In a world where cities compete to attract innovation, Dubai is making it clear that this is where the next big success stories will be built. With the introduction of Dubai Founders HQ, Dubai has made its most decisive move yet toward building a powerful, startup-led economy.
Launched by Sheikh Hamdan, Dubai Founders HQ is designed to become the central hub for founders, investors, innovators, corporates, and government partners. It is more than just a workspace, it is a full ecosystem built to turn bold ideas into scalable global businesses.
What is Dubai Founders HQ?
Dubai Founders HQ is a first-of-its-kind “phygital” platform combining a physical campus with a digital ecosystem. It is a joint initiative between the Department of Economy and Tourism and the Chamber of Digital Economy.
The campus, located at the 25Hours Hotel in One Central, Dubai World Trade Centre, serves as a unified base for the entire startup community. It brings together more than 25 leading public and private sector partners, including venture capital firms, financial institutions, government entities, telecommunications providers, and innovation hubs.
This initiative is a core part of Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda, which focuses on growing the city into a leading global business hub. The goal is to build 30 startups into billion-dollar “unicorns” and help 400 small and medium-sized companies expand onto the global stage by 2033. It also aims to position Dubai among the world’s top three cities for business and innovation.
Sheikh Hamdan emphasised that entrepreneurship is essential to Dubai’s long-term growth and sustainable development. Dubai Founders HQ is designed to bring the public and private sectors together, remove barriers, and build a collaborative space where innovation can thrive.
Using a hub-and-spoke model, the platform connects directly with free zones, accelerators, incubators, and government entities. This creates one unified access point for startups at every stage of their journey from the initial idea to international expansion.
Dubai Founders HQ will offer specialised acceleration programmes for different sectors and provide expert mentorship through partnerships with leading global organisations such as Endeavor and Plug and Play.
Startups will gain access to tailored advisory services, support to scale their businesses, guidance on entering new markets, and clear pathways for international growth. They will also receive help with investor preparation and connections to funding networks.
In addition, the platform will serve as a gateway for international startups, making it easier for global founders to establish themselves in Dubai and expand across the region.
The bigger picture
With this launch, Dubai is not just helping startups it is creating the base for the next generation of global companies. Founders HQ is more than just a place; it sends a clear message. It shows that Dubai is ready to support bold ideas, develop talent, and lead the future of entrepreneurship.
For those looking to align with this new cycle, the real estate sector remains one of the most responsive. At One Investments, we focus on this moment offering investors secure, high-quality opportunities that grow with the market’s future.
