UAE targets 2 million startups, 10 unicorns by 2031

6 min readPublished on 22 Oct 2025

On September 21st, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched "The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World" campaign⁽¹⁾, a strategic initiative to strengthen the UAE's position as a leading global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. The campaign sets ambitious targets: increasing the number of startups to more than 2 million by 2031 and seeing 10 unicorns emerge during the same period⁽²⁾.

The numbers tell an exciting story for job seekers. The UAE currently hosts more than 1.2 million companies⁽²⁾, meaning approximately 800,000 new startups need to be established over the next 5-6 years. Five unicorn companies have already originated from the country⁽²⁾, with five more targeted by 2031.

Supervised by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism in collaboration with the UAE Government Media Office and the UAE Entrepreneurship Council, the campaign brings together over 50 incubators and accelerators alongside strategic partners from public and private sectors⁽¹⁾. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid emphasized that the campaign aims to "train and nurture 10,000 Emirati entrepreneurs, create thousands of economic opportunities, and raise community awareness"⁽¹⁾.

Why UAE is the perfect startup arena

Government backing across multiple ministries

Key programs creating opportunities

What this means for job seekers

Why UAE is the perfect startup arena

The UAE's achievements position it as an ideal destination for entrepreneurship. The country secured the top position in the 2024-2025 global entrepreneurship monitor report for the 4th year running, ranking first in 11 out of 13 indicators for high-income countries, and was named the best destination for entrepreneurship and SMEs among 56 evaluated economies⁽³⁾.

Small and medium-sized enterprises contribute 63.5% to the non-oil GDP as of mid-2022 and make up around 95% of the UAE's active businesses⁽³⁾. Of particular note, out of 7 Arab companies recently gaining unicorn status, 5 have launched in the UAE⁽³⁾.

The UAE offers practical advantages: 100% foreign ownership across most sectors, rapid business setup through digital services, and world-class infrastructure including ports, international airports, and an advanced roads network⁽³⁾. As part of the “Projects of the 50” initiative, the UAE announced investments worth AED 8.7 billion aimed at promoting innovation and supporting SMEs⁽³⁾.

Minister Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri emphasized that "around one million companies are owned by entrepreneurs, representing nearly 94% of the total"⁽²⁾, reflecting the pivotal role of entrepreneurs in the national economy.

Government backing across multiple ministries

Multiple government entities demonstrate serious commitment to the campaign's success. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism leads the initiative with comprehensive strategies encompassing economic clusters, food security, economic openness through partnership agreements, and strategies for innovation and IP protection⁽²⁾.

The Khalifa Fund for enterprise development has provided support exceeding AED 1.4 billion to more than 1,200 companies since its establishment in 2007 until the end of August 2025⁽⁴⁾. The fund aims to empower 1,000 entrepreneurs during the first six months of the campaign and will offer 70+ specialized training courses covering all stages of the entrepreneurial journey⁽⁴⁾.

The Ministry of Finance serves as a pivotal partner, having launched several innovative initiatives including the federal procurement platform, which offers startups wider opportunities to compete for federal contracts and tenders⁽⁵⁾. It also organizes awareness programs, facilitates access to financing, and partners with local and international institutions to provide practical tools that support growth⁽⁵⁾.

Key programs creating opportunities

The campaign includes targeted programs that directly impact employment. The startupemirates.ae platform, launched with the New Economy Academy, aims to attract 10,000 entrepreneurs and create 30,000 new jobs by 2030⁽⁶⁾. The platform provides mentorship, shared workspaces, networking, and training programs.

Other specialized initiatives include the Project Management Experts Programme—training and licensing 500 Emiratis in construction project management—and the UAE Tax Agent Programme, licensing 500 certified Emirati tax agents through intensive training over three years⁽⁶⁾.

The campaign will also support the launch of 250 full-time Emirati real estate companies⁽⁶⁾ and enable startups to compete in the federal procurement ecosystem under the Ministry of Finance⁽⁶⁾, expanding access and encouraging innovation-driven growth.

What this means for job seekers

The implications for employment are substantial. With 800,000 new startups targeted by 2031, each business creates multiple employment opportunities. The startupemirates.ae platform alone targets 30,000 jobs by 2030, representing just one initiative among many.

The next 5–7 years are particularly crucial. As the government prioritizes diversification under national goals, more businesses entering the market means growing demand for skilled professionals—from technology and finance to marketing and operations. The diversity of programs shows opportunities exist across multiple sectors.

As the UAE builds toward its vision of becoming the startup capital of the world, Naukrigulf serves as the vital connection point—linking ambitious startups with skilled professionals pursuing meaningful career opportunities in the region’s fastest-growing sector.