STARTUP IN DUBAI

Are you stuck in a rut, counting down the days until Thursday? Do you feel like you could be doing more with your life? Consider opening a business in Dubai! It may seem intimidating, but with a little bit of research, you can be on your way to your own success story. If you are curious to learn more about the successful risk-takers and the quick-growing businesses in the United Arab Emirates, here is a detailed guide for you.

LIST OF THE BEST STARTUPS IN THE UAE

• Arabia StarzPlay 
• Boxit 
• Bitoasis 
• Driven Properties 
• Bayut 
• Bayzat 
• Careem 
• Chefxchange 
• Designer-24 
• Dubizzle 
• Enhance Fitness 
• Finyal Media 
• Hyperspace 
• Instashop 
• Mumzworld 
• Noon 
• The Luxury Closet 
• Tabby 
• The Giving Movement 
• Houza

ARABIA STARZPLAY

It would not be an exaggeration to label Arabia STARZPLAY as the Netflix of MENA. This platform is one of the most popular video streaming services in the United Arab Emirates, allowing users to access thousands of films, television programs, documentaries, and exclusive Arabic content. Recently, a consortium of investors, spearheaded by ADQ and E-vision, agreed to acquire a controlling share in the company. 

• Established by: Maaz Sheikh 
• The period: 2015 – 2016

BOXIT

The UAE boasts of a number of startups, one of which is Boxit - a self-storage firm located in Dubai. This company has a team of professionals that can pick up items from your residence and deliver them when you require them. Furthermore, they offer packing services as well.

• Established by: Premlal Pullisserry, Abraham Thomas, Joby Mathew 
• The period: 2016

BITOASIS

BitOasis, which is based in the UAE, provides an opportunity to engage in the cryptocurrency market. Through their platform, users can purchase, sell and trade popular cryptocurrencies such as XRP, Ether and bitcoin.

• Established by: Ola Doudin, Daniel Robenek 
• The period: 2015

DRIVEN PROPERTIES

Driven Properties has expanded into a premier real estate brokerage, investment, and consulting firm. Their dedicated team of international agents and personnel provide a comprehensive range of creative and tailored property solutions and wealth management services to customers located in the UAE and overseas.

In addition, Driven Properties provides in-house asset management, property management, and market insights in addition to property sale and leasing services, making it a true single-stop shop.

• Established by: Abdullah Alajaji 
• The period: 2012 

BAYUT

Bayut is a part of the Emerging Markets Property Group (EMPG) and provides listings for both residential and commercial properties in the UAE. It also has a mobile application and an editorial component called “MyBayut”. The website provides features such as Checked and TruCheck™, TruValue™ and Search 2.0.

• Established by: Zeeshan Ali Khan, Imran Ali Khan 
• The period: 2008

BAYZAT

Bayzat is a platform that provides an extensive range of HR and employee benefits services. It can be used to automate payroll, HR, and insurance-related procedures, making managing these tasks simpler and more efficient.

• Established by: Talal Bayaa, Brian Habibi 
• The period: 2012

CAREEM

On the roster of startups in the UAE is Careem, which has the most positive standing as an on-demand car service. In 2019, the firm was procured by the worldwide automotive enterprise "Uber" for an estimated $3.1 billion.

• Established by: Mudassir Sheikha, Magnus Olsson, Abdullah Elyas 
• The period: 2012

CHEFXCHANGE

ChefXChange provides an online platform where people can engage the services of chefs for special occasions or events.

• Established by: Karl Naim, Marc Washington 
• The period: 2015

DESIGNER-24

Designer-24 is a new business which provides designer clothing, bags and accessories for hire. You can make your order either through their online platform or physical store.

• Established by: Sara Alemzadeh, Ranya Khalil 

• The period: 2014

DUBIZZLE

Since 2005, Dubizzle has been a well-known place to purchase or offer up anything in the UAE. Not only can you find vehicles, properties, jobs, furniture, home appliances, but a variety of other items as well.

Another great resource from Dubizzle is their car blog, which gives readers the latest news and updates on the automotive industry in the UAE.

• Established by: J.C. Butler, Sim Whatley 
• The period: 2005

ENHANCE FITNESS

Enhance Fitness is a business that has a mission to bring more adaptability to the fitness world in the UAE. They provide people the opportunity to receive training on-demand from any place at any time.

