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9/23/25, 5:02 PM UAE aims to exceed two million startups, nurture ten unicorns by 2031
UAE aims to exceed two million startups, nurture ten unicorns by 2031
Nearly one million entrepreneur-owned companies account for 94 percent of the UAE's total businesses

Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri emphasized that startups and entrepreneurs are crucial for UAE's growth.
Published: Mon 22 Sep 2025, 4:38 PM
Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE minister of Economy and Tourism, emphasized that startups and entrepreneurs are a
crucial pillar in the economic growth trajectory of the UAE. He noted that the nation aims to elevate the number of
companies to over two million by 2031.

In remarks made to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during the press conference unveiling the national campaign ‘The
Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World,’ Al Marri further stated that the UAE also seeks to witness the emergence of 10
unicorns within the same timeframe, with approximately five unicorn companies already having been established in the
country.

He highlighted that the campaign is instrumental in supporting these national objectives by fostering an environment that
empowers youth to initiate their entrepreneurial ventures and achieve growth and expansion.

Al Marri elaborated that the UAE has well-rounded strategies that include economic clusters, food security, and economic
openness through Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements. Additionally, there are strategies in place for
innovation and intellectual property protection, underscoring the national infrastructure’s readiness to bolster the growth of
startups at both federal and local levels.

He pointed out that the UAE currently hosts over 1.2 million companies, of which nearly one million are entrepreneur-
owned, accounting for almost 94 percent of the total. This, he emphasized, underscores the vital role entrepreneurs play in
fortifying the national economy.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contributed 63.5 percent to the non-oil GDP of the national economy by mid-
2022, while SMEs represent 95 percent of all companies operating in the UAE markets.

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