of learning and the chance to mix and create lifelong networks with the world’s brightest and best. We are delighted that the InvestUK Academy, accredited to the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and with special relevance to budding entrepreneurs in the Middle East, has further broadened the appeal of a great British education. Furthermore, London was recently named the best city in the world to become an entrepreneur by Forbes 30 under 30. As an investment, education and innovation powerhouse, the UK provides the ideal ecosystem to assist creative, ambitious, and passionate individual’s set-up their businesses and achieve their goals.”
iUK Academy’s Entrepreneur Experience program is a comprehensive eight-week course taught by successful UK entrepreneurs and market-leading industry experts. Covering a variety of sectors, the programme covers all aspects of starting and growing a business, from initial idea validation to identifying advisors and exploring financing options. Additionally, the programme includes a unique four-week virtual internship that enables graduates to gain hands-on experience and learn the secrets of building a successful business, thereby expediting their eligibility for the UK’s business visa categories. Since its inception in 2021, iUK Academy has assisted over 50 entrepreneurs in obtaining Start-up or Innovator visa endorsements and entry clearance into the UK.
iUK Academy hosted a breakfast seminar today at The Capital Club Dubai to announce the launch of the Entrepreneurial program in the UAE. During the seminar Rupert Gather, Chairman of iUK Academy, and iUK’s valued partners Paul Arnold, Managing Director – Sovereign Saudi Arabia, and Lucy Hart, School Placement Director, Bonas MacFarlane Education, provided insights surrounding the competitive advantages of establishing a business in the UK, the UK’s close ties to the Middle East, the vast inward investment coming to the UK, particularly from the Middle East, the Middle East rapidly becoming a significant contributor to the UK’s prestigious educational system with over 14,000 students from the GCC region coming into the UK education system this year.
Since the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU at the end of 2020, it has actively developed and strengthened trade relations with the Middle East. The UK and the Middle East already cooperate in a variety of areas, including security, foreign policy, trade, and investment. In addition to the above, the UK is now actively targeting the Middle East in its bid to attract over 600,000 international students by 2030 and has recently passed new legislation allowing overseas degree students to work after graduation.
