# UAE startup programs (40)

Updated 2026-08-23. Intakes, grants, licenses, visas, sandboxes, and challenges. Closed programs stay listed — many are seasonal. Detail at `/programs/<slug>.md`.

| Program | Type | Status | Closes | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADGM FSRA Regulatory Laboratory (RegLab) | sandbox | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/adgm-reglab |
| ADGM Tech Startup Licence | license | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/adgm-tech-startup-licence |
| ADIO Innovation Programme | grant | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/adio-innovation-programme |
| Area 2071 Ecosystem Membership | intake | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/area-2071 |
| DFHQ Entrepreneur Academy (powered by Antler) | intake | closing | 2026-08-24 | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/dfhq-entrepreneur-academy |
| DFSA Innovation Testing Licence (ITL) | sandbox | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/difc-innovation-testing-licence |
| DIFC FinTech Hive Accelerator | intake | closed | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/difc-fintech-hive |
| DIFC Innovation Licence | license | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/difc-innovation-licence |
| DMCC Jump Start Package | license | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/dmcc-jump-start |
| Dubai Founders HQ Accelerator (Plug and Play) | intake | closed | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/dfhq-plug-and-play |
| Dubai Future Accelerators | challenge | closed | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/dubai-future-accelerators |
| Dubai Future District Fund — Direct Startup Investments | grant | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/dfdf-direct-investments |
| Dubai Mainland Trade Licence (DED) | license | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/dubai-mainland-licence |
| Dubai SME Seed Capital & Expansion Loans | grant | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/dubai-sme-loans |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis Startup Licence (via Dtec) | license | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/dtec-startup-licence |
| EDB 360 Business Banking & Growth Financing | grant | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/edb-360 |
| Flat6Labs Ignite (Abu Dhabi) | intake | closed | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/flat6labs-ignite |
| FutureTech World Cup — Dubai AI Festival 2026 | challenge | closed | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/futuretech-world-cup |
| Google for Startups Accelerator: Middle East, North Africa and Turkey | intake | closing | 2026-08-31 | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/google-for-startups-mena |
| Hi2 Tech Incubator Programme 2026 | intake | closing | 2026-08-31 | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/hi2 |
| Hub71 Access Programme — Cohort 20 | intake | open | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/hub71-access |
| Hub71+ ClimateTech — Cohort 20 | intake | open | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/hub71-climatetech |
| Hub71+ Digital Assets — Cohort 20 | intake | open | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/hub71-digital-assets |
| Hub71+ Life Sciences — Cohort 20 | intake | open | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/hub71-life-sciences |
| IFZA Free Zone Business Licence | license | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/ifza |
| Intelak Hub 2026 Incubator & Accelerator | intake | closed | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/intelak |
| Khalifa Fund SME Funding Products | grant | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/khalifa-fund |
| MBRIF Innovation Accelerator — Cohort 13 | grant | open | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/mbrif |
| Meydan Free Zone Business Licence | license | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/meydan |
| SHAMS Business Licence (Sharjah Media City) | license | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/shams |
| Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship (SWIF) 2026 | intake | closing | 2026-09-13 | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/swif |
| Supernova 0X at Expand North Star 2026 | challenge | open | 2026-11-02 | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/supernova |
| The Catalyst Accelerator Program | intake | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/catalyst |
| UAE Golden Visa — Entrepreneur | visa | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/uae-golden-visa-entrepreneur |
| UAE Golden Visa — Investor (Public Investments) | visa | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/uae-golden-visa-investor |
| UAE Green Visa — Freelancer / Self-Employed | visa | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/uae-green-visa |
| UAE Virtual Work Residence Permit (Dubai) | visa | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/uae-virtual-work |
| in5 Design | intake | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/in5-design |
| in5 Media | intake | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/in5-media |
| in5 Tech | intake | evergreen | — | https://www.dxbstart.com/programs/in5-tech |

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Source: DXBStart — the working index of the UAE startup ecosystem. Canonical page: https://www.dxbstart.com/programs
More machine-readable resources: https://www.dxbstart.com/llms.txt
Startups can request a listing at https://www.dxbstart.com/submit — free, editorially reviewed.