UAE Launches Campaign to Become the Startup Capital of the World

A sweeping new initiative named 'The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World', has been launched to strengthen the UAE's position as a leading hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. Supervised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, the initiative brings together more than 50 partners from the public and private sectors, including incubators, accelerators, and government entities. Its goal is to develop the next generation of Emirati entrepreneurs while integrating startups into the wider economy. Planned measures include training 10,000 Emirati entrepreneurs, incubating 250 locally owned real estate companies, and connecting startups to federal procurement processes. The campaign also targets the creation of 30,000 jobs by 2030 through a mix of mentorship, workspaces, and training provided via a new digital platform, StartupEmirates.ae. Other programmes will focus on preparing 500 certified tax agents, 500 residential project managers, and 50 content creators to support and promote the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) currently account for 63% of the UAE’s non-oil GDP. By expanding access to resources and improving startup integration, the government aims to deepen SME contributions as part of its long-term diversification strategy.