Straddling North Africa and Western Asia, the Middle East has been a cradle of civilisation and entrepreneurship — well before the arrival of Islam. In this region, gender roles were traditionally specified by culture, with women often expected to stay within the family environment, while men would trade in society at large. This book contributes to the literature on a highly neglected field of study: women entrepreneurs in the Middle East. Recognising that entrepreneurship does not take place in a vacuum, it focuses on contexts, and the ecosystems of this region with largely patriarchal societies, that are influenced by culture, religion, and colonial experience.

This book provides readers with a topical analysis of women entrepreneurs in the Middle East on the context, ecosystems, and future perspectives for the region. Authors have presented the reality of 11 countries from the region based on women entrepreneurs' historical backgrounds, challenges, and achievements, as well as the contribution towards economic development in their local/immediate communities and the Middle East at large. Following the country analysis by the authors of each chapter, the editors provide a general assessment of the future of women entrepreneurs in the region by focusing on the current entrepreneurship policy and strategies of various countries in the region. This volume will be an essential reading for anyone researching or working on projects related to women's entrepreneurship and small businesses in the Middle East.

Contents:

• Introduction to the Middle East (Dina Modestus Nziku, Léo-Paul Dana, and Aidin Salamzadeh)


• Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in the Middle East (Helene Balslev Clausen and Léo-Paul Dana)


• Women Entrepreneurs in the Middle East (Dina Modestus Nziku, Fiorina Mugione, and Aidin Salamzadeh)


• Women Entrepreneurs in Bahrain (Aidin Salamzadeh and Léo-Paul Dana)


• Women Entrepreneurs in Egypt (Ekaterina Vorobeva)


• Women Entrepreneurs in Iran (Aidin Salamzadeh and Léo-Paul Dana)


• Women Entrepreneurs in Israel (Osnat Akirav, Léo-Paul Dana, A Allan Degen, Bella L Galperin, and Meron Medzini)


• Women Entrepreneurs in Jordan (Haya Al-Dajani)


• Women Entrepreneurs in Lebanon (Sally Shamieh and Roula Gergess)


• Women Entrepreneurs in Oman (Mohammad Rezaur Razzak and Suaad Jassem)


• Women Entrepreneurs in Palestine (Doaa Althalathini)


• Women Entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Wassim J Aloulou, Veland Ramadani, Mohammad Alarifi, and Rasim Zuferi)


• Women Entrepreneurs in Syria (Aidin Salamzadeh, Mirjana Radovic-Markovic, and Slimane Ed-Dafali)


• Women Entrepreneurs in the United Arab Emirates (Sayed Abdul Majid Gilani, Naveed Yasin, and Abdullah Alshammaa)


• Toward the Future (Dina Modestus Nziku)

Readership: Students and researchers specialising in entrepreneurship.

Key Features:

• This book provides a wide range of scientific evidence about women entrepreneurship from across the Middle East


• The book chapters will be authored by a mixture of early-career and senior researchers, with input from industry experts in the field and a good number of indigenous researchers, providing a balanced chapter authorship


• Provision of policy implications and recommendations for further studies


• Fully illustrated


• The first book of its kind about the Middle East