Dubai is the wealthiest of seven emirates that form the United Arab Emirates. It is the land of the rich, luxurious restaurants, ports, and beaches. By these beaches, skyscrapers stand tall where businesses are conducted. Huge affluence creates a big market for startups to spread their wings. From deluxe shopping apps to brilliant waste management systems, startups have been taking this city to new heights.
Below are the top 20 emerging startups in Dubai that have acquired a significant space in the Dubai startup environment in a few years:
1. The Luxury Closet
2. Souqalmal
3. Seez
4. Bekia
5. Arabia Startzplay
6. Noon
7. Avidbeam
8. Ziwo
9. Almentor
10. Unifonic
11. Beehive
12. Renty
13. Sprii
14. YallaParking
15. Nabbesh
16. Matic Services
17. Pi Slice
18. Jamalon
19. Careem
20. The List
FAQ
1. The Luxury Closet
Founder: Kunal Kapoor
Founding year: 2012
The Luxury Closet brings you all luxurious brands at your fingertips. It includes brands like Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Celine, Tiffany & co., and Cartier. It is one of the top startups in Dubai that offers a one-stop-shop for all things fancy for both men and women. The company also offers home décor and kitchen essentials from high-end brands.
2. Souqalmal
Founder: Ambareen Musa
Founding year: 2012
Souqalmal is a comparison website startup in Dubai that lets you compare insurance and financial products before you make the final decision. It aims to help customers save money by choosing wisely and not giving in to the first deal they see. They provide car insurance, banking, and financial solutions that lead to saving money.
3. Seez
Founder: Andrew Kabrit
Founding year: 2015
Seez is an auto marketplace startup in Dubai. Users can choose from a wide variety of used or new cars. It allows users to buy or lease cars by comparing prices. The Car Valuation feature provides the latest market prices, options for negotiation, and depreciation of any car.
4. Bekia
Founder: Alaa Kamal, Mohamed Zohdy
Founding year: 2017
Bekia is a brilliant Egpyt-based waste management startup. It lets users exchange waste materials such as plastics, paper, electronics or even cooking oil with points. These points can be used to buy groceries, metro tickets, mobile credits, or school supplies. This concept promotes people to voluntarily dispose of waste sustainably. Bekia is counted among the top startups in Dubai.
5. Arabia Starzplay
Founder: Maaz Sheikh
Founding year: 2015
Starzplay is just like Netflix but for Dubai. It streams movies and shows in Arabic as well as other languages. Animes and Hollywood movies are also available.
6. Noon
Founder: Mohamed Alabbar
Founding year: 2016
Noon is another online shopping platform that delivers in UAE, Egypt, and KSA. It is a generic e-commerce site that delivers all kinds of products from clothes to electronics to skincare. Even groceries are available on this platform with affordable deals.
7. Avidbeam
Founder: Dr Hani El Gebaly
Founding year: 2014
Avidbeam is a Dubai based startup that offers advanced solutions for Smart Spaces, Smart buildings, and cities. Their main aim is to build an affordable video analytics platform that enhances business performance. They offer Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision to scale the growth of businesses. They also address public security and safety among other services.
8. Ziwo
Founder: Eric Ouisse, Renaud de Gonfreville
Founding year: 2010
Ziwo bridges the gap between customers and clients by providing call centre services. They connect customers with companies and solve their problems in real-time. Customers can clear all their doubts via a hotline that links them to company executives and solve all their queries right on the call.
9. Almentor
Founder: Husni Khuffash, Ibrahim Kamel, Hesham Heikal, Abdelrahman Fahmy
Founding year: 2016
Almentor provides courses that are required presently in the market. These courses include Stress Management, English Pronunciation, Radio Presenting and HR Analysis. They have mentors and teachers that help users develop in-demand skills for jobs and personal growth. These self-development courses make users ready to face the challenges of today's world.
10. Unifonic
Founder: Hassan Hamdan, Ahmed Hamdan
Founding year: 2006
Unifonic is one of the top startups in Dubai that offers SMS, voice, and messaging apps to enhance customers' experience. They work on converting text to speech, send notifications with text to speech, and chatbox. Their SMS services can be used for Automatic Notification, Authentication and Marketing.
11. Beehive
Founder: Craig Moore
Founding year: 2017
Beehive connects businesses to lenders who are willing to lend against their invoices. They are leading fintech pioneers who use innovative technology that leads to affordable finance. They work through a sophisticated process where approved businesses are listed in the marketplace and investors fund them on the platform.
12. Renty
Founder: Yevhen Parokhod
Founding year: 2018
Renty is a basic car renting platform that rents luxurious cars too. They also provide Chauffeur services that appeal to the top rich businessmen. Some of their rentals include high-end names such as Bentley Continental GT, Lamborghini Evo- SPYDER, Porsche Taycan Turbo, and Rolls Royce Wraith.
