Government funds and innovation hubs are accelerating the global expansion of UAE startups.
ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s most attractive destinations for company formation and entrepreneurship, supported by an advanced legislative and regulatory framework, sophisticated digital and logistics infrastructure, and flexible economic policies that have boosted its ability to attract talent, investment, and startups—allowing it to compete with the world’s largest and most advanced economies.
Specialists and company executives told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the UAE’s continued leadership in international indicators for business formation and entrepreneurship reflects the success of its economic model in building an integrated ecosystem that brings together all key requirements for business success.
Diana Cichy, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CICHE International Trade & Investment, which specialises in international trade, said the UAE is among the world’s most attractive destinations for businesses and startups. She highlighted its strategic location linking Europe, Asia, and Africa, along with advanced infrastructure and a flexible regulatory environment that supports growth and international expansion.
Global hub for business and trade
She added that the country’s geographic location provides access to billions of consumers within a single flight range, while its expanding air connectivity network further strengthens the UAE’s position as a global hub for business and trade.
She noted that free zones, full foreign ownership, ease of company establishment, and golden residency visas for investors, entrepreneurs, and talented individuals have significantly enhanced the country’s attractiveness for both talent and investment.
Cichy affirmed that the UAE has a unique advantage as a multicultural environment hosting around 200 nationalities, making it more than just a business hub and instead an integrated platform for global connectivity.
She also pointed out that the government’s plan to transform 50% of public services through artificial intelligence, along with efforts to strengthen private sector readiness in the same field, reflects an ongoing forward-looking vision.
Destination for startups
Willem van Wyk, Managing Director of HDI Global’s Dubai office, said the UAE has consolidated its position as an attractive destination for startups, entrepreneurs, and innovation-driven companies, supported by advanced regulatory frameworks, sophisticated digital infrastructure, and a strong, sustained focus on innovation.
He added that this momentum has reinforced the UAE’s status as a leading fintech hub, built on a model that balances rapid innovation with robust regulation, supported by an ecosystem led by institutions such as the Central Bank of the UAE, Dubai International Financial Centre, and Abu Dhabi Global Market.
Van Wyk explained that sector growth is no longer measured only by new technologies or investment volumes, but by the ability of ecosystems to scale securely and sustainably—especially amid the rapid rise of embedded finance, artificial intelligence, and open finance models.
He stressed that the UAE possesses the capabilities to lead growth in the sector and contribute to shaping more resilient digital ecosystems globally.
Access to global markets
Meanwhile, Aaqib Gadit, Founding Partner at Disrupt.com, a company focused on building ventures and technology businesses, said the UAE has become one of the world’s leading hubs for launching startups into international markets. He attributed this to a comprehensive business environment that combines advanced infrastructure, flexible policies, strong capital availability, and direct access to global markets.
He added that the decision to establish operations in the UAE—rather than traditional hubs such as San Francisco or London—was driven by practical advantages, noting that the country has removed key barriers across the core pillars of company building: infrastructure, regulation, capital, and market access.
He also pointed out that the UAE is among only four countries globally to meet or exceed the required threshold across all conditions of the entrepreneurship ecosystem index.
Gadit affirmed that the UAE has created an enabling environment for startups to turn ambitions into tangible international success by removing key barriers, including allowing full foreign ownership in most sectors, offering tax exemptions for eligible small businesses, and ensuring free movement of capital.
International reports indicate that the UAE has built a comprehensive business ecosystem that supports the establishment of new ventures while accelerating their growth and global expansion.
Government institutions across sectors, including ministries and departments, also support entrepreneurs and innovators through various initiatives aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.
Emirates Growth Fund
In this context, the Emirates Growth Fund was established to help Emirati companies expand across four key sectors: manufacturing, food and agriculture, healthcare, and advanced technology.
The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development also plays a key role in strengthening entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises by providing capacity-building support, financing, and services, while facilitating connections between business owners and relevant institutions and promoting a culture of entrepreneurship.
Hub71 supports promising startups in accelerating their growth by connecting them with investors and partners, facilitating funding and business deals, and offering programmes and incentives that help startups scale across different stages of development.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund was also established to support entrepreneurs and innovators in overcoming challenges through tailored programmes designed to meet diverse needs.
Accelerating transformation of innovative ideas
At the end of April, the Dubai Entrepreneurs Campus, a joint initiative between the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, announced the successful completion of the first phase of its business accelerator programmes. The initiative delivered a model aimed at accelerating the transformation of innovative ideas into viable, scalable projects.
The UAE topped the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report 2025-2026 for the fifth consecutive year, outperforming many advanced economies, and was ranked among the top five countries globally for the ability of its startups to access international markets.
In the same context, the StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index ranked the UAE among the top five global business environments and first regionally.
