Dubai has launched a new flagship startup platform called Dubai Founders HQ, blending a physical campus with a digital ecosystem designed to become the go-to entry point for entrepreneurs looking to build and scale in the region.
Located at the 25Hours Hotel near the Dubai World Trade Centre, the campus features co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and a rotating schedule of workshops, mentorship sessions, and events. But the initiative goes beyond real estate — its digital layer includes a curated learning library, an ecosystem directory, and business set-up tools that walk founders through the entire process of establishing a company in Dubai.
The platform was launched by Dubai’s Crown Prince H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and developed jointly by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. More than 25 partners spanning venture capital firms, corporates, and government entities have already signed on.
“Founders require more than just funding. They need access, speed and the right people around the table,” said Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. “Dubai Founders HQ was created to remove the friction from that journey.”
The initiative sits under Dubai’s D33 economic agenda, a ten-year framework that targets the creation of 30 unicorns and significant SME growth by 2033. In 2024, the UAE already accounted for more than 51% of all active tech startups in the MENA region, up from 43% the year before, according to Seed Group.
Dubai Founders HQ has launched programmes with global innovation players including Antler, Endeavor, and Plug and Play. The first Plug and Play accelerator cohort delivered early results: 23 startups and five corporate partners — including du Business, DHL, Talabat, Emirates Flight Catering, and Visa — generated 36 proof-of-concept opportunities over 100 days. Five signed agreements were completed by the end of the programme, compressing partnerships that typically take 12 months or more into just three.
Through its partnership with Antler, founders can access its pre-seed Residency programme, offering structured support, founder matching, and potential funding pathways. An Entrepreneur Academy was also recently launched for those exploring whether to start a company.
What sets Dubai Founders HQ apart from comparable initiatives in London or Singapore is the hands-on role of public-sector engagement. Rather than supporting founders from a distance, the platform connects startups directly with government entities, investors, and corporate decision-makers — allowing partnerships to develop in real time.
For international founders weighing up where to base their next venture, that proximity to decision-makers and the compressed timeline from idea to market could be the edge that matters most.
Source: Euronews
