The UAE’s startup landscape has been evolving, with a more diverse range of companies emerging in recent years, moving beyond the e-commerce sector, according to industry leaders. Saeed Al Nofali, the director of In5, an enabling platform for entrepreneurs and startups, noted that startups are branching into fields like sustainability, agritech, and AI, not solely focusing on e-commerce as seen in the past.
Speaking at the Expand North Star conference in Dubai, where over 1,400 startups are presenting their solutions, Al Nofali emphasized the need to support and nurture quality startups.
He also highlighted the changing mindset regarding startup failures in the region, emphasizing the importance of education and collaboration to further develop the ecosystem.
Sheriff El Badwi, CEO of Dubai Future District Fund, noted that deep technical startups previously unseen in the MENA region are now entering the market, and the UAE’s robust infrastructure has attracted international venture capital firms. This growth in venture capital activity, along with a cultural shift, is driving progress in the startup ecosystem.