Intrapreneurship in the Middle East: Unlocking Talent in a Transient Workforce

The talent dilemma in a city that never stays still

Dubai and the wider Middle East have always been known for ambition, opportunity, and rapid transformation. With world-class infrastructure, low taxes, and a fast-paced business ecosystem, it’s no surprise that professionals from across the globe are drawn here. And yes…. I can say this because I am one of them.

But beneath the surface of this global talent magnet lies a transient workforce that presents both a challenge and an opportunity. As someone with over 25 years in HR, I’ve watched this pattern on repeat:

Talented individuals arrive brimming with energy and ambition. They bring value. Then… they leave (or they are fired).

In many cases, they leave not for greener pastures, but to start their own ventures and unfortunately, many of those ventures don’t survive past the 12-month mark. for us to examine why some people fail to make entrepreneurship, we first need to see why people turn to entrepreneurship in the first place:

Acording to Sharjah Media City, as of 2024, the UAE was ranked as the third most popular global destination for entrepreneurs to launch their businesses
Establishing a business in the UAE takes just four days, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs. Once you have that Emirates ID and Business licence, its all go from there
In 2023, Dubai’s domestic innovation efforts increased startup funding by 25%, reaching a total of Dh3 billion

The Harsh Reality: Entrepreneurship isn't always the answer

We hear it constantly: “I left my job to follow my passion.” But here’s the truth I see as a coach and trainer in this space: Many people are stepping away from employment without a clear business model, sufficient support, or readiness. And the result? burnout, financial loss, re-entering the job market feeling discouraged

And employers? They’re left scrambling to replace strong team members often without understanding why they left in the first place.

What if we could stop the exit before it happens?

That’s where intrapreneurship comes in.

What Is Intrapreneurship?

Intrapreneurship is about empowering employees to think, act, and innovate like entrepreneurs — but within the safety and structure of an organization.

Instead of losing talent to the entrepreneurial dream (which can become a nightmare), companies can nurture that entrepreneurial spirit internally.

In 25+ years in HR, I’ve seen firsthand what keeps people engaged:

Autonomy
Meaningful work
Growth opportunities
Recognition for their ideas

Why It Matters in the Middle East

In a region where expat contracts are short-term, employee turnover is high and Start-up culture is booming, leaders must rethink how talent is engaged.

Intrapreneurship offers a bridge between employee and entrepreneur. It allows companies to retain ambitious people, while allowing those individuals to create, build, and make an impact without walking away.

What employers can do to harness intrapreneurship

Create innovation labs or idea incubators giving employees a structured space to propose and test new ideas that align with business goals.
Incentivize creativity by offering bonuses, recognition, or advancement opportunities for team members who drive innovation internally.
Use AI to free up time by automateing routine tasks to give people space for strategic thinking, idea generation, and problem-solving.
Foster a culture of psychological safety so people won’t innovate if they fear failure. Create room for experimentation — and celebrate learnings, not just wins.
Link intrapreneurship to KPIs and align innovation initiatives with business performance metrics. Let intrapreneurs solve real business challenges — and track the results.

Bottom Line

The revolving door of talent in Dubai and across the Middle East isn’t inevitable. We can retain top performers by giving them a reason to stay. KNowing that most employee leave a company becasue of a great idea they want to implement, ask yourself this:

If your most ambitious team member came to you with a business idea, would they feel safe to explore it within your company — or would they have to leave to pursue it?

Intrapreneurship is how we protect, empower, and retain our future leaders.

I’d love to hear from leaders, HR professionals, and innovators who are exploring intrapreneurship and retention in high-turnover regions.