20 Startups Chosen for Emirati Tech Founder Program

Bedayat, a business incubator located in The Sustainable City – Dubai, in collaboration with the Hamdan Innovation Incubator (Hi2) and Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), which is part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, has announced the selection of 20 Emirati startups for its Accelerator and Incubator programs for the recently-launched Emirati Tech Founder Program. The announcement was made at an event held at the SEE Institute and was attended by HE Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME. 

The Emirati Tech Founder Program was launched in September to support entrepreneurship and promote sustainable innovation in the UAE.

A total of 93 applications were submitted by 182 entrepreneurs from sectors spanning technology, artificial intelligence (AI), e-commerce, mobility, healthcare, tourism, education technology (edtech), and environmental technology. Following a rigorous six-day evaluation process, 20 startups were chosen based on their potential to contribute to economic diversification and sustainability. 

The program is divided into two tracks. The Accelerator Program focuses on ten growth-stage startups, helping them develop their operations and expand into new markets. The Incubator Program, on the other hand, will support ten early-stage startups, guiding them and helping transform their ideas into practical business solutions. Participants include Dubai SME members, as well as students and graduates from institutions such as Zayed University, Khalifa University, UAE University, and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. 

The startups will benefit from customized mentorship and business development assistance as well as resources available within The Sustainable City’s living lab, which allows them to test and gather feedback on their projects in real time. 

The partnership between Bedayat and Dubai SME highlights the two institutions’ common goal to foster a dynamic ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in the UAE.  

In a statement, HE Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME, said: “This initiative exemplifies our visionary leadership’s commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in Dubai, and is in line with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33 to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure, as well as further accelerating the growth of Emirati SMEs. We are proud to see the immense talent that Emirati entrepreneurs bring to key sectors driving the UAE's sustainable development, and the selection of these promising startups underscores the tremendous potential within our entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are also grateful for the continued support of our stakeholders and partners, which has enabled us to drive this momentum forward. Through strategic collaborations with partners like Bedayat, we are creating opportunities for our nation’s innovators to develop impactful solutions that contribute to economic growth.” 

Faris Saeed, founder and chairman of SEE Institute, commented: “This program reflects our commitment to nurturing innovative ideas and empowering Emirati entrepreneurs and innovators to transform their concepts into solutions that benefit society and the environment while accelerating the transition to a net zero emissions future. The Sustainable City in Dubai offers a unique ecosystem where these startups can test their systems in a living lab, enhancing their ability to accelerate operations and enter the market with greater confidence, thereby strengthening the UAE’s position as a global leader in driving innovation and sustainability."