DXB Start

Hub71 announced its support for the second edition of the UAE–India Start-Up Series, a program designed to help high-potential Indian startups expand into Abu Dhabi. This initiative offers access to funding, mentorship, and market entry opportunities, strengthening the UAE's role as a regional tech gateway.

UAE-based desert greening scale-up HyveGeo won Dubai Holding's Innovate For Tomorrow Impact Accelerator, receiving a AED 500,000 cash prize and a fully funded pilot within Dubai Holding's ecosystem. This funding highlights investment in sustainable, circular economy solutions in the region.

TiE Dubai has opened applications for the 7th edition of its TiE Women MENA Program 2026. This regional accelerator supports women entrepreneurs.

Kitopi, the UAE-born cloud-kitchen operator, has raised $50 million in growth capital led by EvolutionX to scale its homegrown food brands across the GCC and accelerate international franchising.

Omnispay, a UAE-based fintech, has raised $2 million in a pre-Series A round led by Infinity Value Capital Group to expand from rapid-settlement payments into a broader AI-native finance platform for SMEs.

RemotePass, a UAE-founded global employment and payroll platform, has raised $17.4 million in a Series B round led by EBRD Venture Capital, with 500 Global participating, to expand across Europe and the United States.

Dubai-based Lyrie.ai has emerged from stealth with $2 million in pre-seed funding to build autonomous cybersecurity for AI agents, launching an open 'Agent Trust Protocol' for verifying and authorizing them.

Abu Dhabi proptech eVoost AI has raised $2.2 million (€2 million) in a Series A led by First Drop VC, with Hub71's Qora71 participating, to expand its AI platform for optimizing residential property sales.

Comfi, a UAE-based B2B embedded-finance platform, has raised $65 million in a pre-Series A round led by Iliad Partners to expand buy-now-pay-later financing for SMEs across the Middle East and North Africa.

Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem, has expanded to 390 companies, with its startups collectively raising over AED9.9 billion ($2.7 billion) in funding. This growth underscores Abu Dhabi's emergence as a significant technology hub in the region.

Anara Impact Capital announced the first close of its new MENA-focused fund at $48 million, providing fresh capital for high-growth startups across the region. This fund will support entrepreneurial development and innovation, including within the UAE.

UAE-based startups CargoX and SPARQ raised a combined $258.5 million in the first week of June 2026, with CargoX securing $250 million and SPARQ $8.5 million. These investments signify continued strong investor confidence in the MENA startup ecosystem.

Core42, a G42 company, has partnered with Open Innovation AI to integrate its sovereign AI stack into Core42's Compass API platform. This collaboration aims to provide enterprise customers with enhanced sovereign AI solutions.

US-based AI unicorn Positron has opened an office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to address the rising regional demand for AI infrastructure. This expansion highlights Dubai's growing appeal as a hub for leading technology companies.

The GameForward accelerator program by Dubai SME and Dubai Culture is mentoring Emirati game developers for a Demo Day at GameExpo, aiming to commercialize their game concepts. This initiative supports local talent development and the growth of Dubai's gaming industry.

Anara Impact Capital announced the first close of its MENA-focused fund at $48 million, positioning it to invest in high-growth startups across the region. This capital infusion provides new funding opportunities for regional entrepreneurs.

The UAE's Ministry of Emiratisation and Human Resources mandated private sector salaries by the first of each month and lowered the legal age of adulthood from 21 to 18. These regulatory changes impact all businesses operating in the UAE.

UAE-based cross-border gifting platform Zuvees secured $1.6 million (INR 15 crore) in Series A funding from IvyCap Ventures. The capital will fuel expansion and enhance its AI-driven personalization features.

Dubai launched the 'SME in a Box' initiative, providing new SME founders with a single entry point for essential services and discounts exceeding Dh80,000 to streamline business setup. This initiative aims to reduce costs and simplify processes for new businesses entering the market.

Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK) partnered with MunichTech EXPO to boost technology investment between the UAE and Europe. This collaboration aims to create new opportunities for startups and foster cross-border innovation.

DMCC, Dubai's prominent free zone, launched new acceleration initiatives offering financial incentives, fee waivers, and regulatory flexibilities. These measures aim to reduce operating costs and support growth for its over 26,000 member companies, including many startups.

Dubai's Permus Software House launched Myndlab, the region's first native Arabic AI application builder, empowering GCC founders, developers, and SMEs. This tool enables rapid development of enterprise-ready apps and websites.

UAE telecom du launched 'du Ventures', a $50 million corporate venture fund in partnership with Shorooq to invest in regional startups focused on emerging technologies. This fund will provide crucial capital for tech innovation across the UAE.

The UAE is enhancing policy initiatives to foster the growth of AI unicorn companies, aiming to establish itself as a leading global hub for AI innovation. This strategic focus includes investments and a supportive ecosystem for AI ventures.

Mastercard Lighthouse and Hub71 have opened applications for a new four-month accelerator program in the UAE, focusing on AI startups in fintech, commerce, and other key sectors. The initiative aims to foster innovation within the region's AI ecosystem.

Uber has acquired an additional 12.5% stake in UAE super app Careem Technologies from e& for $100 million. This transaction reinforces Uber's position in Careem's non-ride-hailing businesses.

UAE-based digital embedded finance platform CredibleX has secured $15 million in a Series A funding round. The investment, led by Mubadala Investment Company, will boost its lending and technology capabilities for SMEs.

UAE autonomous logistics startup CargoX raised $250 million in funding led by BlueFive Capital. This investment will fuel the expansion of its driverless delivery network across the UAE and globally.

Yolo Investments has obtained a license from ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority for its third private equity fund, targeting $250 million for MENA-focused investments. The fund will concentrate on crypto, fintech, and gaming sectors.

Dubai has introduced a landmark accelerator program to connect post-revenue startups with major corporate partners like DHL, du, and Visa. The initiative aligns with the D33 Agenda to foster innovation and economic growth.