Dubai, UAE, March 5, 2014 - The University of Dubai (UD) today launched its Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Club at a special event during which UD students, alumni and staff were addressed by UD President Dr. Eesa Bastaki, Dr. Khalid Abdul Aziz Mohammed Al Janahi, Advisor, Dubai the Capital of Islamic Economy, and private sector partners Karim Djerboa from Innovation 360 and Abdullah Al Subyani of SYNERGiCS-MENA Consultants. It was also attended by Dr. Mohammad Abdulqader Al Redha, Director - Health Data & Information Analysis Department, Dubai Health Authority. The club, which has been established by the University's Centre for Research and Consultancy, will provide information, mentoring and networking opportunities to students and alumni to nurture startups and ideas.

Members of the club will have access to mentoring from professors and staff with experience in nurturing startups and setting up SMEs, as well public and private sector partners, who will support the aspiring entrepreneurs through every step of establishing a business. The club will hold regular workshops and networking events with keynote speeches from successful startups, entrepreneurs, innovators, and organize industry visits and internship opportunities with associated companies. The club will also run competitions for members who will have to solve real life business challenges, and present business plans to experts for growth.

In his address to the students, Dr. Khalid Abdul Aziz Mohammed Al Janahi, Advisor, Dubai the Capital of Islamic Economy related the significant contribution of Islamic economic values and principles in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship. He praised the University of Dubai for taking this important step towards making Dubai the capital of Islamic economy in the next two years as envisaged by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Dr. Mohammad Abdulqader Al Redha, said: "Dubai is aiming to become the centre of excellence in providing medical care, medical education and medical research. The University of Dubai's proactive role in encouraging innovation is of significant value in this effort to take healthcare in Dubai to the next level."

In his address, Dr. Eesa Bastaki, President, University of Dubai, said: "With the aim of creating an entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem within the university, we have established the Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Club to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of our students and alumni. The idea came following a survey of our students who displayed their entrepreneurial and innovative attributes to develop their ideas into real life businesses. This initiative will spark innovative ideas and generate self-employment opportunities to aid economic development in Dubai and the UAE, and thereby reduce the pressure of unemployment."

Karim Djerboa, Principal Consultant, Innovation 360, said: "We are very pleased to be involved in this important initiative, and we look forward to sharing our expertise with the students and alumni of the University of Dubai."

Abdullah Al Subyani, Partner and CEO, SYNERGiCS-MENA Consultants, said: "We are always striving to encourage new talent at SYNERGiCS-MENA Consultants, and we expect that our joint efforts with the UD Student Entrepreneurship and Innovation Club will help develop their exciting ideas."

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About University of Dubai:
The University of Dubai (UD) is one of the leading higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates offering a Bachelor and Master degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science degree in Computing and Information Systems, a Master of Science degree in Information Systems Management and Master of Laws (LLM) in Business Arbitration & Anti-Money Laundering. Licensed nationally by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, UD became the first private University in Dubai to hold the AACSB international accreditation in 2009 as well as the first private university in the UAE to hold the ABET-CAC accreditation for its Computing and Information Systems (BS) program in 2006. The AACSB accreditation makes the University of Dubai part of an elite group to which only 5% of the world's business schools belong. UD delivers a premium education aided by a team of professors with extensive experience in their respective disciplines. The Dubai Chamber founded UD in 1997 to prepare future generations with the tools to become world leaders. Visit our website at www.ud.ac.ae or call +971 4 207 2787 for more information.

For more information please contact:
PR Department, University of Dubai
Tel: 04-207 2661; E-mail: info@ud.ac.ae
Samer Elzein | Hiba Moussa
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971-4-4507600
Fax: 971-4-4358040
Email: samer.elzein@bm.com | hiba.moussa@bm.com

© Press Release 2014