Author: Arabian Media staff
The UAE has been named the best place in the world for entrepreneurs as foreign ownership rules, government support and finance options make it easier than ever to launch a business in the country. The UAE has ranked first globally for the fourth consecutive year in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report 2024/2025. The report also ranked the UAE as the best place for entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises among 56 economies assessed this year. UAE tops entrepreneur ranking The UAE secured the top position among high-income countries in 11 out of 13 key indicators based on expert assessments…
The innovative hiring platform ‘Dandelion Civilization’, promoted by entrepreneur Dmitry Zaytsev, not only aims big by helping companies to go beyond résumés and AI screenings to uncover real human potential to boost hiring success rates by over 40 per cent, but equally to equip candidates to understand themselves better, improve their skills, and ultimately find more fulfilling careers. The startup, set for a grand take off in Dubai next month, aiming to garner a major chunk of an estimated $150 million market over the next 2-3 years, is currently in talks with some of the leading corporate groups in the…
The surge in investments, which include both equity and debt funding, comes despite many other regions, including the West and India, still seeing a slowdown in private and venture capital funding. Importantly, the momentum seems to be continuing into the second quarter as well, with erad, a Riyadh-headquartered alternative financing platform for SMEs, striking a $16 million equity investment deal in a pre-Series A round. The company is expected to announce the deal, involving leading global and regional funds, including YCombinator, Nuwa Capital, Khwarizmi Ventures and Aljazira Capital, on Wednesday, April 30. The $160 million Series E round funding by…
This represents a 135 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting the chamber’s ongoing efforts to cement Dubai’s position as a preferred global hub for tech startups. During Q1 2025, the chamber organised four events aimed at supporting the business community, empowering startups, nurturing talent, building partnerships, and enhancing the ease of doing business in Dubai. Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy In addition, 729 participants received training through the chamber’s digital upskilling programmes, which are designed to enhance the capabilities of specialised talent in advanced technology sectors and build a future-ready workforce. The chamber also continued…
A free zone in Dubai is offering entrepreneurs an express business licence service to get up and running in one hour. Meydan Free Zone officially launched Fawri, a new service that enables entrepreneurs to obtain a complete business licence in just 60 minutes. Meydan Free Zone says the platform redefines the speed and simplicity of company formation in Dubai, empowering founders to launch their businesses with unprecedented efficiency. Dubai free zone licence Fawri is a fully digital, all-in-one licensing solution designed specifically for solo entrepreneurs. With a seamless application process, eligible individuals can receive all core legal documents in an…
Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 and Google have launched the Google for Startups Accelerator, a joint programme to scale AI-focused startups within Hub71+ AI. A total of 26 startups from the Hub71 community have been selected to join the inaugural cohort, gaining access to a tailored three-month curriculum. Startups will gain access to Google’s global network of mentors, engineers, product leaders and Google Cloud credits. Abu Dhabi startups Top-performing startups will be eligible for up to $300,000 in credits, the highest tier of support available through the programme globally. They will also be considered for Google Cloud Platform (GCP) ecosystem tier credit…
UAE startups in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector are the latest top picks for venture capitalists (VCs) and private equities (PEs), who are pumping in top dollars into such ventures, betting big on the active governmental support to the sector and the current buzz on the sector globally, investment experts said. Growth-stage ventures in the health and fintech sectors are among the other preferred options for both regional and global investors. The region is also attracting higher levels of funding on the back of the rising influx of entrepreneurs and global talents amidst increased availability of “capital looking for a…
Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF), has unveiled a dynamic performance update for 2024 at its Annual General Meeting, highlighting more than $1.65bn in capital commitments and strategic support for more than 190 portfolio companies. The announcement cements DFDF’s position as a key driver of innovation, talent development, and venture capital growth aligned with the emirate’s Economic Agenda (D33). Throughout 2024, dubbed the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, DFDF accelerated its mission to foster long-term value through responsible innovation and community-focused investment. The Fund’s impact extended beyond capital, playing a pivotal role in advancing public-private partnerships that align government priorities with startup-led…
Saudi Arabia has reinforced its dominance in the Middle East and North Africa’s venture capital landscape, securing the top spot in H1 2025 with a total VC funding of $860m (SR3.2bn) — already surpassing the Kingdom’s full-year VC total for 2024. The “H1 2025 MENA Venture Investment Report” from venture data platform MAGNiTT revealed that Saudi Arabia accounted for 56 per cent of total capital deployed across the MENA region, underscoring its pivotal role in shaping the region’s startup and innovation economy. The Kingdom also saw a record-breaking 114 VC deals during the first six months of the year, signalling…
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was ready to work with the White House to end the war, but questions remain about Hamas’s future in Gaza and whether it will agree to disarm. Source link