Top 69 Dubai Startups to Watch in 2026
Dubai's startup scene is defined by large funding rounds and a strong focus on real estate and technology. The city hosts a mix of established global players and new ventures.
Among them are messaging giant Telegram, with $3.2 billion in funding, and property developer Arada, which has secured $1.4 billion. These companies highlight the scale of business activity in the emirate.
Below is our list of 69 Dubai startups worth keeping an eye on.
Failory's Top 10 Picks
Property Finder operates a real estate portal that helps people find residential and commercial properties throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Their digital marketplace connects buyers, sellers, and renters with agents and a comprehensive database of property listings.
| Year Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | Michael Lahyani, Renan Bourdeau |
| Funding Amount | $757M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Private Equity |
| Top Investors | General Atlantic, Endeavor Catalyst, Francisco Partners, Permira, Bossa Invest |
Arada creates large-scale, master-planned communities across the United Arab Emirates. Their developments are designed as complete lifestyle destinations, integrating residential living with retail and leisure spaces.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Khaled bin Alwaleed, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi |
| Funding Amount | $1.4B |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | Mashreq Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank |
Careem created the "Everything App" for the Middle East, a platform that simplifies daily tasks like transportation, ordering food, and making payments. Their super-app combines ride-hailing, grocery delivery, and financial services into a single mobile experience.
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Abdulla Elyas, Magnus Olsson, Mudassir Sheikha |
| Funding Amount | $771.7M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series F |
| Top Investors | STV, Coatue, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Rakuten, BECO Capital |
Emirates Global Aluminium produces the world's largest supply of 'premium aluminium', making it the biggest industrial company in the UAE outside of oil and gas. They manage the entire aluminium value chain, from bauxite mining and alumina refining to smelting the final metal for customers in over 50 countries.
| Year Founded | 1975 |
| Founders | Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum |
| Funding Amount | $600M |
| Startup Size | Enterprise Organization (5,001+) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | Mashreq Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Emirates NBD, Commercial Bank of Dubai |
PRYPCO has developed a real estate ecosystem that simplifies the path to property ownership. They achieve this by offering both mortgage financing and fractional ownership, allowing users to invest in property with more flexibility.
| Year Founded | 2022 |
| Founders | Amira Sajwani |
| Funding Amount | $10M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | General Catalyst, Shorooq Partners, Apparel Group |
Tokinvest operates a pioneering marketplace that connects real-world asset issuers with investors. The platform specializes in tokenizing assets, making private market investments more accessible.
| Year Founded | 2024 |
| Founders | Matthew Blom, Scott Thiel |
| Funding Amount | $3.7M |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Pre-Seed |
| Top Investors | Triliv Holdings, Exponential Science |
Qashio builds a spend management platform that equips businesses with corporate cards and tools for controlling expenses. Their software is designed to give finance teams real-time visibility and streamlined control over company-wide spending.
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | Armin Moradi, Jonathon Lau |
| Funding Amount | $32.3M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | 500 Global, Plug and Play, Palm Drive Capital, Nuwa Capital, Rocketship.vc |
Binghatti develops luxury residential properties defined by a distinct architectural identity. The company specializes in creating high-end 'hyper-properties' and has partnered with global luxury brands to develop exclusive branded residences.
| Year Founded | 2008 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $500M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | — |
Damac Properties builds residential, commercial, and leisure developments with a focus on the luxury market. They are recognized for creating entire communities, signature skyscrapers, and high-end branded residences.
| Year Founded | 2002 |
| Founders | Hussain Sajwani |
| Funding Amount | $750M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | — |
Telegram created a cloud-based messaging tool that provides fast and secure communication across mobile and desktop. The app is well-regarded for its robust privacy features and user-controlled settings.
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Nikolai Durov, Pavel Durov |
| Funding Amount | $3.2B |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | Mubadala, Dalma Capital, ARK FUND, Manta Ray Ventures, Oyster Ventures |
59 Additional Dubai Startups Worth Following
Our top ten picks are just a small sample of the energy buzzing through Dubai's startup community. Across the city, founders are building companies in fields like fintech and crypto, raising billions of dollars along the way.
