Dubai-UAE: du, today announced a strategic tie-up with Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park, for ‘The Entrepreneur’, the UAE’s first business reality TV show featuring business upstarts in a competition to identify the country’s most promising SME entrepreneur. The show will be aired on television channel Dubai One later this year.
Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, through its wholly owned technology incubator ‘The Silicon Oasis Founders’ will offer the show’s top shortlisted entries an unrivalled boost in business including the winner and the following top 5 competitors. The winner of the show will be entitled to office space for one year at the SOF facility while the top 5 runner-ups will receive the office space for six months.

Shahla Abdul Razak, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, said: “Encouraging technology-based entrepreneurship is vital for achieving sustainable growth for the economy of the UAE. We are proud to partner with du for this exciting, innovative and inspiring initiative. We are confident that ‘The Entrepreneur’ will encourage aspiring businesspersons and enhance their performance and commitment.”

“The director of SOF will assess the proposals of the winners and the top 5 finalists to select the most promising ventures for funding,” Shahla added.

Hala Badri, Executive Vice-President, Brand and Communications, du, said: “Dubai Silicon Oasis’ generous partnership with us on ‘The Entrepreneur’ has enabled us to offer meaningful prizes to our most talented contestants. DSO’s participation, will allow our top contestants to gain invaluable support that will mold them for success in their future business endeavours.”

Other strategic partners for du’s ‘The Entrepreneur’; which is set to be aired on Dubai One includes Dubai One, as the official broadcaster, Sony Pictures Television Arabia as the production partner,  Wamda as the knowledge partner and Ernst & Young as the exclusive advisor.

A wholly-owned entity of the Government of Dubai, Dubai Silicon Oasis operates as a free zone technology park for semiconductors, microelectronics and other electronics-based companies looking to set up their regional headquarters and R&D divisions in the MENA region.

About Dubai Silicon Oasis:
Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), a 100percentage owned entity by the Government of Dubai is a free zone, strategically placed on the Emirates road. DSOA's urban master-planned community spans 7.2 square kilometers of state of the art office towers, R&D and industrial zones, educational institutions, luxury apartments, villas, hotels, healthcare and a full range of lifestyle facilities which translate into a dynamic commercial and social environment. Businesses can flourish under the unrivalled package of incentives, including 100percentage ownership, and high end IT infrastructure that allows companies to begin operating immediately.