Leaders of Dubai-based unicorns hail city as global innovation hub shaping future technology and driving the digital economy

Senior executives from Dubai-based unicorns have reiterated the emirate’s role as a global hub for digital innovation and technology-led growth, telling Global News Network Liberia that Dubai’s regulatory environment, infrastructure and international talent pool are central to their expansion plans. In comments published on Apr 20, 2026, leaders from Kitopi, Property Finder and XPANCEO praised the city’s agility as a launchpad for companies seeking rapid scaling and regional reach.

“Dubai’s digital ecosystem has been a major enabler of our growth. The city offers a strong combination of forward-looking regulation, world-class infrastructure, access to exceptional talent, and a business environment that makes it easier to build, test, and scale quickly. Its connectivity to regional and global markets has also been critical as we’ve expanded our ambitions beyond the UAE,” said Mohamad Ballout, CEO and Co‑founder of Kitopi.

Executives credited several concrete elements of Dubai’s ecosystem for enabling high-growth digital businesses:

• Forward-looking regulation that allows companies to experiment and scale;
• Advanced physical and digital infrastructure to support product development and distribution;
• Access to international talent and investor networks that facilitate cross-border expansion;
• Active alignment between public and private sectors, including support from the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers.

Fernando Fanton, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Property Finder, framed Dubai as more than a base of operations: “Dubai is no longer just a place to set up a business; it is the place to build the future of your industry. The emirate’s sophisticated digital infrastructure and transparent framework allow us to test, iterate, and scale tools efficiently, while strong relationships with investors and regulators enable us to navigate complexity and turn insights into actionable solutions.”

The comments underline a recurring theme among the city’s technology leaders: Dubai’s coordinated ecosystem—from regulators and investors to trade chambers and private firms—reduces friction for companies focused on rapid innovation. Observers pointed to the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy as a visible example of institutional support that helps bridge private-sector tech initiatives with public policy and regional market access.

Roman Axelrod, Founder and Managing Partner at XPANCEO, positioned Dubai as an evolving centre of ambition and scientific endeavour: “Dubai is evolving into a new global magnet for innovation, echoing the early spirit of Silicon Valley; yet it does so while staying true to the principles on which it was built: transforming impossible challenges into strategic opportunities through global partnership. The real question for founders today is no longer whether Dubai can sustain ambitious scientific research and development; it’s whether your own ambition is bold enough to keep pace with Dubai’s vision.”

Looking ahead, the executives’ statements point to continued investment and talent flows into Dubai’s tech sector, driven by a policy and infrastructure environment that emphasizes experimentation, market connectivity and public-private collaboration. As these unicorns pursue regional and international growth, their endorsements add momentum to Dubai’s positioning as a strategic hub for companies aiming to shape future technologies and expand the digital economy.