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Top Startup Funding Programmes in the UAE

22 startup funding programmes ranked by rating, review volume and listing quality.

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Between them, the 11 best-ranked of these 22 startup funding programmes cover growth stage (4) and seed stage (2). They also list work in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 11 of them have written a profile you can read before you get in touch.

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  1. AD

    Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) – Tech Startup Licence and RegLab

    Seed Stage · Also in Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi's international financial centre. It offers tech startups a discounted Tech Startup Licence (a Hub71 approval letter is required) and a fintech regulatory sandbox called…

    Write a review
  2. AD

    Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) – Innovation Programme

    Also in Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi government incentive programme, launched in 2020 with AED 2 billion, that gave innovative tech companies moving to Abu Dhabi financial incentives such as payroll and…

    Write a review
  3. AD

    ADQ – DisruptAD (venture capital platform)

    Also in Abu Dhabi

    Platform ADQ set up to bring together its venture capital work: investing in startups and VC funds, and creating incubators and accelerators to build Abu Dhabi's startup ecosystem.

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  4. DI

    DIFC Innovation Hub (incl. former DIFC FinTech Hive)

    Also in Dubai

    Innovation community at the Dubai International Financial Centre for fintech and other tech firms.

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  5. DF

    Dubai Future District Fund

    Growth Stage · Seed Stage · Also in Dubai

    Dubai's evergreen venture capital fund of funds, anchored by DIFC and the Dubai Future Foundation with an initial AED 1 billion.

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  6. DF

    Dubai Future Foundation – Dubai Future Accelerators and AREA 2071

    Also in Dubai

    Dubai government foundation whose Dubai Future Accelerators programme matches startups with government and private-sector challenges.

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  7. DS

    Dubai SME (Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development) – Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund for SMEs

    Also in Dubai

    Dubai SME's fund for Emirati entrepreneurs, offering interest-free or low-interest loans, interest-free asset financing and credit guarantees.

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  8. ED

    Emirates Development Bank (EDB)

    Growth Stage

    Federal UAE development bank that finances startups and SMEs in five priority sectors (startup loans up to AED 2 million), offers credit guarantees, and runs the AED 1 billion…

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  9. KF

    Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development

    Growth Stage · Also in Abu Dhabi

    Not-for-profit economic development fund of the Government of Abu Dhabi, set up in 2007.

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  10. MB

    Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF)

    Also in Dubai

    Federal UAE Ministry of Finance initiative, run by Emirates Development Bank, with two programmes: a Guarantee Scheme that gives government-backed loan guarantees so innovative…

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  11. MC

    Mubadala Capital Ventures (formerly Mubadala Ventures)

    Growth Stage

    The venture platform of Mubadala Capital, part of Abu Dhabi's sovereign investor Mubadala.

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Top B2B companies in the UAE7 categories ranked, 104 companies
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