The UAE’s Ministry of Economy and Tourism has unveiled a national campaign titled “The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World”, launched under the guidance of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.
The campaign is being overseen by the Ministry in collaboration with the UAE Government Media Office, the UAE Council for Entrepreneurship, more than 50 private and public entities, incubators, accelerators, and academic institutions.
Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, emphasized that the campaign reflects a national vision to position the UAE as a global hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, youth empowerment, and economic competitiveness. He pointed out that in the 2024-2025 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report, the UAE ranked first among high-income economies for four consecutive years, and topped 11 out of 13 indicators for entrepreneurship and SMEs.
Key initiatives under the campaign include:
- StartupEmirates.ae platform, aimed at attracting 10,000 entrepreneurs and creating 30,000 jobs within five years.
- An Entrepreneurship Programme to train 10,000 Emiratis (with tracks for beginners and advanced entrepreneurs).
- Project Management Experts Programme: Certifying 500 Emiratis to manage residential construction projects from planning to execution.
- UAE Tax Agent Programme: Licensing 500 Emiratis as tax agents (VAT and Corporate Tax diplomas) over three years in collaboration with the Federal Tax Authority and New Economy Academy.
- Supporting 250 Emiratis to launch national real estate companies.
- A Specialized Content Creator Program to train 50 Emirati creators focused on economics and entrepreneurship to promote awareness and storytelling.
- A Young Entrepreneurs and Graduate Business Projects Expo, to showcase projects and connect them with investors and partners.
SMEs make up nearly 95% of active businesses in the UAE, contributing over 63.5% of non-oil GDP. The campaign also highlights the UAE’s infrastructure advantages such as 100% foreign ownership in most sectors, smart digital services for fast business setup, and a robust legislative/regulatory environment.
