The Startup Friendly Cities Index 2026 ranked Dubai third globally for startup friendliness, behind only San Francisco and Zurich. The index assessed ecosystems across 60 countries on startup activity, digital connectivity, young talent, quality of life, and business agility.
Dubai topped global rankings for business agility, with new startups operational in approximately one week. The emirate outperformed San Francisco, Tokyo, London, and New York on combined safety, healthcare, and purchasing power measures.
Despite strong results, the report noted Dubai still lags behind mature ecosystems in unicorn count and overall venture capital depth, suggesting room for growth.
