Potential Encourages SMEs to Apply for the UAE 25|Arabia 500

Through a strategic partnership between Potential and AllWorld Network, both organizations are launching the UAE 25|Arabia 500 to recognize the most dynamic entrepreneurs in the Arab world

Dubai, UAE, 14 August, 2010: Potential FZ-LLC, a leading business development company headquartered in Dubai, AllWorld Network, a US-based global economic development firm, and Professor Michael Porter of the Harvard Business School, are launching the UAE 25 as part of the Arabia 500. Through this strategic partnership, Potential is inviting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to apply for the UAE 25 where the winner will be recognized as a global standard entrepreneur leading one among the fastest-growing and best performing private companies in the UAE.

The UAE 25 is part of the Arabia 500 covering the Middle East and North Africa. Other Arabia 500 programs including the Saudi 100, Jordan 25, Lebanon 25, Egypt 25, Algeria 25, Morocco 25 and Tunisia 25, are meant to highlight the outstanding business performance of the most recognized companies in this region.

Becoming part of the UAE 25 enables companies to earn powerful local and global endorsement and boost the morale of their employees and investors. The top 5 winners from each country will be invited to participate in the AllWorld Leadership Summit at Harvard University to meet winners from around the world.

“Encouraging SMEs to take part in the UAE 25|Arabia 500 goes in line with Potential’s strategy to develop organizations’ capabilities to achieve their business objectives and help them move to the Next Generation Business,” said Shadi Banna, Co-Founder of Potential FZ-LLC.

He noted that the UAE 25|Arabia 500 is a very important opportunity for fast-growing companies to gain the local and international recognition they deserve and shed light on their business performance. It also opens up an access for entrepreneurs to capital markets.

Companies compete for a spot on the UAE 25 based on their growth rate recorded in their annual revenues for the years between 2007 and 2009. They should prove that they have been able to grow at a very fast rate during these years while meeting the international standards of competitive entrepreneurship. Companies can visit the Arabia 500 web page at AllWorldLive.com to find out more and to apply for no cost.

“It will be wonderful to see some of the best and most successful UAE SMEs that we worked with competing for excellence and recognition on the regional and international levels,” said Banna, adding that companies applying for the UAE 25 should have the potential to represent the leading edge of competitiveness.

“With October 1 set as a deadline for receiving applications, companies wishing to apply for the UAE 25 should begin now by completing a business survey and providing audited statements to confirm their revenue growth,” Banna noted. Some of the UAE contenders who already submitted their applications for the UAE 25 include Lammtara Pictures – the studio behind the Emirati hit animated series “Freej”, Fast Rent a Car – a local agency that has over 18 offices in the UAE and Qatar and a fleet of over 900 vehicles, and Bayt.com that became the No.1 job site in the Middle East with more than 4 million job seekers.

Commenting on the significance of the UAE 25, Anne Habiby, Co-Founder of AllWorld Network, said: “The UAE 25 will demonstrate that emerging company owners are true corporate heroes. These men and women represent the leading edge of a new approach to job growth and competitiveness and we are honored to be working with Potential, itself a terrific entrepreneurial company.”

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ABOUT POTENTIAL

Potential has pioneered the innovative Next Generation Performance framework for DEVELOPING STARS, whether Individual Entrepreneurs, Large Organizations or employees within SMEs.Founded in 2005 with headquarters in Dubai and team locations across the Middle East region, Potential is supporting thousands of individuals and hundreds of companies to kick-start their businesses, improve their performance, boost sales, improve customer service performance, innovate, expand and develop their Next Generation Leaders

The company’s portfolio consists of consulting, coaching and training capabilities, deployed across products such as the flagship Potential Entrepreneur program for Individual Entrepreneurs as well as bespoke development programs for SMEs and Large Organizations. Potential follows a special and unique methodology of work with its customers. It uses a customized sequential program to evaluate the situation of the client’s business, discover areas that need improvement, undertake training and onsite coaching and then re-evaluate results.

During the past 5 years, Potential helped dozens of entrepreneurs to startup their companies and supported hundreds of SMEs to expand their business. Moreover, Potential has provided tailored performance improving programs to over 50 leading corporations including Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, Doha Bank, Dell, Du, Geant, HP, and Saudi Telecom.

For more information, please visit Potential around the web:

www.potential.com

www.twitter.com/potential4all

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6512801823#

www.linkedin.com/companies/potential

or send an email to: contactus@potential.com

About AllWorld Network:

AllWorld Network was established in 2007 by Deirdre M. Coyle Jr., Anne Habiby and Professor Michael E. Porter of the Harvard Business School, after many years of promoting entrepreneurship in the developed and developing worlds. Recognizing that entrepreneurship drives economic growth and innovation, AllWorld’s mission is to find and advance ALL the growth entrepreneurs of the emerging world by 2015. AllWorld does that by creating Fast Growth rankings: Africa 500, Arabia 500, Asia 500, Eurasia 500 and Latin America 500.

AllWorld’s goal is to give entrepreneurs the visibility and leadership skills to take their companies and their countries to the next level. The 500s establish a definitive record of the fastest growing, most dynamic entrepreneurs in the region. By shining a light on these emerging business leaders, the 500 lists facilitate access to capital, open new markets for entrepreneurs, provide real time feedback to policy makers, and put momentum behind these entrepreneurs as they create the next economy for their countries.

www.AllWorldLive.com

Arabia 500 Qualifying Criteria:

Be an independent, private, and for-profit corporation or partnership or proprietorship
Must NOT be a non-profit, holding company, franchise, bank or utility company.
Have 6 or more full-time employees in 2009
Have a minimum 3-year operating history, and revenue (USD) of at least $100,000 in 2007 and $500,000 in 2009. Younger or smaller companies can be recognized as Companies to Watch.
Provide audited statements or an audit letter to confirm your company’s revenues
To apply for the Arabia 500, visit www.AllWorldLive.com