Page 459 - MOET PR REPORT- SEPTEMBER 2025

9/23/25, 3:41 PM UAE seeks to increase number of startups to over 2 million
He explained that the UAE possesses comprehensive strategies that encompass economic
clusters, food security, economic openness through Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreements, as well as strategies for innovation and intellectual property protection, affirming
the readiness of the national infrastructure to support the growth of startups at both the federal

and local levels.

He noted that the UAE today hosts more than 1.2 million companies, of which around one
million are owned by entrepreneurs, representing nearly 94% of the total. This, he emphasised,

reflects the pivotal role of entrepreneurs in strengthening the national economy.

The small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contributed 63.5% to the non-oil GDP of the
national economy by mid-2022, while SMEs account for 95% of the total number of companies

operating in the UAE markets.

WAM

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