13. Sprii
Founder: Sarah Jones
Founding year: 2014
Sprii is an online marketplace for all kinds of pregnancy and baby products. They aim to connect expectant mothers to their favourite global brands. Sprii has clothes for moms and kids, baby essentials, and kits for prenatal yoga. During the Covid-19 Sprii was shut down.
14. YallaParking
Founder: Craig MacDonald
Founding year: 2016
Anybody who lives in a big city knows that parking can be a huge hassle. That's why YallaParking provides a platform where you can look for a parking spot, book it and park your car. This realizes the true spirit of startups which is simplifying day-to-day tasks through advanced technology.
15. Nabbesh
Founder: Rima El Sheikh, Loulou Khazen
Founding year: 2012
Nabbesh provides job opportunities through its online platform. It connects job seekers with employers, who can hire them. They employ many fields such as tech, finance, education, and other art fields where talented people can get a job and earn for themselves.
16. Matic Services
Founder: Mohamed Semad
Founding year: 2015
Matic Services is making household chores easy for everyone. They bring together several house helpers who can work at the customer's convenience to keep your home clean. These are trained and certified cleaners whom people can trust. Users can also choose their preferred cleaner by pre-booking as per their schedule.
17. Pi Slice
Founder: Genny Ghanimeh
Founding year: 2012
Pi Slice is a Dubai based startup with a great initiative to provide small funds to those who need it. Everybody does not require big investments and many businesses are small scales. Pi Slice connects these small businesses with people in the Middle East and North America who want to invest in them. This works well both ways as the young businesses get their money and investors get opportunities.
18. Jamalon
Founder: Ala Alsallal
Founding year: 2010
Jamalon is the Middle East's largest online bookstore that offers a variety of books in one place. They have books in Arabic as well as the English language. These books include architecture, graphic novels, and comics, computers, self-help, and design.
19. Careem
Founders: Mudassir Sheikha, Abdulla Elyas, Wael Nafee, Magnus Olsson
Founding year: 2016
Careem allows users to enjoy multiple services in one place. They provide a taxi service and you can book a car for your personal use too. It offers food delivery services and prides on hassle-free payments that can be made through Careem payment mode. It has spread its wings in more than 100 cities in 13 countries from Morocco to Pakistan.
20. The List
Founder: Andreas Skorski
Founding year: 2016
The list is another luxuries marketplace that signifies the posh lifestyle of people in Dubai. It provides fancy brands like Burberry, Gucci, Valentino and Chanel. It is your basic online clothes and accessories shopping platform but the twist is it’s not basic at all. With its collection of top-class brands, it is one of the leading startups in Dubai and a heaven for the rich to splurge.
Conclusion
These startups symbolize the lifestyle in Dubai. People are open to advanced tech making changes in traditional practices. These startups in Dubai are doing great for themselves while contributing to the boosting economy. As young businesses are the backbone of an economy, Dubai is bound to flourish.
FAQ
Is Dubai good for startups?
UAE is ranked 11th in ease of doing business and 25th in starting a business on World Bank's 2019 ease of doing business report.
What are some of the top startups in Dubai?
The Luxury Closet, Souqalmal, and Seez are some of the top Startups in Dubai.
Is Dubai a good place for entrepreneurs?
Dubai is ranked among the world's best cities for entrepreneurs moving abroad to start a business, more specifically in import/export sector.
FAQs
What businesses are booming in Dubai? ›
- Restaurant market. The market is predicted to grow at 5.22% CAGR. ...
- Event Business. ...
- Construction business. ...
- Cosmetics business. ...
- Transport business. ...
- Real estate Brokerage and Real Estate Development. ...
- The cleaning Services. ...
- Daycare services.
The nation's ambitions are primarily being driven by Dubai which is home to over 10,000 small and medium startups.
Which industry is best for startups? ›- Technology. Our list is topped by the technology sector. ...
- Construction. Not many people associate startups with the construction industry. ...
- Fintech. ...
- Hospitality. ...
- Retail. ...
- Real estate. ...
- Healthcare. ...
- Edtech.
Fintech – a portmanteau of financial technology – has been a fast-growing sector for some years, especially in the UAE, which has developed into a global financial centre.
Which business is most profitable in UAE? ›- Real Estate. The UAE is home to 8.92 million expats. ...
- Imports/Exports. The UAE is strategically positioned between Western Europe and the US and the East. ...
- E-Commerce. In 2021, the global e-commerce market hit a whopping $13 trillion valuation. ...
- Healthcare. ...
- Tourism.
New York, San Francisco, Boston, and other major hubs are home to some of the most successful companies in the world — for good reason.
