New national campaign to train 10,000 Emirati entrepreneurs and cement the UAE’s role as a global hub for innovation
The UAE has set its sights on becoming the world’s leading startup capital, with a bold vision unveiled by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Under the new initiative, “The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World”, the campaign will equip 10,000 Emirati entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and mentorship they need to thrive in the global innovation economy. Alongside this, the initiative is expected to generate 30,000 new jobs, further boosting the nation’s competitiveness and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that the UAE is uniquely positioned to lead the global startup movement, thanks to its strong infrastructure, world-class investment environment, and government-backed support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“Our goal is clear: to establish the Emirates as the startup capital of the world, a place where ambition is matched with opportunity and where ideas can become global success stories,” Sheikh Mohammed said during the campaign launch.
The initiative builds on the UAE’s longstanding commitment to economic diversification, positioning entrepreneurship as a central pillar of growth. By empowering local talent and attracting global innovators, the country aims to accelerate its transformation into a dynamic hub for technology, innovation, and venture capital.
The UAE has already made remarkable progress in the startup space, hosting several unicorns and drawing record levels of investment in fintech, e-commerce, AI, and other emerging sectors. This latest campaign is designed to amplify those achievements, giving Emirati youth the tools to shape the future of the region’s—and the world’s—innovation economy.
With its forward-thinking policies, strategic geographic location, and robust investment frameworks, the UAE’s vision of becoming the world’s startup capital is now within reach.
