UAE aims to grow to over 2m companies and 10 unicorns by 2031, with SMEs already contributing 63.5% of non-oil GDP, says Minister Abdullah bin Touq
StartUp
Emirati entrepreneurs
Sheikh Mohammed: UAE aims to be world’s startup capital with 30,000 new jobs
Sheikh Mohammed launches “The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World” campaign to train 10,000 Emirati entrepreneurs and strengthen the UAE’s global startup hub role
Dubai banking
Dubai Chambers and EDB join forces to unlock growth opportunities for SMEs
Dubai Chambers and Emirates Development Bank join forces to simplify banking, expand trade finance and support SME global expansion
Department of Economy and Tourism
Dubai partners with Plug and Play to launch accelerator for startups
New Dubai accelerator aims to create unicorns and scale SMEs by 2033, offering startups mentorship, investment and corporate partnerships
Abu Dhabi chamber
Abu Dhabi Chamber reports 97.8% surge in youth memberships with $4.05bn capital
Abu Dhabi Chamber reports 97.8% surge in youth memberships, with more than 21,000 young entrepreneurs contributing $4.05bn in capital
abu dhabi start-ups
Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 onboards 26 AI startups in record $223m cohort
Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 has welcomed 26 AI-driven startups to its 17th cohort, raising a record $223m as the emirate cements its role in global tech
General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monshaat)
Saudi Arabia launches $400m fund to boost startups and SMEs
Saudi Arabia will refund SAR1.5bn ($400m) in government fees to startups and SMEs through the Estrdad initiative
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi attracts AI start-ups as global hubs stumble
With global hubs facing tougher rules and higher taxes, Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 is emerging as a magnet for AI firms, expanding into healthcare and beyond
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
Saudi Arabia doubles SMEs to 1.2m as freelancers top 400k under Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia has doubled SMEs to 1.2m since 2016, with 400k freelancers and new youth initiatives driving Vision 2030 entrepreneurship and growth
entrepreneurship
‘It doesn’t need to be this hard’: Over 80% of startup founders feel alone – and it slows them down
A survey of 120 founders links isolation to delayed decisions; time, cost and caregiving are the biggest barriers to getting help, says The Founder’s Sanctuary
expand north star
Unicorns worth US$400bn powered Dubai’s Expand North Star — why startups need to attend in October
Dubai’s Expand North Star returns this October after hosting unicorns worth more than $400bn, marking 10 years as the world’s largest startup event
abu dhabi start-ups
Presight launches AI-Startup Accelerator in Abu Dhabi with 10 global teams
Presight launches its first AI-Startup Accelerator in Abu Dhabi with 10 global startups, aiming to scale real-world AI solutions and showcase at GITEX 2025
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy supports 308 startups in H1 2025, up 39% year-on-year
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy supported 308 startups in H1 2025, up 39 prt cent YoY, as it gears up for Expand North Star 2025 and global pitch contests
Entrepreneur
Record-breaking 10,000 entries as Riyadh gears up for 2025 Entrepreneurship World Cup finals in Saudi Arabia
Record-breaking 10,000 entries from 169 countries head to Riyadh for the 2025 Entrepreneurship World Cup, competing for $1.5m in prizes in Saudi Arabia
abu dhabi start-ups
Abu Dhabi attracts 13 cutting-edge AI start-ups to Hub71 in global tech push
Hub71 attracts AI startups to Abu Dhabi
Entrepreneur
PwC urges MENA to back entrepreneurs to tackle 24% youth jobless rate
New PwC Middle East report outlines priority strategies to equip the region’s under-25 population with future-ready capabilities for inclusive economic transformation
Dubai
Dubai’s Emirates, IHG Hotels sign new deal targeting small business travel market
The partnership will see Emirates and IHG explore ways to reach and engage with SMEs through value-added benefits and rewards to facilitate business travel