StartUp
startup ecosystem
Dubai’s iACCEL GBI, Ignyte partner to boost UAE startup ecosystem with global access
The collaboration will see portfolio startups from both ecosystems benefiting from increased visibility, growth support, and regional access
Meta
Meta, Startupbootcamp to accelerate agentic AI startups in MENA with Llama design drive
The 3-month initiative will equip MENA-based startups with tools, mentorship, and offer compute credits to build agentic AI applications
gcc startups
GCC sees massive surge in high-value startup funding deals in early months of 2025
The rising trend of high-value startup funding in the region, especially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is expected to continue in the coming quarters of this year, experts said
cyber threats
47% SMEs in the UAE faced cyberattacks, leading to bankruptcies, closures
Mastercard research says top five cyber threats to UAE SMEs are malware, digital skimming, hacking, phishing and ransomware
AI in hiring
Gaming meets hiring: Dubai-based recruitment platform to address job market disconnect
A new Dubai-based recruitment platform combines gaming and psychological profiling to revolutionise hiring processes, targeting a $150 million market share by 2027
SC Ventures
Standard Chartered’s SC Ventures to replicate Asia, Africa SME model in GCC
SC Ventures to bring its successful SME building strategy in India, South East Asia and Africa to GCC, and plans to roll out an ambitious growth plan through a series of strategic tie-ups
Entrepreneurs
UAE named best country for entrepreneurs in 2025
UAE tops entrepreneurship rankings as it is bolstered by foreign ownership rules, ease of funding and Government initiatives
Kazakhstan
UAE attracts startups from Central Asia as region sees $96m venture investments
The UAE has more than 20 Central Asian startups operating in the country
Dubai
EXCLUSIVE: Dubai-based Yango Group launches $20mn fund to back regional tech startups
Tech firm targets 20x returns on early-stage investments in region’s fintech and SaaS startups
Emirates Government Services Hub
Emirates Government Services Hub partners with IFZA Dubai to streamline services for entrepreneurs
The collaboration will provide a full spectrum of services to IFZA’s growing network of entrepreneurs and foreign investors
Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development
UAE entrepreneurs offered funding boost to cover startup and expansion costs
Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development offers financial support for UAE entrepreneurs
Dubai Schools
GEMS Education launches $1m startup fund to finance student entrepreneurs
GEMS Education launches Dubai private school entrepreneur fund to discover future business stars
startup funding
Venture builder Disrupt.com to invest $100m to fuel AI-first startups from the UAE
The company said it primarily targets pre-seed to Series A stage startups that demonstrate strong organic growth potential and clear paths to profitability
UAE
UAE’s Hubpay aims to cut business account processing time from 3 months to 24 hours
The UAE is currently home to over 557,000 SME businesses, with a target to grow that number to over 1 million by 2030
cross-border payments
Dubai-headquartered fintech MANSA secures $10mn in funding to expand cross-border payments solutions
The funds will support the company’s market expansion into Latin America and Southeast Asia
digital payments
UAE SMEs report 91% business confidence for 2025, Mastercard study shows
The report indicates that 90 percent of SMEs expect to maintain or increase their revenue compared to the previous year