Dubai Powers 1,690 Digital Startups in 2025
Dubai’s push to become a global digital economy hub isn’t happening overnight. It’s being built step by step — through founders, investors, platforms, and a growing support system for startups.
In 2025, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy played a major role in that journey by supporting the establishment and expansion of 1,690 digital startups in the emirate. That figure marks a 39.7 percent increase compared to 2024, showing how quickly Dubai’s startup ecosystem is maturing.
What’s interesting isn’t just the number, but the type of businesses choosing Dubai. Around 15 percent of supported companies work in artificial intelligence, while fintech startups made up 12 percent. Another 20 percent came from mobility tech, SaaS, and e-commerce. Most of these businesses weren’t local either — 75 percent were global companies looking to scale from Dubai into regional and international markets.
A ‘Phygital’ Home for Founders
Last October, Dubai took another step by launching Dubai Founders HQ, a platform created to bring the startup ecosystem into one connected space. Developed by Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the idea blends physical workspaces with a digital platform — what they call a “phygital” model.
Instead of founders working in isolation, the initiative puts entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and enablers under one roof, making it easier to collaborate, test ideas, and grow businesses. For SMEs, this kind of environment often matters more than funding alone — access to people, guidance, and networks can speed up progress in ways money can’t.
His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, explained that the focus is on building a system where companies can scale faster, supported by infrastructure, flexible regulation, and easier access to markets. In simple terms: making Dubai a place where digital businesses can actually operate, not just register.
Making Setup Less Complicated
For many founders, setting up a business in a new market can feel overwhelming. To solve that, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy runs the ‘Business in Dubai’ platform, which offers company formation services, matchmaking with partners, and investor connections.
In 2025, 48 percent of the supported companies received help with business setup and accelerator programmes, while another 31 percent used wider business support services. Instead of just offering advice, the chamber focuses on helping companies move from idea to operation faster.
For SMEs, that practical support often makes the difference between staying on paper and actually entering the market.
Supporting Builders, Not Just Ideas
Another part of Dubai’s digital strategy is helping people turn concepts into real products. Through the Create Apps Championship, innovators from around the world are encouraged to build smart applications in Dubai.
Since launching, the programme has attracted more than 5,800 registrations and helped bring over 55 applications to market. In its third edition, the championship added a Participant Support Programme, where promising teams join accelerator programmes to finish and launch their products properly.
Winning teams also receive access to funding packages worth more than AED 2.5 million, but more importantly, they gain structure, mentoring, and market exposure — something many early-stage founders struggle to secure on their own.
Expand North Star: Where Startups Meet Capital
Dubai’s role in the startup world became even clearer during Expand North Star 2025, hosted at Dubai Harbour. The event gathered over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors, managing assets worth more than US$1.1 trillion.
Founders from 40 unicorn companies also attended, with a combined valuation of nearly US$900 billion. For SMEs, events like these aren’t just about headlines — they’re about real conversations with investors, potential partners, and global customers in one place.
Dubai is positioning itself as a meeting point between capital and innovation, rather than just another tech conference destination.
Taking Dubai’s Startup Story Global
Throughout 2025, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy didn’t limit its work to the UAE. The team organised 36 local events and carried out 17 international roadshows across countries including the UK, US, Germany, Singapore, South Korea, Canada, Vietnam, and Australia.
During these roadshows, the chamber met with more than 2,500 startups and ecosystem partners, introducing them to Dubai’s business environment and opportunities. It’s part of a longer strategy: not just attracting companies, but explaining why Dubai makes sense as a base for global growth.
The chamber also published eight reports, including The Entrepreneur’s AI Playbook, which guides founders on how to use AI tools to launch and scale more efficiently, and research on foreign direct investment in the tech sector.
What This Means for SMEs
Dubai’s digital economy isn’t growing because of one policy or one event. It’s expanding through consistent infrastructure building, easier market access, founder-focused platforms, and global outreach.
For SMEs and startups, the story here is simple: Dubai isn’t only inviting innovation — it’s trying to make it operational, scalable, and connected to real markets.
Instead of focusing on hype, the emirate is building a system where digital businesses can set up faster, find the right people, and grow with fewer barriers. And in today’s competitive startup landscape, that kind of environment often matters more than anything else.
