Entrepreneurial Motivations of Women in the Middle East

Entrepreneurship is considered an engine for the economic growth of a country and a useful strategy to eradicate poverty (Thapa Karki and Xheneti 2018; Farzanegan 2014; Al Matroushi et al. 2020). Entrepreneurial activities are important to improve the economic well-being of a society (Mulawarman et al. 2020). Singh and Gaur (2018) assert that entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of a prosperous economy Also, in many regions, innovation and entrepreneurship are crucial for long-term growth and development (Wannamakok and Chang 2020). Entrepreneurship is a crucial engine for economic growth and provides a workable solution to many societal issues. Almos (2019) argued that entrepreneurship has the potential to empower individuals and serve as a strong catalyst for the creation of jobs, economic growth, innovation, structural change, and economic revival. Entrepreneurial activities help in converting novel ideas into business opportunities, the resurgence of social networks, new job creation, and increased productivity (Jha et al. 2018). Greve and Salaff (2003) defined an entrepreneur as “one who owns, launches, manages, and assumes the risks of economic ventures.” Similarly, Parrish (2010) argued that an effective business must maintain its operations while assisting in the sustainability of the larger socio-ecological system. Furthermore, a wider body of literature provides sufficient evidence that entrepreneurship is now crucial for job creation, innovation, and economic expansion.