Startup accelerators in the UAE
The UAE has become a regional launchpad, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi hosting well-funded accelerators and government-backed programs that draw founders from across MENA and South Asia. Abu Dhabi built Hub71 as a subsidized home for startups, and both Techstars and Google for Startups now run programs inside it; Dubai answers with DIFC FinTech Hive in its financial centre and the in5 innovation centers.
These are the UAE-based accelerators we track. Terms, funding, and equity sit on each listing, and a free profile gets you a match against all of them at once.
Startup accelerators in the UAE
378 accelerators
MassChallenge
Remote
16 wks · equity-free
Equity-free accelerator + non-dilutive cash prizes
Entrepreneur First (EF)
London · Paris · Bangalore · San Francisco, Global
24 wks · $250k · ~8% equity
Up to $250K + a 24-week pre-team to launch program
Antler
Multiple cities, Global
24 wks · $250k · ~10% equity
~$100K–$250K for ~10% + a 6-month residency
Startupbootcamp Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
12 wks
Global accelerator’s Dubai smart-city program
TAQADAM
Remote
26 wks · $40k · equity-free
KAUST six-month startup accelerator
Flat6Labs UAE
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
16 wks · $150k · ~8% equity
Seed-stage accelerator in Abu Dhabi
Sheraa
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
16 wks
Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center
Dtec
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The largest startup campus in the Middle East
Crucible Ignitor
Remote
equity-free
Equity-free program with mentorship and network access
CancerX Accelerator Cohort
Remote
17 wks
Structured mentorship, curriculum, and investor access
Adidas Cultivate and B.L.O.O.M.
Remote
Structured mentorship, curriculum, and investor access
Danone Manifesto Ventures
Remote
$10000k
Up to $10M + a structured program
Nestle R+D Accelerator
Remote
26 wks · equity-free
Equity-free program with mentorship and network access
PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator APAC
Remote
$100k
Up to $100K + a structured program
The Estee Lauder Companies New Incubation Ventures
Remote
$3000k
Up to $3M + a structured program
Kering Generation Award
Remote
Structured mentorship, curriculum, and investor access
La Maison des Startups LVMH
Remote
Structured mentorship, curriculum, and investor access
Accelerate Africa Startup Programme
Remote
24 wks · equity-free
Equity-free program with mentorship and network access
Startup Wise Guys SaaS Africa
Remote
26 wks · $65k · ~12% equity
Up to €65K for ~12% + a structured program
The Baobab Network
Remote
14 wks · $100k
Up to $100K + a structured program
iStart Rajasthan
Remote
Structured mentorship, curriculum, and investor access
StartinUP Incubator Network
Remote
13 wks
Structured mentorship, curriculum, and investor access
ELEVATE Idea2PoC
Remote
equity-free
Equity-free program with mentorship and network access
Karnataka Acceleration Network
Remote
26 wks
Structured mentorship, curriculum, and investor access
Showing 24 of 378. See them all in the directory, or sign up free for the ones matched to you.
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