DUBAI — Support Legal, the Middle East and Africa’s first legal services platform for entrepreneurs and emerging companies, has made its free legal knowhow platform ‘ScaleUp’ available in Arabic. Despite Arabic being the fourth most-used language online, it remains under-represented on the region’s most popular websites.

ScaleUp was developed to help entrepreneurs establish, fund and scale their businesses. The digital platform offers access to knowhow and practical advice, at no cost to the user. The Arabic portal has been added to give business owners in MEA the choice to access ScaleUp content in their native language.

Highlighting the importance Support Legal places on ensuring Arabic-speaking entrepreneurs have equal access to the legal knowledge necessary to launch and succeed, Hannah McKinlay, principal and head of knowledge management at Support Legal, said: “The UAE has the highest smartphone penetration in the world and Saudi Arabia is close behind yet most entrepreneurs don’t have access to much-needed business information in Arabic. Our mission is to break down barriers and increase access to knowledge for current and aspiring entrepreneurs. Business advice and know-how are just as important to a start-up as funding. We hope that providing entrepreneurs with access to the right resources, in their own language, will catalyze the region’s startup ecosystem.”

ScaleUp’s extensive library of go-to articles address every stage of the business lifecycle, from inception through to exit. Resources help answer common questions associated with agreements, funding, protection of ideas and the day-to-day running of a business. In line with Support Legal’s mission to empower the start-up community, increase transparency, and reduce barriers between entrepreneurs and legal professionals, no subscription or sign-up is required to access ScaleUp content.

“Governments across MEA are prioritizing the acceleration of entrepreneurship as an engine for job creation and inclusive growth. In our dealings with businesses across the region, Arabic is often the preferred language for communication. Tools like ScaleUp Arabic can empower them with the knowledge they need to make the right decisions for the growth of their businesses,” added Ahmed Arif, principal at Support Legal.

Created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, Support Legal is intent on partnering with businesses — particularly entrepreneurs and SMEs — helping to navigate essential legal and regulatory requirements for businesses to launch, grow and succeed. Access to advice and tips from senior lawyers with such extensive experience would prove otherwise unaffordable for start-ups. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi Global Market, it is the first legal services provider in the region to do away with billable hours entirely, understanding the disconnect between the way lawyers bill for their services and the way clients want to be billed. — SG