Dubai Founders HQ, launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, marks a defining step in consolidating the emirate’s growing startup and SME ecosystem into one unified force.
Located within the 25Hours Hotel at One Central, the new hub is a living ecosystem. Designed as the region’s first phygital platform, Dubai Founders HQ combines a physical campus with a digital infrastructure that connects entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and enablers across sectors. It’s a place where ideas are incubated and accelerated, and where the future economy is mapped out in real time.
A Hub for Visionaries
Created through a joint initiative between the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, the headquarters brings together over 25 strategic partners from government, venture capital, technology, and innovation sectors. They form a seamless network designed to empower entrepreneurs to launch, scale, and thrive.
As part of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the initiative supports the city’s target of scaling 30 unicorns by 2033 while enabling over 400 SMEs to grow globally from Dubai.
A Space That Reflects Dubai’s Energy
Inside, the Founders HQ is a physical manifestation of Dubai’s ethos: modern, collaborative, and quietly confident. The space houses coworking areas, private meeting rooms, and state-of-the-art facilities, but what defines it most is its energy, a collective hum of ideas, deal-making, and possibility.
Local art lines the walls, reflecting Dubai’s creative identity, while curated events and networking sessions ensure that innovation is not confined to the boardroom.
A ‘Phygital’ Future
Dubai Founders HQ introduces a dual model that mirrors the evolution of work itself — phygital, merging the physical and digital seamlessly. The digital platform extends the reach of the HQ, providing entrepreneurs with access to mentorship, funding opportunities, regulatory guidance, and global partnerships.
Through collaborations with global innovation platforms such as Endeavor and Plug and Play, founders will gain exposure to international best practices, market insights, and investor networks. The ecosystem is designed to be holistic, a one-stop platform for business setup, acceleration, and growth.
A New Era of Collaboration
In attendance were Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Dubai Chambers; and Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of DET, each representing a pillar of the emirate’s digital and economic transformation.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan emphasized that “entrepreneurship is a vital force shaping the future,” noting that supporting founders is both an investment in human potential and a cornerstone of sustainable development.
“Many startups have begun their journey in Dubai and grown to reach global markets,” he said. “Our aim is to make the city a platform where bold ideas can flourish and scale up.”
Building Innovation
Dubai Founders HQ stands as a physical commitment to that vision. It is not simply a new address for startups, it is an invitation. An invitation for founders to think globally, collaborate fearlessly, and anchor their growth in a city that thrives on transformation.
With the momentum of D33 and the city’s entrepreneurial energy at its core, Dubai Founders HQ is poised to become the gravitational centre of the region’s innovation economy.
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