Which is the fastest growing startups in the world? ›- OnlyFans. 5-year search growth: 8,900% ...
- StackBlitz. 5-year search growth: 2,800% ...
- Linktree. 5-year search growth: 4,650% ...
- Fandom. 5-year search growth: 350% ...
- Lalamove. 5-year search growth: 530% ...
- Preply. 5-year search growth: 1,285% ...
- Labster. ...
- Oura Ring.
Delhi is known as the startup capital of India.
Who are the biggest investors in Dubai? ›- VentureSouq. VentureSouq operates a large co-investment platform with a global investment portfolio. ...
- Wamda Capital. ...
- Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP) ...
- Vy Capital. ...
- BECO Capital. ...
- Global Ventures.
Which is the No 1 company in Dubai? ›
| Rank | Name | Revenues |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Etisalat | 8,780 |
| 2 | National Bank of Abu Dhabi | 2,748 |
| 3 | First Gulf Bank | 1,767 |
| 4 | Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank | 2,521 |
- Commercial Banking in the US. ...
- Life Insurance & Annuities in the US. ...
- Portfolio Management in the US. ...
- Private Equity, Hedge Funds & Investment Vehicles in the US. ...
- Trusts & Estates in the US. ...
- Software Publishing in the US. ...
- Property, Casualty and Direct Insurance in the US.
- Global Airport Operation. 47.2%
- Global Hotels & Resorts. 40.6%
- Global Travel Agency Services. 40.4%
- Global Tourism. ...
- Global Airlines. ...
- Global Casinos & Online Gambling. ...
- Global Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing. ...
- Global Semiconductor & Electronic Parts Manufacturing.
Jewelry made of gold and precious stones with a certificate of origin from the UAE is highly rated not only in the domestic market but also in other countries and so has excellent export potential.
What is the main income of Dubai? ›Trade remains at the core of Dubai's economy, with the city operating two of the world's largest ports and a busy international air cargo hub.
What is UAE main source of income? ›The UAE economy is heavily reliant on revenues from petroleum and natural gas, especially in Abu Dhabi.
Which small business is profitable in Dubai? ›Dubai is a hub of the tourism industry including shopping tourism, business tourism, cultural tourism, sports tourism, medical tourism, etc. Starting a business in the tourism industry is definitely a profitable venture for new entrepreneurs.
How can I make money easily in Dubai? ›- Teach your skills.
- Turn your crafts to cash.
- Blogging.
- Freelancing.
- Tourist guide.
- Photography.
- Provide accommodation.
- Social media Influencer.
- IT Solutions. ...
- Tour and Travel Services. ...
- Job Consultancy. ...
- Digital Marketing Agency. ...
- Manufacturing. ...
- Transportation Business. ...
- Logistics Management. ...
- Construction.
- Online Courses. In the past year alone, with more people at home than ever, online courses have seen a huge increase in enrollment. ...
- Social Media Consulting. ...
- Web Design. ...
- Logo Design. ...
- Delivery Service. ...
- Cleaning Business. ...
- Business Consulting. ...
- Health and Wellness Business.
Which country has largest startup? ›
"India has become the largest ecosystem in the world in terms of startups. Today more than 75,000 startups have come up in India and more than 100 have become unicorns," he said.
What is the biggest startup in the world? ›...
Bytedance, China.
- Airbnb. One of the most inspiring startup success stories is, without a doubt, Airbnb. ...
- Instagram. Instagram, on the other hand, experienced rapid growth from the start. ...
- Mailchimp. ...
- Uber. ...
- Pinterest. ...
- ShoeDazzle. ...
- Pandora. ...
- Square.
We are honored to have been named by Fortune as the second fastest-growing company in 2020. This recognition is a testament to OPTAVIA's unique offer and the hard work of our independent OPTAVIA Coaches.
Which is the best startup in world? ›| AngelList (2020 List) | Forbes (2021 List) | LinkedIn (2022 List) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. AirGarage | 1. Hiya | 1. Discord |
| 2. Airtable | 2. Bestow | 2. Gong |
| 3. Bloomscape | 3. Unite Us | 3. Guild education |
| 4. Calm | 4. Curology | 4. Brex |
United States leads the Country Leaderboard with 865 Unicorns, that constitutes 53% of the total. China follows United States with 224 Unicorns, followed by India (108).
Where are most tech startups? ›Silicon Valley, located in the South San Francisco Bay Area of California, is a global center of technological innovation. Named after the main material in computer microprocessors, Silicon Valley is home to dozens of major technology, software, and internet companies.
Who is richest Indian in Dubai? ›Mukesh (Micky) Jagtiani is an Indian billionaire based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is the president and owner of the Landmark Group which started with only one store in Bahrain.
