Top 89 United Arab Emirates Startups to Watch in 2026
The United Arab Emirates' startup ecosystem is defined by major investments in core industries. The region supports a mix of long standing companies and recent ventures.
For example, renewable energy firm Masdar has attracted $3.3 billion in funding. The real estate market is also a major focus, with developer Arada raising $1.4 billion.
Below is our list of 89 United Arab Emirates startups worth keeping an eye on.
Failory's Top 10 Picks
Property Finder runs a leading real estate platform that connects buyers, sellers, and renters with properties across the MENA region. The portal provides a comprehensive search experience for residential and commercial listings, simplifying the process of finding a new home or investment.
| Headquarters | Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| 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 develops large-scale, integrated communities that combine residential, retail, and leisure spaces. The property development firm is known for creating master-planned urban environments with a focus on design and quality of life.
| Headquarters | Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| 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 is building the 'Everything App' for the Middle East, a platform designed to handle daily needs from transportation to payments. This super-app combines ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery, and financial services for users across the region.
| Headquarters | Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| 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 |
Masdar develops and operates large-scale renewable energy projects around the world, with a portfolio spanning solar, wind, and green hydrogen. They are also the force behind Masdar City, a pioneering sustainable urban community.
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Year Founded | 2006 |
| Founders | H.E. Sultan Al Jaber |
| Funding Amount | $3.3B |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank |
Emirates Global Aluminium is the world's largest producer of premium aluminum and the biggest industrial company in the UAE outside of oil and gas. The company manages the entire aluminum value chain, from bauxite mining and alumina refining to smelting primary aluminum.
| Headquarters | Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| 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 operates a proptech platform that simplifies access to property ownership. They offer a combination of mortgage services and a fractional investment model, opening up the real estate market to more people.
| Headquarters | Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| 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 marketplace that connects real-world asset issuers with a global pool of investors. The platform specializes in tokenizing these assets, aiming to bring liquidity and accessibility to traditionally private markets.
| Headquarters | Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| 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 an expense management platform that issues corporate cards to help businesses control their spending in real time. The platform gives finance teams greater visibility over employee expenses and automates accounting processes.
| Headquarters | Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| 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 across Dubai, distinguished by their bold, contemporary architecture. The firm has established a strong brand identity through its iconic design philosophy and high-profile collaborations on hyper-towers.
| Headquarters | Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| Year Founded | 2008 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $500M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | — |
Damac Properties develops a portfolio of residential, commercial, and leisure properties. They specialize in creating luxury skyscrapers, large-scale master communities, and branded residences in collaboration with iconic fashion and hospitality brands.
| Headquarters | Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| Year Founded | 2002 |
| Founders | Hussain Sajwani |
| Funding Amount | $750M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | — |
79 Additional United Arab Emirates Startups Worth Following
Our top picks are just a small window into the country's growing startup scene. In fields like fintech, AI, and crypto, founders have raised billions of dollars to build their companies.
Some are early in their journey while others are already well established. Below is a look at the other startups shaping the UAE's ecosystem.
| Startup | Industry | Year Founded | Amount Raised | Last Funding Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Telegram | Data | 2013 | $3.2B | Debt Financing |
 MYCRANE | Media | 2021 | $50M | Undisclosed |
 CredibleX | Enterprise | 2023 | $155M | Debt Financing |
 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 |
 Fuze | Crypto | 2022 | $26.2M | 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 |
 Blackstone | Marketing | 2017 | — | — |
 KOI | Enterprise | 2015 | $18M | Convertible Note |
 Rihal | AI | 2019 | $7.5M | Series A |
 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 |
 ADNOC | Manufacturing | 1971 | $5.5B | 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 |
 Octa | Enterprise | 2024 | $22.3M | Debt Financing |
 LowKick Studio | Gaming | 2021 | $2.6M | Pre-Seed |
 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 |
 Alpheya | Fintech | 2023 | $300M | Venture Round |
 BurjX | Crypto | 2024 | $3.2M | Seed |
 Deem Finance | Fintech | 1918 | $400M | Debt Financing |
 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 |
 AppliedAI | AI | 2021 | $97M | Series A |
 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 |
 Ryse Energy | Energy | 2019 | $15M | Private Equity |
 Washmen | Media | 2015 | $6.6M | Series B |
 The Box Self Storage Services LLC | Logistics | 2007 | $13.5M | Debt Financing |
 BlueFive Capital | Other | 2024 | — | Private Equity |
 Alma Health | Healthcare | 2020 | $10M | Series A |
 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 |
 Credbull | Crypto | 2023 | $5.2M | Seed |
 Mirfa International Power & Water Company | Manufacturing | 2014 | AED4B | Debt Financing |
 SolitAir Holding | Mobility | 2022 | $35.5M | Undisclosed |
 Invictus Investment | Logistics | 2014 | $50M | Debt Financing |
 Crescent Enterprises | Enterprise | 2007 | — | — |
 Arknet | Crypto | 2024 | $6.7M | Series A |
 Ereele Capital | Fintech | 2014 | $8M | Series B |
 Ragworks AI | AI | 2024 | $2.5M | Seed |
 ShopDoc | Healthcare | 2019 | $1.4M | Seed |
 Air Arabia | Mobility | 2007 | — | — |
 ShipFinex | Fintech | 2022 | $1.5M | Seed |
 Fintech Galaxy | Infrastructure | 2017 | $2M | Seed |
