UAE Startup Push Targets 10,000 Entrepreneurs In 5 Years

• UAE launches 'The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World' campaign to train 10,000 entrepreneurs and create 30,000 jobs in 5 years.
• Led by the Ministry of Economy & Tourism with 50+ partners, the campaign will drive SME growth, innovation, and youth empowerment.
• HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid emphasizes SMEs as pillars of the economy, already contributing over 63% of the UAE’s non-oil GDP.

The UAE has introduced a new campaign that targets 10,000 entrepreneurs to come to the country and generate 30,000 jobs in the next five years.
Initiating 'The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World' campaign, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai,stated that it aims to offer overall support to Emirati youth, allowing them to capitalize on the UAE's special economic environment through an integrated system of initiatives, platforms, and specialized programmes to create innovation, drive growth, and diversify the national economy.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid stated: "Today, the Cabinet inaugurated the new national campaign. The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World. It gathers over 50 players from the public and private sectors, with a vision for training and developing 10,000 Emirati entrepreneurs, generating thousands of economic opportunities, and raising the community's awareness on the significance of capitalizing on the economic drive the nation is experiencing". A series of initiatives will be introduced, with a call for all institutions to actively participate in this campaign and support its objectives.

He further stated: "The UAE now has 50 business incubators scattered around the country. Small and medium enterprises are the pillars of the national economy, generating over 63% of the non-oil GDP. The UAE is also a leader among 56 economies in the world in promoting SMEs and having the most conducive environment for them to grow and succeed".

The campaign will kickstart the StartupEmirates.ae portal and empower 10,000 Emiratis with the Entrepreneurship Programme, and certify 500 Emiratis to oversee residential construction works under the Project Management Experts Programme, according to a Wam news agency report. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism subsequently released details of 'The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World' national campaign.

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The campaign is led by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism in partnership with the UAE Government Media Office, with the involvement of the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship and more than 50 government and private institutions, business incubators and accelerators, and educational institutions.

Other efforts include sponsoring 250 Emiratis in setting up national real estate firms, licensure of 500 Emirati tax agents under a three-year development programme, and institution of a national exhibition to promote early-stage entrepreneurship awareness among education institutions. Further, the campaign will witness the inception of a Graduate Business Projects Exhibition, and enhance national startups participation in and access to federal procurement mechanisms under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance.

In a press conference where members of the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship were in attendance, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, underscored the UAE's drive to cement its position as a world entrepreneurship destination through policies favoring business and economic practices, as well as active government policies.

Al Marri emphasised that the campaign is a national vision in its fullest sense aimed at constructing an economy globally competitive and led by innovation, youth, and entrepreneurship. It's backed by practical programmes and initiatives, supported by strong data and indicators that establish the UAE as a hub of choice for talent, investors, and entrepreneurs globally.

Al Marri stated, 'The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World' national campaign is a reflection of the UAE leadership's vision to position the country as the top destination for global talent, innovators and entrepreneurs. It is a strategic move towards cementing the UAE's positioning as an international entrepreneurship hub". He noted that the UAE topped the 2024-2025 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report for the 4th consecutive year. The UAE also led 11 out of 13 indicators in high-income economies, and was ranked the best destination for entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) among 56 assessed economies.

In line with the 'Projects of the 50' initiative, the UAE also announced investments of AED8.7 billion intended to drive innovation and facilitate SMEs. There are more than 50 government and private business incubators and accelerators in the UAE, Al Marri added. He also emphasized that SMEs, which constitute approximately 95% of the UAE's operating businesses, have produced 63.5% of its non-oil GDP up to mid-2022, and that of the 7 Arab businesses recently achieving the status of 'Unicorn', 5 have been launched in the UAE.

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The entrepreneurial ecosystem of the UAE combines innovation, latest technology and sustainability, creating a world-class platform for global entrepreneurs. The UAE provides a robust legal and regulatory system that facilitates business setup in a matter of days due to smart digital services. The 100% foreign ownership of businesses in the majority of sectors, coupled with the world-class infrastructure of the country, such as ports, international airports and sophisticated roads network, also add to the appeal of the UAE market.

In the meantime, the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship had a meeting chaired by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. Topics discussed at the meeting included the strengthening of the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the UAE, SME growth, and empowering citizens to establish new businesses. The session emphasized coordination of federal and local authorities with banks and other financial institutions to enhance youth empowerment through training and development and government and institutional support of entrepreneurs in government procurement.

The meeting reviewed 'The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World’ campaign, which aims to attract and train entrepreneurs in five years, providing infrastructure, boosting their contribution to non-oil GDP, and empowering Emirati youth to launch globally competitive projects. Lastly, the session discussed the improvement of national economic competitiveness through enabling SMEs and encouraging public-private-academic collaborations to support regional and international entrepreneurship, developing the next generation of entrepreneurs through training, assistance, financing, and legislative empowerment.