The Startup Ecosystem of Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has 33 startups in our sample database. This represents about 9% of The United Arab Emirates’s startups. Abu Dhabi is the 2nd best startup ecosystem in The United Arab Emirates.

CITY RANKING

While Abu Dhabi decreased by 35 spot in its global rank in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index of 2023, its ranking in The United Arab Emirates remained stable at 2 nationally since 2022.

National Ranking

2nd
0
In United Arab Emirates

Regional Ranking

6th
-
1
In Middle East

Global Ranking

206th
-
35
Worldwide

Ecosystem

Startup Ecosystem Overview

View of Abu Dhabi Skyline at sunset, United Arab Emirates


Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been actively nurturing its startup ecosystem to position itself as a leading global innovation hub. In recent years, numerous organizations in Abu Dhabi have taken significant initiatives to support and promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and technological development in the region.

The city is home to renowned research institutions such as the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, which focuses on clean energy and sustainable technologies. These institutions collaborate with startups, driving innovation and providing access to research facilities.

In order to attract startups to relocate to Abu Dhabi, HUB71 has been spearheading an incentives program. This program offers startup founders access to a talent-rich ecosystem and global support networks of investors and enablers. Startups gain access to venture capitalists, fund managers, corporate partners, and a global network of strategic partners aligned with a shared mission. HUB71 also provides generous incentive packages for living arrangements, office space, and health insurance for global startups looking to establish a presence in Abu Dhabi.

Initiatives like the Golden Visa program, launched in 2019, further facilitate startup relocation to Abu Dhabi. One significant advantage of the Golden Visa is that it enables business owners to retain 100% ownership of their ventures in the UAE. These visas are issued for a renewable period of five or ten years, depending on the visa category.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) plays a pivotal role in supporting startups by establishing various funds and investment programs. These initiatives offer financial assistance, venture capital, and angel investments to early-stage companies, catering to startups at different stages of their growth.

Overall, Abu Dhabi’s commitment to nurturing its startup ecosystem, coupled with its focus on research and development, attractive incentives for relocation, and robust funding programs, is starting to position the city as an attractive destination for innovative entrepreneurs and startups.

Startups

Abu Dhabi Top Startup Industries

Fintech icon
Fintech
#130 worldwide

8 startups

Edtech icon
Edtech
#159 worldwide

3 startups

Marketing & Sales icon
Marketing & Sales
#190 worldwide

3 startups

Ecosystem HealthCheck

Abu Dhabi Ecosystem Health Check

The health check tables allow you to look at the performance Abu Dhabi has in each of the parameters that are part of StartupBlink's ranking algorithm. There are five tables, corresponding to the three subscores, the subscore analysis and industry ana...

  • Overperformance
  • Performance equal to global ranking
  • Underperformance
ParameterParameter Global rankParameter rank change since 2022ResultContribution to total scoreRank gain / loss due to parameter
Total Score206-352.629100%0
Quantity Score304-306-640.1977.48%-24
Sample size of startups313-3237256.34%4
Sample size of accelerators94-1031580%-1
Sample size of coworking spaces123-1254430%-6
Community Score258-632-1440.031.14%-2

ECOSYSTEM

Browse the startup ecosystem database of Abu Dhabi

Become our Abu Dhabi Ecosystem Partner

Apply to join hundreds of leading ecosystem developers and represent the Abu Dhabi startup ecosystem at no cost.

Ecosystem

The Startup Ecosystem in Abu Dhabi

Startups in Abu Dhabi excel in Fintech, Edtech, and Marketing & and Sales. There are some notable success stories contributing to the city’s growing Fintech industry. One of the most promising startups in Abu Dhabi in 2023 is TruKKer, NymCard, and Washmen.

Global Rank

Abu Dhabi is ranked within the top 300 startup ecosystems globally.

Top Industries

Abu Dhabi’s startups excel particularly in Fintech where it ranks 130 and in Edtech, and Marketing & Sales. Find out more

Top Cities for Startups in United Arab Emirates - Ranked by StartupBlink
StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
Rows:
2023 National Rank & Change ▲
2023 National Rank & Change City
search leaderboards icon
Global Rank & ChangeTotal Score
Access subscores for 1000 cities and 100 countries
Quantity Score
Quality ScoreBusiness Score
1st
0
58th
+
3
11.527
00.00
00.00
00.00
2nd
0
206th
-
35
2.629
00.00
00.00
00.00
3rd
0
956th
-
58
0.129
00.00
00.00
00.00
Page out of 1

Startups

Notable Startups in Abu Dhabi
TruKKer startup icon
TruKKer
NymCard startup icon
NymCard
Washmen startup icon
Washmen

Startups

Successful Fintech startups in Abu Dhabi
NymCard startup icon
NymCard
hala startup icon
hala
RemotePass startup icon
RemotePass

ECOSYSTEM

Why should you join Abu Dhabi's Startup Ecosystem?

Overview

Within Abu Dhabi there is an increased attraction for entrepreneurs to set up their startups in industries such as Fintech, Edtech, Marketing & Sales. These three industries represent about 42% of the startups represented on the Startup Ecosystem Map of Abu Dhabi.

2nd

National Rank

6th

Regional Rank

Overview

Abu Dhabi is The United Arab Emirates' 2nd best startup ecosystem and is ranked 6th in Middle East. With a population of 1M - 2M people, Abu Dhabi is ranked 206th in the world. The city has some notable startup success stories including TruKKer.

Featured Startup Ecosystems

Go to portal
Go to portal

BLOG

Recent Posts

Tue Sep 19 2023

The Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings by StartupBlink

The Global Startup Ecosystem Index (GSEI) reveals the startup ecosystem rankings of 1,000 cities and 100 countries based on various factors. It uses an algorithm that considers many parameters and incorporates data from different sources and partners such as Crunchbase, SEMRush and Statista. The results of this index are also integrated with the StartupBlink Global […]

Fri Sep 08 2023

Where are the Cities of the Future for Startups?

At StartupBlink, we always say that where you base your startup highly affects your success. Hence, the Global Startup Ecosystem Index sheds light on location-based decisions for startups and other ecosystem stakeholders. In this episode of the Startup Ecosystem Podcast, Eli David and Martin Jordana go further to discuss the cities of the future for […]

Thu Aug 31 2023

Building a database for your startup ecosystem

A comprehensive startup ecosystem database can help you to allocate resources better, improve information flow, foster collaboration, and drive innovation. Additionally, it is a way to showcase resources and opportunities available in your ecosystem to entrepreneurs and startups interested in relocation or building a business overseas. This is an essential part of building a thriving […]