UAE is coagulating its standing as one of the promising hubs of startups and scale-ups in the region. According to global level field players, institutions and indicators, the country is in a progressive and promising path enhancing the number of startups. The government is involved in creating an integrated investment environment by introducing favorable business regulations and flexible policies. Programs like Abu Dhabi’s Hub71, Dubai Future Accelerators, and the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) provide startups with mentorship, office space, and funding. These initiatives help entrepreneurs connect with global investors and partners, giving them the resources they need to grow.
Recent statistics show that the UAE topped the GCC countries as the leading incubator for startups, with over 8,600 startups registered across the country in the year 2024. The data highlighted that the UAE is leading the region in the fintech startup sector, with over 750 plus companies currently operating in this field.
Reports from the global consulting and research firm, Startup Genome, affirmed that the UAE’s various emirates continue to advance in international rankings, emerging as the fastest-growing startup ecosystems in the region. Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai are taking the lead by creating incentivised environments of which Abu Dhabi maintains its position as the fastest growing startups ecosystem in the MENA region. Abu Dhabi itself achieved almost USD 6 billion in value during the period of 2021-2024. The report also indicated that early-stage start-up funding amassed to USD224 million, while venture capital funding between the second half of 2021 and 2023 exceeded USD1 billion, driven by the growing activities of startups operating under Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, Hub71. Abu Dhabi’s startup community continues to grow, driven by Hub71’s dedicated programmes, strategic partnerships, and commitment to innovation, which strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading and fast-growing global technology hub.
Dubai also strengthened its leadership in creating ecosystems that support start-up growth, ranking at the top of both global and regional startup ecosystem valuations. Dubai ranked first in the Gulf and second in the region in this field. In5, a TECOM Group subsidiary, has supported more than 1,000 startups, raising funding since its inception in 2013, continuing to play a pivotal role in promoting the sustainable economic growth of these companies.
Sharjah holds a global position by making significant contributions to business growth in the UAE, hosting around 60,000 small, medium, and startup companies distributed across its free zones and industrial zones.
The UAE Ministry of Economy has introduced a “Scale-Up Platform” which serves as a one-stop-shop online portal for small and medium-sized enterprises with high growth potential that provides access to products and services designed to enable the scaling of future unicorns. It focuses on five major pillars, namely, digital transformation, global expansion, joint operation and support services, exports promotion and support, and funding.
The future of the UAE’s economy is closely tied to the success of its startup ecosystem. Start-ups will continue to drive innovation, create jobs, and help diversify the economy. Startups will be essential in shaping the next phase of economic growth—one based on creativity, technology, and sustainability.