Some of these companies are brand new, while others are well-established names continuing to grow. Here is a closer look at the other startups shaping Dubai's ecosystem.
| Startup | Industry | Year Founded | Amount Raised | Last Funding Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 MYCRANE | Media | 2021 | $50M | Undisclosed |
 Tarabut | Fintech | 2018 | $57M | Series A |
 Holo | Fintech | 2019 | $22M | Series A |
 31 CONCEPT | Security | 2024 | $6M | Pre-Seed |
 Beehive | Fintech | 2014 | $151.6M | Debt Financing |
 qlub | Fintech | 2021 | $72M | Corporate Round |
 WheelsOn | Travel | 2023 | $12.5M | Seed |
 Five Holdings | Travel | 2011 | $1B | Debt Financing |
 Amaani | Fashion | 2023 | $6M | Seed |
 Huspy | Fintech | 2020 | $106M | Series B |
 Omniyat | Real Estate | 2005 | $1.1B | Debt Financing |
 EchoTwin AI | AI | 2024 | $8M | Seed |
 Stake | Fintech | 2020 | $26M | Series A |
 Alaan | AI | 2021 | $55M | Series A |
 AMEA Power | Energy | 2016 | $1.4B | Debt Financing |
 Proton | InsurTech | 2021 | $700k | Pre-Seed |
 Weex | Crypto | 2018 | $1.5M | Undisclosed |
 Khazna | Cloud | 2012 | $4.8B | Debt Financing |
 XPANCEO | Media | 2021 | $290M | Series A |
 TON | Crypto | 2023 | $72.2M | Venture Round |
 The Binary Holdings | AI | 2023 | $7M | Seed |
 Flare Network | Crypto | 2019 | $46.3M | Venture Round |
 KOI | Enterprise | 2015 | $18M | Convertible Note |
 Sobha Realty | Real Estate | 1976 | $750M | Debt Financing |
 Astra Tech | Infrastructure | 2019 | AED1.8B | Venture Round |
 B2Broker | Crypto | 2014 | $5M | Venture Round |
 DP World Group | GovTech | 2005 | $100M | Debt Financing |
 Banuba | AI | 2016 | $12M | Venture Round |
 Yellow Door Energy | Energy | 2015 | $492.3M | Debt Financing |
 Nakheel | AgTech | 2007 | $251k | Seed |
 Telr | Retail | 2013 | $13.9M | Series A |
 Gainz | Fintech | 2025 | $7M | Debt Financing |
 Fasset | Fintech | 2019 | $26.7M | Series A |
 Keyper | Enterprise | 2022 | $40.5M | Corporate Round |
 iMile | Logistics | 2017 | $106.3M | Series C |
 ArabyAds | Marketing | 2013 | $36.5M | Series A |
 Symbiotic | Crypto | 2023 | $34.8M | Series A |
 Biptap | Fintech | 2022 | $4M | Pre-Seed |
 Dubizzle Group | Marketplace | 2015 | $479M | Private Equity |
 Dubai Aerospace Enterprise | Mobility | 2006 | $4.7B | Debt Financing |
 Climaty AI | AI | 2024 | $2M | Seed |
 Fortis | Fintech | 2010 | $20M | Series A |
 SmartCrowd | Fintech | 2017 | $3.6M | Convertible Note |
 Qarrib | Marketplace | 2024 | $310k | Seed |
 LandRocker | Crypto | 2021 | $2.5M | Pre-Seed |
 Washmen | Media | 2015 | $6.6M | Series B |
 The Box Self Storage Services LLC | Logistics | 2007 | $13.5M | Debt Financing |
 Colexion | Crypto | 2021 | $13M | Seed |
 Memes Lab | Crypto | 2024 | $2.3M | Seed |
 Prodigy.Fi | Crypto | — | $5M | Seed |
 Dimension | Cloud | 2021 | $2.1M | Pre-Seed |
 USETECH | Crypto | 2006 | $11.3M | Seed |
 SolitAir Holding | Mobility | 2022 | $35.5M | Undisclosed |
 Invictus Investment | Logistics | 2014 | $50M | Debt Financing |
 Arknet | Crypto | 2024 | $6.7M | Series A |
 Ereele Capital | Fintech | 2014 | $8M | Series B |
 ShopDoc | Healthcare | 2019 | $1.4M | Seed |
 ShipFinex | Fintech | 2022 | $1.5M | Seed |
 Fintech Galaxy | Infrastructure | 2017 | $2M | Seed |
