The Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development (Dubai SME), an agency of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), in collaboration with the Bidayat incubator at The Sustainable City, has announced the successful conclusion of its Emirati Tech program, graduating a cohort of 20 homegrown technology startups. The initiative underscores Dubai’s strategic push to become a leading global hub for SMEs and aligns with the key objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Fostering Homegrown Innovation
Delivered through Dubai SME’s Hamdan Innovation Incubator (Hi2), the Emirati Tech program provided a comprehensive incubation period for participating entrepreneurs. The program was designed to empower Emirati founders with the essential tools, resources, and market access needed to transform innovative concepts into viable, growth-ready ventures.
Participants received hands-on mentorship, support in business model development, product development assistance, and opportunities for market validation. Bidayat further enhanced the experience by providing access to expert guidance and advanced facilities within a practical testbed environment, accelerating the growth of the early-stage startups. This year’s program attracted significant interest, with 93 applications submitted from 182 entrepreneurs across diverse sectors including AI, mobility, e-commerce, and environmental tech.
Five Startups Secure Grants for Further Growth
Among the 20 graduates, five startups demonstrated exceptional progress and have been awarded a grant from Dubai SME to further develop their products and services. The recipients are Carbon to Capital, Syspos, Sharar, Mirshad, and Dyno Tech. These companies are innovating in critical sectors such as sustainability, environmental technology, FinTech, artificial intelligence, and digital tourism.
Several of these startups are already transitioning to practical applications. Sharar is developing a pilot for energy management in collaboration with The Sustainable City, while Carbon to Capital is expanding its initiatives in sustainability and emissions reduction. The remaining grant recipients—Syspos, Mirshad, and Dyno Tech—have commenced initial projects and market testing for their new technologies.
A Public-Private Push for a Knowledge-Based Economy
The program’s success highlights the impactful collaboration between the public and private sectors in nurturing a sustainable, innovation-driven economy.
“Our success in graduating these Emirati innovators, who are the pioneers of the city’s economic future, is in line with the vision of our wise leadership and our commitment to achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33,” stated Abdulaziz Al Mazmi, Director of the Business Incubation Department at DET. “By empowering Emirati entrepreneurs with premium resources, guidance, and market access, our partnership with Bidayat takes a new form of fruitful and constructive collaboration between the public and private sectors.”
Fares Saeed, Founder and Chairman of See Institute, which operates the Bidayat platform, added, “We are proud of the achievements of the Emirati entrepreneurs, which reflect the importance of training and mentorship in supporting the growth of startups and strengthening the innovation environment in the country. Our role is to empower entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into successful projects and develop them within a framework that encourages entrepreneurial thinking and national innovation.”
About Emirati Tech
The Emirati Tech program is a collaborative initiative by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development (Dubai SME) and the Bidayat incubator. It is dedicated to identifying, nurturing, and accelerating the growth of early-stage technology startups founded by Emirati entrepreneurs. The program provides comprehensive support, including mentorship, funding opportunities, and market access, to help build a sustainable ecosystem of high-growth local companies in line with Dubai’s economic ambitions.
Source: Al Bayan
