Applications Open For The 2025 Edition Of The UAE's Future100 Initiative
The initiative, which is run by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the Government Development and Future Office, aims to recognize 100 of the country's most innovative and fastest-growing companies in new economy sectors.
Applications are now open for the third edition of the UAE's Future100, an initiative run by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the Government Development and Future Office to recognize 100 of the country's most innovative and fastest-growing companies in new economy sectors, either based in the UAE or operating from it.
The deadline for applications is October 30, 2025, with evaluations set for December 2025, and the final listing is set to be announced in March 2026, with acceleration activities to follow through the year.
In a statement, HE Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, said, “Thanks to the directives of its wise leadership, the UAE has made significant strides in transitioning toward a future economy driven by knowledge and innovation. The country has adopted forward-looking strategies and initiatives to support the growth of innovative projects and encourage the adoption of modern technologies across vital economic sectors."
"The launch of the third edition of the Future100 initiative affirms the continued commitment to national efforts and collaboration in this regard," he continued. "It aims to enhance the competitiveness of the entrepreneurial environment, solidifying the UAE’s position as an attractive destination for future projects and a leading hub for creativity and innovation.”
“The initiative aims to provide all the opportunities and support that talents and entrepreneurial projects need to develop successful ideas and expand into new economy sectors," Al Marri added. "It facilitates effective dialogue with a broad network of investment funds and global investors. Additionally, it enables talents to stay informed about the latest practices and trends in financing mechanisms for small and medium enterprises."
For her part, HE Ohood Al Roumi, UAE Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, highlighted the country's role as a global platform for developing government work methodologies and fostering innovation, driven by proactive leadership and a supportive ecosystem. She pointed out that empowering startups is vital to preparing for market shifts, adding that the Future100 list aims to empower entrepreneurs to drive change, support economic diversification, and enhance resilience.
The Future100 initiative targets companies operating in a wide range of new economy sectors, including advanced manufacturing, agritech, biotechnology, creative industries, cybersecurity, edutech, food technology, health technology, HR technology, intelligent mobility, legal technology, property technology (proptech), and renewable energy.
In addition, the Future100 list will highlight companies in the sharing economy, space sector, and sustainability and environment-related industries. It also seeks to recognize businesses in blockchain, the internet of things (IoT), and the on-demand economy, which are driving efficiency and new business models in various markets.
Other targeted fields include robotics, Web 3.0, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based service optimization, reflecting the rapid integration of advanced technology into everyday services. The initiative further supports companies engaged in 3D printing, fostering innovation in manufacturing, design, and production processes.
Eligible companies must successfully pass the evaluation process, which is based on several pillars, including creative capacity, future industry or disruptive business model, product or service proof of concept, market potential, business plan maturity, market ambition and potential, business model viability, funding strategy maturity, operational and institutional maturity, environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) impact, ESG plan maturity, and the business model’s impact on the ESG domain.
Selected companies will benefit from brand recognition, funding opportunities, market expansion support, workforce development programs, and services to accelerate growth. They will also have access to international trade missions, investor networks, and capital markets. Since its 2022 launch, the initiative has facilitated participation in over 15 trade delegations, garnered extensive media coverage, and attracted nearly US$100 million in venture capital investments for more than 40 listed companies.
The initiative now counts 38 partners, including Majra–National CSR Fund, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s business accelerator partners, Dubai Future District Fund, Emirates NBD, the Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund, Investopia, Microsoft, MEVP, Careem, EY, Eurasia Capital, In5, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, FTI Consulting, and DIFC Innovation Hub.
Inc. Arabia is a Media Partner for the Future100 initiative.
Pictured in the lead image is a scene from the 2024 edition of Future100. Image courtesy Future100.
