- H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama: “Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy remains committed to accelerating the shift towards a fully integrated digital economy built on advanced infrastructure, agile legislation, and a pro-innovation business environment.”
- Dubai Founders HQ launched in October as a joint initiative between Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy to strengthen the emirate’s ecosystem for startups and SMEs.
- 12% of the companies supported by the chamber in 2025 specialised in fintech.
- 48% of the companies supported by the chamber benefited from business set-up services and opportunities to participate in accelerators and incubators in Dubai.
- Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy launched the third edition of the Create Apps Championship to empower tech talent and provide a platform for nurturing innovative ideas.
- The 10th edition of Expand North Star achieved record attendance, attracting more than 2,000 startups and over 1,200 investors managing assets exceeding US$ 1.1 trillion.
- The chamber organised 36 events during 2025 to strengthen partnerships and support the growth of digital economy sectors, together with 17 roadshows in global markets.
Dubai, UAE – Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has announced that it successfully supported the establishment and expansion of 1,690 digital startups in Dubai during 2025. This represents an increase of 39.7% compared to 2024, reflecting the chamber’s significant role in strengthening Dubai’s position as a preferred global destination for the growth of digital companies and entrepreneurial ventures.
Businesses specialising in artificial intelligence accounted for around 15% of the companies supported by the chamber, while fintech enterprises represented 12%. The combined share of companies specialising in mobility tech, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and e-commerce amounted to 20% of the total. Global companies accounted for 75% of all companies supported by the chamber during 2025.
In October last year, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, launched Dubai Founders HQ, a flagship initiative designed to consolidate and strengthen Dubai’s startup and small and medium enterprise (SME) ecosystem. Launched as a joint initiative between the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, Dubai Founders HQ is a first-of-its-kind ‘phygital’ platform that combines a dynamic physical campus with a comprehensive digital ecosystem. The initiative brings together founders, investors, corporates and enablers under one roof to foster collaboration, innovation and business growth.
His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, stated: “Guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to cement Dubai’s status as a global hub for the digital economy, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy remains committed to accelerating the shift towards a fully integrated digital economy built on advanced infrastructure, agile legislation, and a pro-innovation business environment. At the same time, we are empowering digital companies to scale from Dubai by building an ecosystem designed for rapid growth that offers the infrastructure, regulation, and market access innovators need, enhancing the emirate’s competitiveness while attracting investment and talent across the industries of the future.”
Integrated services for digital companies
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy’s ‘Business in Dubai’ platform provides a suite of corporate services in collaboration with trusted partners, in addition to business matchmaking services. This supports companies seeking to launch or expand their activities in the emirate by helping them identify the right partners, investors, and customers to scale their operations quickly and efficiently. As part of the chamber’s support in 2025, 48% of the companies assisted received help with business set-up services and opportunities to participate in accelerators and incubators in Dubai. A further 31% of companies benefited from the wide range of business support services offered through the platform.