Who is the richest man in UAE? ›Beating out all of his competitors, Majid Al Futtaim is not only the richest man in Dubai today but also one of the richest man in UAE as well. The founder and CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding (MAF), he has made billions in fortune since he established this entertainment and retail conglomerate in 1992.
Which part of Dubai is the richest? ›The report said that the ultra-rich often reside in the “affluent parts of Dubai” such as Emirates Hills, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and Palm Jumeirah.
Is Dubai a rich or poor country? ›
Dubai transformed itself into a global business hub and a luxury tourist destination, becoming among the wealthiest states globally. Its economy is vibrant and diverse and generates revenue in various ways.
How does Dubai make money if no tax? ›It's true that the UAE Dubai income tax rate is zero and is one of the pros of living in Dubai. Like the rest of the UAE Dubai earns its revenue mainly through the oil industry and uses its no-tax policy to attract skilled expats and global companies to diversify and enrich its economy further.
Which is highest paying company in Dubai? ›Booz & Company
The best paying company in Dubai is Gulf Capital, offering an average salary of $313,000.
- Import & Export. In Dubai, the import and export business is an exceedingly lucrative sector and is, of course, #1 on our list. ...
- Healthcare.
- Real Estate. ...
- Information Technology. ...
- E-commerce.
- 22 Profitable Businesses to Start in 2022. ...
- Ecommerce Business. ...
- Dropshipping Business. ...
- Vacation or Home Rental. ...
- Online Courses. ...
- Bookkeeping or Accounting Services. ...
- Graphic Design Business. ...
- Digital Agency.
- Airport Operations in the US. 66.1%
- Tour Operators in the US. 63.2%
- Travel Insurance. 62.1%
- Cruise & Travel Agency Franchises. 59.7%
- Hotels & Motels in the US. 56.6%
- Sightseeing Transportation in the US. 55.5%
- Concert & Event Promotion in the US. ...
- CBD Product Manufacturing in the US.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
According to an International Data Corporation (IDC) report, India's AI industry is predicted to reach $7.8 billion by 2025, rising at a CAGR of 20.2%. By the end of 2025, the AI software category will have dominated the market, growing at a CAGR of 18.1% from $2.8 billion in 2020.
The consensus seems to be that the financial sector, industrial sector, capital goods will do well in 2022. Pharmaceuticals are also looking to make a mark, and a few experts have placed their bets on real estate and automobiles while others have advised against them.
Which startup is best for future? ›- Also Read: Trending New Manufacturing Business Ideas to start now.
- 1) Outsourcing business.
- 2) Internet of things (IoT) industry.
- 3) Rise of co-working space.
- 4) 3D printing.
- 5) Consumer goods and services business.
- 6) Business in real estate.
What products are in demand in Dubai? ›
- Apparels.
- Health items.
- Footwears.
- Perfumes.
- Dry fruits.
- Rugs & Carpets.
- Dubai spices.
- Coffee.
Travel and tourism
Tourism is a major economic source of income in Dubai and part of the Dubai government's strategy to maintain the flow of foreign cash into the emirates.
Like a Middle Eastern version of Las Vegas, Dubai's biggest challenge is water, which may be everywhere in the gulf but is undrinkable without desalination plants. These produce emissions of carbon dioxide that have helped give Dubai and the other United Arab Emirates one of the world's largest carbon footprints.
Which job has highest salary in Dubai? ›- Lawyer.
- Senior Human Resources.
- Data Scientist.
- IT Manager.
- Doctors.
- Bank Manager.
- Pilots.
- Engineers.
- Day-care Centre. ...
- Telecommunications. ...
- Nightclubs. ...
- Salon and Spa. ...
- Gadget Repair. ...
- Online Florist. ...
- Cleaning and Laundry Services. ...
- Transportation and Logistics. It is a good idea to start a transportation company in Dubai.
#Dubai is the richest city in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) and the 29th wealthiest in the world according to New World Wealth. Dubai's population of HNWIs, rose to 54,000 in June 2021, up by 3.8 percent from 52,000 last December.
Is Dubai poor or rich? ›The UAE is one of the top ten richest countries in the world, and yet a large percentage of the population lives in poverty — an estimated 19.5 percent. This percentage is alarming as the nation is still considered wealthy on the whole even though almost a fifth of its people are not.
What are the best business to start in UAE 2022? ›- IT Solutions. ...
- Tour and Travel Services. ...
- Job Consultancy. ...
- Digital Marketing Agency. ...
- Manufacturing. ...
- Transportation Business. ...
- Logistics Management. ...
- Construction.
- Online Tuitions. Taking online tuitions is one of the best ways to make money. ...
- Blogging. Blogging is the current trend on the internet. ...
- Photography. ...
- Freelancer. ...
- Fitness Instructor. ...
- Mobile applications. ...
- Arts and Crafts. ...
- Ebooks.