TiE Dubai has officially opened applications for the 7th edition of the TiE Women MENA Program 2026, one of the region’s most established initiatives dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs. The program aims to accelerate women-led startups across the Middle East and North Africa through mentorship, investor access, networking, and funding opportunities.
Applications are open until June 25, 2026, for women founders or co-founders who own at least 33% equity in their startups. Eligible companies must have been incorporated on or after January 1, 2019.
The announcement comes at a time when MENA’s startup ecosystem is showing renewed momentum. Startup funding in the region reached $150 million across 27 deals in April 2026, signaling growing investor confidence and increased opportunities for early-stage founders.
A Platform Designed for Growth
Selected startups will receive structured support throughout the program, including one-on-one mentorship, investor introductions, pitch coaching, media visibility, and access to a regional and global entrepreneurial network. Participants will also compete for equity-free funding and gain entry into a long-term founder community that extends well beyond the competition itself.
The initiative is supported by a broad ecosystem of accelerators, venture capital firms, angel investors, corporates, incubators, and startup support organizations. This year’s edition is powered by Nokia, with longstanding support from TECOM Group, Dubai Internet City, and in5 Innovation Centers.
Ahead of the application deadline, TiE Dubai will host a series of engagement events, including an alumni AMA session, an informational webinar for applicants, and the TiE Women MENA Open Pitch Night on June 21 at Cafe Rider in Dubai, where founders will have the opportunity to pitch their startups and receive direct feedback from investors and mentors.
Why It Matters
Despite growing participation, women founders across MENA continue to face significant challenges in accessing capital, networks, and strategic mentorship. Programs like TiE Women help bridge these gaps by providing structured pathways to investment readiness and regional visibility.
The economic impact could be substantial. Research cited by Nokia suggests that increasing women’s participation in entrepreneurship and the workforce could boost GDP per capita across the MENA region by more than 30% in the coming decades. By helping women-led startups scale faster, initiatives like TiE Women contribute not only to innovation but also to broader economic diversification efforts across the region.
What to Expect
From the applicant pool, approximately 45 to 50 startups will be selected and divided into five regional tracks representing the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Emirati founders, and the wider Middle East.
Each track will crown one winner and two runners-up. The five track winners will advance to the MENA finals, where they will compete for equity-free prize funding and additional mentorship support.
Finalists will also receive exposure at GITEX Global 2026 through the Expand North Star platform, providing direct access to international investors, corporate partners, and startup ecosystem leaders.
Regional virtual finals are scheduled for September 2026, followed by the MENA Grand Finale during GITEX in December, where the region’s top women-led startups will compete on an international stage.
Building a Strong Regional Legacy
Since its launch in 2020, TiE Women MENA has supported more than 1,000 women-led businesses, facilitated hundreds of startup pitches, and provided tailored mentorship to founders across the region. Globally, the TiE Women initiative has attracted over 11,000 applications from 62 countries and helped accelerate more than 500 women-led startups.
With applications now open, the 2026 edition is expected to continue strengthening the pipeline of women entrepreneurs driving innovation, job creation, and economic growth throughout MENA.
