Dubai's new startup campus wants to be the front door for founders

Dubai has opened Dubai Founders HQ, a hybrid startup campus and digital platform aimed at streamlining market entry for entrepreneurs. Launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and developed by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism together with the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the initiative sits inside the 25Hours Hotel at One Central near Dubai World Trade Centre and combines co‑working, programming and an online ecosystem. The platform has onboarded more than 25 public and private partners and aims to accelerate the creation and scale-up of startups as part of Dubai’s D33 economic agenda, which targets 30 unicorns and substantial SME growth by 2033.

“Founders require more than just funding. They need access, speed and the right people around the table,” said Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. “Dubai Founders HQ was created to remove the friction from that journey. By bringing startups, corporates, investors and government partners into one connected platform, we are helping founders move faster from idea to market, and from market entry to real commercial growth.”

How the campus works

Dubai Founders HQ is described as a “phygital” platform — combining a physical hub where entrepreneurs meet investors, corporates and mentors with a digital layer that hosts a curated learning library, an ecosystem directory and step‑by‑step business set‑up tools. On the ground, co‑working desks and meeting rooms connect founders directly with decision‑makers; online, founders can access partner networks and specialist programmes across Dubai.

• Programming partners include Antler, Endeavor and Plug and Play.
• The first Plug and Play accelerator cohort ran over 100 days, bringing together 23 startups and five corporate partners: du Business, DHL, Talabat, Emirates Flight Catering and Visa.
• The cohort generated 36 proof‑of‑concept opportunities; 15 of those entered advanced contracting or due diligence, four reached signed agreements before the programme concluded, and five signed agreements are now completed in total.

H.E. Hadi Badri, CEO of Dubai Economic Development Corporation, framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to build “a founder‑first ecosystem.” He said: “Dubai Founders HQ reflects our commitment to building a founder-first ecosystem – one designed not only to support individual businesses, but to strengthen the conditions that allow entrepreneurship to thrive at scale.”

Context and strategic aims

The platform’s launch comes as the UAE solidifies its tech market share in the region: an analysis by Seed Group found the UAE accounted for more than 51% of all active tech startups in MENA in 2024, up from 43% the prior year. Beyond individual company formation, Dubai Founders HQ is pitched to increase jobs, attract international talent and create demand for professional services such as banking, logistics and technology suppliers, amplifying the city’s wider economic activity.

Programmes include Antler’s Residency for pre‑seed founders, the Entrepreneur Academy for aspiring entrepreneurs, and additional sector‑focused hubs and specialist partners intended to match support to stage and vertical. More programmes are slated to launch as the platform expands its partner network.

Outlook

Dubai Founders HQ aims to shorten typical partnership timelines—Plug and Play reported compressing partnerships that often take 12 months into three months—and to offer a single entry point for founders choosing where to base their ventures. For international entrepreneurs, the promise of direct access to government entities, corporates, investors and ecosystem partners may be a decisive factor. Success will be measured by how many startups move from idea to commercial scale, how many of those reach significant funding milestones, and whether Dubai meets its D33 target of 30 unicorns by 2033.