Dubai, UAE — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, has unveiled a new national campaign titled “The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World”, aimed at solidifying the UAE’s position as a leading global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.
The campaign, supervised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism in collaboration with the UAE Government Media Office and the UAE Entrepreneurship Council, brings together more than 50 incubators, accelerators, and strategic partners from both the public and private sectors.
According to the announcement, the initiative seeks to inspire a new generation of Emirati entrepreneurs, accelerate SME growth, and diversify the national economy through innovation-led development.
“Our goal is to train and nurture 10,000 Emirati entrepreneurs, create thousands of new economic opportunities, and raise awareness about the importance of entrepreneurship as a driver of the future economy,” said H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
As part of the campaign, several national programmes will be launched, including StartupEmirates.ae, the Entrepreneurship Training Programme, and initiatives to integrate startups into federal procurement frameworks. Collectively, these efforts aim to create 30,000 jobs by 2030, incubate 250 Emirati real estate companies, and license 500 Emirati tax agents and project managers.
The UAE already ranks among the world’s top nations in SME support, with small and medium enterprises contributing over 63% of the country’s non-oil GDP. Through this campaign, the government aims to build on that success and strengthen its role as a global epicenter for entrepreneurship and innovation.
By prioritising startups and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among citizens, the UAE continues to demonstrate its commitment to creating a sustainable, diversified, and knowledge-based economy aligned with its long-term national vision.
