Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, has launched “The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World” campaign, a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the UAE’s position as a leading global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.
The campaign seeks to provide comprehensive support to Emirati youth, enabling them to benefit from the UAE’s unique economic environment through an integrated ecosystem of initiatives, platforms, and specialised programmes designed to foster innovation, accelerate growth, and diversify the national economy.
Supervised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, in collaboration with the UAE Government Media Office and the UAE Entrepreneurship Council, the campaign brings together over 50 incubators and accelerators alongside a wide network of strategic partners from the public and private sectors, as well as leading national institutions and academic entities, to create an inclusive environment that nurtures entrepreneurial talent and unlocks economic potential.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid said, “Today, the Cabinet launched the new national campaign “The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World.” The campaign brings together more than 50 entities from both the public and private sectors, with the aim of training and nurturing 10,000 Emirati entrepreneurs, creating thousands of economic opportunities, and raising community awareness on the importance of leveraging the economic momentum the country is witnessing. A series of initiatives will be introduced, with a call for all institutions to actively participate in this campaign and support its objectives.
He added, “The UAE is currently home to 50 business incubators spread across the country. Small and medium-sized enterprises form the backbone of the national economy, contributing more than 63% of the non-oil GDP. The UAE also leads among 56 global economies in supporting SMEs and in providing the best possible environment for their growth and success.
The overarching goal is to inspire more young people to establish their own companies, play an active role in advancing economic development, and seize the vast opportunities offered by the UAE’s dynamic national economy.”