Are you building in the UAE?

Which city did you choose — and why?

I’m tracking founder decisions across fintech, AI, ClimateTech, and Web3 for the 2025 MENA report.
#Founders #UAE

From client launches, one pattern is clear:

Startups fail not because of product —
but because they chose the wrong city for their sector.

Sector–city fit matters more than hype.
#StartupReality #Builders

My take:

This isn’t Abu Dhabi vs Dubai.

It’s the UAE vs everyone else.

38% of all MENA deals.
5,600 new startups in a single quarter.

The UAE is dominating MENA.
#MENA #Startups

Smart founders don’t choose one city.

They do both.

Incorporate in Abu Dhabi for cost + regulation.
Run sales and partnerships from Dubai.

Use the system intelligently.
#FounderStrategy #BusinessGrowth

Choose Abu Dhabi if you’re building:
AI, ClimateTech, Web3, Life Sciences
and need incentives or regulatory clarity.

Choose Dubai if you need:
Market size, banks, proven exits.
#Web3Founders #FintechStartups

2024 pattern most people missed:

Abu Dhabi grew 28% while global VC markets crashed.

Why?
Government-backed conviction and long-term capital.

Different growth engines.
#VentureTrends #Economy

The data backs this up.

Hub71 (Abu Dhabi):
243 startups
70% international founders
$2.17B raised
44.7% growth in 2024

Abu Dhabi is selective.
Dubai is scale.
#GlobalFounders #Startups

What I’ve learned from our clients:

Traditional fintech (payments, banking): Dubai wins
AI, ClimateTech, Web3: Abu Dhabi wins
E-commerce, consumer tech: Dubai wins

Sector–city fit determines survival.
#FounderLessons #MarketFit

Now the cost difference.

Abu Dhabi:
~$700/year license
$250K cash incentive

Dubai:
~$1,500/year license
No direct incentives

Same tax (0%).
Same legal framework.
Half the cost.
#StartupCosts #Entrepreneurship

Abu Dhabi didn’t try to be everything.

It built specialist ecosystems:
AI, ClimateTech, Digital Assets, Life Sciences

Dubai has scale.
Abu Dhabi has specialization.
#Ecosystems #Innovation

Here’s what nobody talks about.

UAE’s top-funded sectors in 2024:
FinTech $179M (34%)
AI with massive government backing
ClimateTech $37M+
Web3: 16 startups selected from 2,000 applications

This matters more than city size.
#Web3 #FinTech

Let’s start with the basics.

Abu Dhabi:
Ecosystem value $4.2B
Growth rate 28% annually
Hub71 startups raised $2.17B in 2024

Dubai:
Ecosystem value $23B
5 unicorns, proven exits

Dubai is 5x bigger.
Abu Dhabi is growing 5x faster.
#VentureCapital #Founders