Bayt.com Survey: Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa

Despite last year’s challenges, it's inspiring to see MENA entrepreneurs determined to work their way back to recovery and success. At the heart of entrepreneurism is the ability to adapt and move forward.

The new survey conducted by Bayt.com entitled “Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa” shows that budding entrepreneurs, small companies and startups are demonstrating perseverance and resiliency as they plan for today and for their future.

Key Findings:

• Over 3 in 5 MENA professionals prefer to be self-employed/have their own business if given the choice.
• Personal fulfillment (53%) and freedom to choose work-life balance (44%) emerge as the top reasons for preferring to be self-employed.
• IT/ Internet/ E-commerce (11%) and Real Estate/ Property Development (10%) emerged as the most appealing industries for entrepreneurship.
• MENA respondents perceive entrepreneurs to be opportunity-driven (85%) and they help in creating new jobs (82%).
• Procuring finances to start (64%), the uncertainty of profit/ income (35%) and hiring the wrong people (32%) emerge as the respondents’ top concerns while setting up their own business.

Data for the Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa survey was collected online from 22^nd September to 17^th October 2021. Results are based on a sample of 3,613 respondents from the following countries: UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Sudan among others.