UAE Council for Entrepreneurship reviews results of ‘Startup Capital of the World’ campaign and discusses new initiatives to enhance the competitiveness of national entrepreneurship ecosystem

Campaign’s outcomes reflect the success of integrated national efforts to strengthen the UAE’s position as a global destination for entrepreneurship

The UAE Council for Entrepreneurship, at a meeting chaired by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Council, discussed a number of national initiatives and targets aimed at further developing the UAE’s entrepreneurship and SME ecosystem, thus enhancing its competitiveness and sustainability. The Council also reviewed the results of ‘The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World’ entrepreneurship campaign launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in September 2025.

H.E. Bin Touq highlighted the strong emphasis placed by the UAE on developing its entrepreneurship ecosystem and supporting entrepreneurs and SMEs, recognising them as key drivers of economic growth, diversification and a knowledge-based economy underpinned by innovation and sustainability. He noted that this approach has contributed to building an integrated ecosystem of enablers and programmes capable of addressing entrepreneurs’ needs and enabling their business growth and expansion.

H.E. added that the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship serves as a national platform for unifying efforts and developing initiatives that support the growth of SMEs, which account for 95 per cent of all companies operating in the UAE and 85 per cent of private-sector jobs. He highlighted that the campaign’s results reflect the impact of those programmes and initiatives in strengthening the UAE’s position as a global destination for entrepreneurs and startups.

Outcomes of the ‘Startup Capital of the World’ campaign

More than 400 Emirati men and women were trained and qualified through the programmes under the ‘Startup Capital of the World’ campaign, while 214 citizens benefited from the ‘Riyada’ programme, which recorded a satisfaction rate of 97 per cent. The campaign also led to the launch of 41 government initiatives across nine areas, implemented with 10 partner entities in five emirates. Government procurement generated through the campaign totaled AED 202 million. This includes AED 78.6 million through 55 contracts signed with seven government entities, as well as AED 123.4 million at the federal level. Another 405 businesses were registered in the supplier registry. The campaign also provided incubation support to 30 real estate companies, registered 46 tax agents, licensed 40 project management experts, supported 49 beneficiaries through the Emirati Families Programme and backed 100 student projects.

Developing a national entrepreneurship strategy

The meeting also discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation among relevant federal and local entities in developing a national entrepreneurship strategy, including a range of high-impact initiatives and projects intended to improve the competitiveness of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, support the growth and sustainability of SMEs and enable a more flexible and enabling business environment.

In addition, the meeting discussed the principles governing the Strategy’s phased implementation and mechanisms for coordinating roles among federal and local entities, ensuring clear responsibilities and flexibility in implementation, as well as governance, monitoring and impact measurement of the initiatives implemented.

Aligning entrepreneurship policies

The meeting reviewed recommendations for aligning UAE entrepreneurship and SME policies in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The recommendations are built around four main areas: access to finance, innovation, internationalisation and measurement, alongside efforts to further develop the legislative and regulatory environment.

Council members discussed how the recommendations should be prioritised, how responsibility for implementation should be divided between federal and local authorities and how a roadmap for the next phase should be structured. These efforts aim to draw on international practices to strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem and improve the environment in which SMEs grow and remain sustainable.

Initiative to accelerate entrepreneurship in rural areas

The Council also reviewed the latest developments of the ‘Mobile Accelerators in Villages’ initiative, which is being implemented to give entrepreneurs in villages and other targeted areas better access to services and support needed to develop their businesses. The meeting further explored ways to strengthen cooperation with Council members to support the initiative and increase its reach through concrete contributions that help address practical challenges faced by entrepreneurs. These include simplifying licensing procedures, providing locations and financing, offering incubation programmes, and connecting businesses with market outlets and sales channels.

Advanced entrepreneurship indicators

The initiatives come as the UAE continues its strong performance in global entrepreneurship indicators. The country maintained its first place for the fifth consecutive year in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025/2026 report, and ranked second globally in the Entrepreneurial Finance and Ease of Access to Entrepreneurial Finance indicators in the same report.

The number of active SME licences in the UAE also grew by more than 140 per cent over five years, compared with 2020, and by more than 900 per cent over two decades.