Visa and PublisHer announce winners of the UAE edition of She’s Next in Publishing program

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, November 4, 2024

• She’s Next winner was announced at awards ceremony at Sharjah Publishers Conference.
• Reem Madkour, Founder of Dardasha won a US$50,000 grant and a three- month online mentorship from PublisHer, and in addition a one-year license from Sharjah Publishing City.
• Winner was selected by an independent committee from more than 40 applicants from the UAE Publishing Industry.

Visa (NYSE: V), the world’s leader in digital payments, together with PublisHer today announced Reem Madkour, Founder of Dardasha, as the winner of its She’s Next in Publishing grant program for UAE. The winner was selected at an award ceremony held at Sharjah Publishers Conference.

Handpicked from a pool of over 40 applicants from across the UAE, the winning woman-owned small business received a US$50,000 grant along with a three- month online mentorship from PublisHer, and in addition a one-year license from Sharjah Publishing City. The winner was selected from a pool of applicants from the UAE publishing industry.

A jury evaluated entries based on the following criteria: the progression of applicant’s entrepreneurial journey; robustness of their business metrics; digital presence; and demonstrated ability to problem-solve confidently. The members of the jury included: Salima Gutieva, Visa’s Vice President and Country Manager for the UAE, Koula Al Mujaini, Director of Activities and Marketing at Sharjah Book Authority, Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of Emirates Publishers Association, and Zhora Qureshi, from PublisHer.

PublisHer Founder Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said: “Supporting women-led businesses in publishing is a vital part of building an inclusive, truly innovative industry. The She’s Next program highlights the strength and creativity of women entrepreneurs in the UAE, empowering them to bring fresh perspectives to publishing. I am thrilled by this partnership, which provides talented women with recognition and resources to grow and thrive, contributing to a vibrant, diverse future for our industry.”

Reflecting the results of the SMB Women Digitization Index in the UAE, the survey finds that women-owned businesses initially rely on personal finances (57%) and family and friends (43%) to set up their businesses. This underscores the importance of programs like She’s Next in providing essential financial support and resources.

“At Visa, we believe in the power of women to drive innovation and transform industries. This year’s She’s Next in Publishing program has showcased the exceptional talent and entrepreneurial spirit of women in the UAE. We are thrilled to support their journey and can’t wait to see the incredible impact they will make,” said Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Visa’s SVP and Group Country Manager for GCC.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at About Visa, visamiddleeast.com/blog and @Visacemea

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