Dubai: Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, among the three chambers operating under the Dubai Chambers umbrella, has announced its successful facilitation of the establishment and expansion of 1,690 digital startups in Dubai during 2025. This figure marks a 39.7 percent increase compared to 2024, underlining the chamber's pivotal role in enhancing Dubai's status as a preferred global destination for the advancement of digital enterprises and entrepreneurial endeavors.
According to Emirates News Agency, businesses focusing on artificial intelligence comprised approximately 15 percent of the startups supported by the chamber, while fintech firms represented 12 percent. Mobility tech, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and e-commerce companies collectively made up 20 percent of the total. Notably, global companies constituted 75 percent of the enterprises supported by the chamber in 2025.
In October of the previous year, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum introduced Dubai Founders HQ, a significant initiative aimed at reinforcing Dubai's startup and SME ecosystem. This joint initiative with Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy presents a unique 'phygital' platform, combining a physical campus with a digital ecosystem to foster collaboration, innovation, and business growth among founders, investors, corporates, and enablers.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, emphasized the chamber's commitment to accelerating the transition to a digitally integrated economy. He highlighted the chamber's dedication to providing digital companies with the necessary infrastructure, regulation, and market access to thrive, thereby enhancing Dubai's competitiveness and attracting investment and talent.
The chamber's 'Business in Dubai' platform offers a suite of corporate services and business matchmaking services to support companies in launching or expanding their operations in the emirate. In 2025, 48 percent of the supported companies received assistance with business setup services and opportunities to participate in Dubai-based accelerators and incubators, while 31 percent benefited from a wide range of business support services provided through the platform.
In April 2025, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honored the winners of the 'Create Apps Championship,' an initiative launched in March 2023 to boost innovation in smart application development. The championship has garnered significant interest from global innovators and digital entrepreneurs, supporting the development of over 55 smart applications and strengthening Dubai's digital economy ecosystem.
The chamber announced the third edition of the Create Apps Championship in November, introducing a new Participant Support Programme to assist high-potential teams. This program aims to bring an additional 50 fully developed applications to market by providing access to a business accelerator programme, training, guidance, and funding packages exceeding AED2.5 million.
In October 2025, the 10th edition of Expand North Star 2025 was held at Dubai Harbour, organized by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. The event attracted over 2,000 startups and more than 1,200 investors, reinforcing Dubai's position as a global hub for digital entrepreneurship and advanced technology.
Throughout the year, the chamber conducted 36 events and 17 international roadshows to promote Dubai's digital economy and explore new collaboration opportunities with stakeholders across various industries. These efforts spanned multiple countries and involved meetings with over 2,500 digital startups and ecosystem partners.
In 2025, the chamber also published eight reports, including The Entrepreneur's AI Playbook, which aims to educate on AI tools for efficient project launch and scaling, as well as a report on foreign direct investment destinations in the technology sector.