🇦🇪 Startup ecosystem in the UAE
The Open Ecosystem Atlas lists 53 organisations and people supporting startup founders in the UAE: 13 investors, 21 programs, 12 media, 2 corporates and 5 startups & venues. Most are based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. 25 of them are free to reach.
Open in the Atlas mapInvestors in the UAE · 13
Emirates Angel Investors Association
Angel · Abu Dhabi
The national angel investor association developing early-stage investing.
Offers: investment
Dubai Angel Investors
Angel · Dubai
Member-led angel investment group backing early-stage tech.
Offers: investment
Shorooq Partners
VC · Abu Dhabi
Leading MENA early-stage venture firm.
Offers: investment
Global Ventures
VC · Dubai
Growth-focused MENA venture firm.
Offers: investment
BECO Capital
VC · Dubai
Early-stage technology VC for the region.
Offers: investment
Wamda Capital
VC · Dubai
Venture firm grown out of the region’s startup media platform.
Offers: investment
VentureSouq
VC · Dubai
MENA venture firm with fintech and climate focus.
Offers: investment
COTU Ventures
VC · Dubai
Pre-seed and seed firm for MENA founders.
Offers: investment
Dubai Future District Fund
VC · Dubai
Government-anchored venture fund investing in the future economy.
Offers: investment
e& capital
CVC · Abu Dhabi
The venture arm of e&, the national telecom group.
Offers: investment
Magnus Olsson
Angel · Dubai
Careem co-founder, active angel backing the region’s next generation.
Offers: investment
Mudassir Sheikha
Angel · Dubai
Careem co-founder and CEO, investor in early-stage regional startups.
Offers: investment
Programs in the UAE · 21
UAE Golden Visa
Program · Nationwide · Free access
10-year residency for entrepreneurs, investors, and specialised talent. Category-based, open application through ICP and GDRFA.
Offers: info
UAE Green Visa
Program · Nationwide · Free access
5-year self-sponsored residency for freelancers and self-employed professionals. Freelance permit plus AED 360,000 proven annual income.
Offers: info
Freelance permits, MOHRE and free zones
Program · Nationwide
Legal solo work status via MOHRE or free zones like RAKEZ, twofour54, SHAMS. Cheapest packages from about AED 5,500 a year.
Offers: info
Basher
Program · Nationwide · Free access
The federal eService that sets up a licensed UAE business online in about 15 minutes, connected to 18 government departments.
Offers: info
Hub71
Ecosystem · Abu Dhabi · Free access
Abu Dhabi flagship tech ecosystem at ADGM, backed by Mubadala and ADQ. Equity-free incentive package worth up to AED 1.5M: subsidized housing, office, insurance.
Offers: funding, space, community
in5
Ecosystem · Dubai
TECOM incubator across Internet City, Media City and d3 for tech, media and design founders. Subsidized licensing and workspace.
Offers: space, community, info
DIFC Innovation Hub
Ecosystem · Dubai
The financial district innovation arm, home of FinTech Hive, with discounted innovation licenses for early companies.
Offers: community, info, funding
Sheraa
Ecosystem · Sharjah · Free access
Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center, university-anchored, equity-free programs with a social and creative economy focus.
Offers: mentoring, community, funding
startAD
Ecosystem · Abu Dhabi · Free access
Accelerator at NYU Abu Dhabi running open programs, corporate pilots and venture launchpads.
Offers: mentoring, community
Area 2071, Dubai Future Foundation
Ecosystem · Dubai
The Future Foundation ecosystem at Emirates Towers: programs, strategic partners, subsidized licensing.
Offers: community, info
Khalifa Fund
Program · Abu Dhabi · Free access
Grants and soft loans up to AED 3M for Emirati entrepreneurs.
Offers: funding
Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund
Program · Nationwide · Free access
Federal innovation fund and accelerator with a guarantee scheme, open application, no equity.
Offers: funding, mentoring
Media in the UAE · 12
Nuseir Yassin (Nas Daily)
Media · Dubai · Free access
Creator of Nas Daily and founder of Nas Company, based in Dubai.
Offers: info, community
Khalid Al Ameri
Media · Abu Dhabi · Free access
Emirati content creator and speaker with a very large regional audience.
Offers: info, community
Anas Bukhash
Media · Dubai · Free access
Host of the #ABtalks interview show, featuring entrepreneurs and public figures.
Offers: info, community
Mona Ataya
Media · Dubai · Free access
Founder and CEO of Mumzworld, and a frequent voice on women in entrepreneurship.
Offers: info, community
MAGNiTT
Media · Dubai · Free access
Venture data platform publishing widely cited reports on MENA startup funding.
Offers: info, community
Philip Bahoshy
Media · Dubai · Free access
Founder and CEO of MAGNiTT.
Offers: info, community
Fadi Ghandour
Media · Dubai · Free access
Co-founder of Wamda and founder of Aramex, a long-time backer of Arab entrepreneurs.
Offers: info, community
Forbes Middle East
Media · Dubai · Free access
Regional Forbes edition publishing startup lists and founder profiles.
Offers: info, community
Arabian Business
Media · Dubai · Free access
Gulf business news covering companies, investors and startups.
Offers: info, community
Gulf Business
Media · Dubai · Free access
Business magazine and site covering Gulf companies and startups.
Offers: info, community
Wamda
Media · Dubai · Free access
MENA entrepreneurship platform covering startups and funding across the Arab world.
Offers: info, community
Entrepreneur Middle East
Media · Dubai · Free access
Regional edition of Entrepreneur covering founders, SMEs and startups across the Gulf.
Offers: info, community
Corporates in the UAE · 2
FinTech Hive at DIFC
Corporate · Dubai
The UAE’s defining fintech accelerator, accepting 15-25 startups a year with direct access to HSBC, Standard Chartered, Visa and 30+ regional banks, plus DFSA regulatory sandbox guidance.
Offers: mentoring, community
startAD Corporate Sprint Accelerator (CSA)
Corporate · Abu Dhabi
startAD’s flagship corporate-matching program, 9 editions run with partners including Etihad, HSBC, Ripple, Oracle and CCC, closing with a pitch at GITEX.
Offers: mentoring, community
Startups & venues in the UAE · 5
A4 Space, Alserkal Avenue
Dubai · Free access
Community space in the Alserkal arts district with free public workdays, you only pay for food and drinks.
Offers: space, community
AstroLabs
Dubai
Coworking and capability academy in JLT, DMCC partner, can arrange licenses and visas alongside desks.
Offers: space, community, info
Dubai Youth Hub
Dubai · Free access
Government-run space at Emirates Towers with free desks for young entrepreneurs, eligibility rules apply.
Offers: space, community
Dtec, Dubai Silicon Oasis
Dubai
One of the largest tech coworking campuses in the region, dense event calendar.
Offers: space, community
Waleed Al Bashir
Dubai · Free access
[Role and one line, with his consent.] The person who encouraged this page into existence, and its anchor.
Offers: mentoring, community