• Established by: Tarek Mounir 
• The period: 2018

FINYAL MEDIA

Based in Dubai, Finyal Media is a podcasting network that offers engaging and stimulating content for young Arabs living in the Middle East and North Africa region.

• Established by: Leila Hamadeh, Majid Al Qassimi, Mishari Alonaizy 
• The period: 2019

HYPERSPACE

HyperSpace is a newly established company that is striving to bring entertainment into the future. It has created hyper-realistic virtual parks that have "experience zones" that allow visitors to explore imaginary landscapes and create their own Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) without needing to comprehend the blockchain.

• Established by: Desi Gonzalez 
• The period: 2020

INSTASHOP

InstaShop, which initially began as an on-demand, online grocery app in Dubai, has widened its selection of offerings. In addition to regular groceries, customers can now purchase pet supplies, medicines and meats through the platform.

• Established by: John Tsioris, Ioanna Angelidaki 
• The period: 2015

MUMZWORLD

MumzWorld is a well-known e-commerce website that offers a vast selection of kids` merchandise in Dubai. It carries more than 120,000 items, ranging from onesies to regular items from top-notch brands. If you are looking for school supplies, this store is definitely worth considering.

• Established by: Mona Ataya, Leena Khalil 
• The period: 2011

NOON

Noon is a local e-commerce platform developed in the UAE offering people the chance to purchase the latest fashion, electronics, cosmetics, homeware, and baby items. This platform is one of the most popular online shopping spots in the UAE.

• Established by: Mohamed Alabbar 
• The period: 2016

THE LUXURY CLOSET

Founded in the UAE, The Luxury Closet is a startup that specializes in selling pre-owned designer labels. They offer their products both online through their website and through a physical store.

• Established by: Kunal Kapoor 
• The period: 2011

TABBY

Tabby, a startup based in Dubai, was established in 2019 and works in the FinTech sector. It allows customers to spread their payments over four monthly interest-free installments, freeing up their cash for other purposes.

Since its beginning, the firm has received several rounds of investments, with the latest one being a remarkable $58 Million, increasing the company`s worth to more than $660 Million.

• Established by: Daniil Barkalov, Hosam Arab 
• The period: 2019

THE GIVING MOVEMENT

Established in 2020, The Giving Movement is a Dubai based UAE startup. Their mission is to provide people across the world with sustainable and ethically sourced clothing and accessories. Recently, they raised $15 Million in March 2022 in a Series A funding round to support their growth.

• Established by: Dominic Nowell-Barnes 
• The period: 2020

HOUZA.COM

Houza has made finding property in the UAE easier and more reliable than ever before. With a range of properties for sale and rent in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, Houza offers a comprehensive selection of popular searches including villas, apartments, commercial properties and more. From Downtown Dubai to Al Reef, Houza`s frequent neighborhoods list all the most sought-after areas in the UAE. Houza’s ‘Only on houza’ listings are the first to market from the UAE’s leading brokerages, giving property seekers early access to the latest properties and helping to combat the issue of fake and duplicate listings.

• Established by: Barry Judge 
• The period: 2020

FAQs on Startups in Dubai

How Many Startups Are There in the UAE?

Currently, there are 5,641 startups operating in the UAE, a number which has risen by almost two thousand over the past twelve months.

Which Industries Should I Choose to Build a Startup in The UAE?

Thinking about starting a business venture? The UAE is an attractive option for entrepreneurs as there has been a large increase in the growth of the construction, e-commerce, tourism, real estate and healthcare industries.

Is Dubai Good For Startups?

Without a doubt, Dubai is the business center of the MENA region. It provides fantastic chances for those commencing their entrepreneurial journey.

The Dubai Future Foundation oversees Area 2071, a distinctive startup environment in the UAE. This group provides international talents with the ability to commence and broaden their business in the country. Members of Area 2071 are given access to a range of entrepreneurs, investors and strategic partners. Furthermore, startups can take advantage of the "subsidized" commercial license fee of up to AED 1,000 for a year.

In addition, Dubai also presents a long-term business visa for foreign individuals to create their entrepreneurial ventures in the city.

We have now concluded our guide highlighting the top startups in the UAE. If you`re looking to establish a business of your own, it`s important to take the time to study the market and convert your ideas into a triumphant venture. If you require any assistance along the way, our guide about setting up a business in Dubai could be of help.
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