$2 Trillion in annual revenues for social enterprises worldwide

Ms. Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai, announced that social entrepreneurship and innovation are two fundamental pillars in supporting sustainable development and building more cohesive and prosperous societies.

This came during a media meeting on the sidelines of the (TEDxCDA) event organized by the Authority for the second year in a row, under the slogan "Empowering Communities through Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation", which was held at the Museum of the Future, with the participation of a group of speakers and experts in community innovation.

She added: Social enterprises, known as the fourth sector, play a pivotal role in driving the wheel of development in the world, as they achieve annual revenues at the global level of nearly two trillion dollars, and provide about 200 million jobs annually, which reflects their increasing importance in the economy and society.

Ms. Hessa Buhumaid explained that organizing this event coincides with the announcement by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, of 2025 as the Year of the Community, in addition to the UAE's celebration of the Month of Innovation, which this year completes a full decade.

She stressed that the event witnessed 11 specialized dialogue sessions, discussing the most prominent challenges and opportunities in the social sector, while reviewing live models of successful community initiatives, such as the experience of the Al Jallaf family in Dubai, who established a cultural forum in their home in the Al Mizhar area, where they receive visitors from writers, intellectuals and book lovers, and provide them with fresh dishes and the finest types of coffee, in an environment that combines culture and hospitality. She also reviewed a youth experience led by Ahmed Al Samid and his colleague, who presented a pioneering model for a social institution that aims to find innovative solutions to community challenges.

Hessa Buhumaid said: The stories and inspiring experiences of the participants form the cornerstone of building social entrepreneurship strategies, and are the backbone of drawing a brighter future picture and motivating others to adopt creativity and innovation in their daily lives.