Dubai: The Ministry of Economy and Tourism outlined details of ‘The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World’ national campaign, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading global destination for entrepreneurship.
According to Emirates News Agency, the campaign is overseen by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism in collaboration with the UAE Government Media Office, with participation from the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship and over 50 government and private entities, business incubators, accelerators, and academic institutions. At a press conference attended by members of the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, highlighted the UAE’s commitment to solidifying its standing as a global entrepreneurship destination through supportive policies and proactive government initiatives.
Al Marri emphasized that the campaign represents a comprehensive national vision to build a globally competitive economy driven by innovation, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship. It is supported by practical programmes and initiatives, underpinned by robust data and indicators that position the UAE as a global destination for talent, investors, and entrepreneurs. Al Marri stated, ”The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World’ national campaign reflects the UAE leadership’s vision to establish the nation as the premier destination for global talent, innovators, and entrepreneurs.’
The UAE has secured the top position in the 2024-2025 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report for the fourth consecutive year, ranking first in 11 out of 13 indicators for high-income countries, and being named the best destination for entrepreneurship and SMEs among 56 evaluated economies. As part of the ‘Projects of the 50’ initiative, the UAE announced investments worth AED8.7 billion aimed at promoting innovation and supporting SMEs, with the nation being home to over 50 business incubators and accelerators.
SMEs, which make up around 95% of the UAE’s active businesses, have contributed 63.5% of its non-oil GDP as of mid-2022, and out of the seven Arab companies recently gaining ‘Unicorn’ status, five have launched in the UAE. The UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem blends innovation, modern technology, and sustainability, making it an ideal launchpad for global entrepreneurs, offering a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework that helps fast-track business setup within days through smart digital services.
The campaign includes the launch of the StartupEmirates.ae platform, aimed at attracting 10,000 entrepreneurs and creating 30,000 jobs within five years. Other initiatives include training 10,000 Emiratis through the Entrepreneurship Programme, licensing 500 Emiratis to manage residential construction projects under the Project Management Experts Programme, supporting 250 Emiratis in establishing national real estate companies, and launching a national exhibition to raise early-stage entrepreneurship awareness.
The UAE Council for Entrepreneurship meeting, chaired by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, discussed strengthening the UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting SME growth, and empowering citizens to create new businesses. The meeting stressed the importance of coordinating federal and local entities with financial institutions to empower youth through training and development and highlighted the need for government and institutional support for entrepreneurs in government procurement.
Finally, the meeting addressed enhancing national economic competitiveness by supporting SMEs and fostering public-private-academic partnerships to bolster regional and global entrepreneurship, cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs through training, support, funding, and legislative empowerment. The meeting was attended by prominent members of the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship, including key figures from various government and financial institutions.