Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy supported 485 digital startups during the first half of 2026, growing its startup support program 57.5 percent year on year. International companies made up 51 percent of the startups supported, while artificial intelligence companies accounted for 23 percent, the chamber’s vice president Saeed Al Gergawi said.
Al Gergawi shared the numbers during a panel session at the Dubai Business Forum in Shenzhen, China. The chamber, one of three operating under Dubai Chambers, says its mission is to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global capital of the digital economy, according to its official website.
Dubai pitches itself to Chinese tech companies
Speaking in Shenzhen, Al Gergawi said Dubai is encouraging Chinese technology companies to use the emirate as a base to scale into regional and international markets.
The pitch spans AI, robotics, smart hardware, cloud services, industrial automation, ecommerce and financial technology. He also invited Chinese companies and entrepreneurs to join the Create AI Agents Championship, a program built to develop and test AI agent solutions for real world challenges.
“Access to customers, investment and distribution networks matters as much to a startup’s success as its technology. A single major customer or strategic investor can change a company’s growth trajectory,” said Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.
Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy
Support goes beyond funding
The chamber supports digital businesses at every stage of growth, from setting up in Dubai to introductions with investors, customers and strategic partners. Its Business in Dubai platform connects companies looking to establish or expand in the emirate with relevant services and business partners.
The chamber has also partnered with Canva to give eligible small and medium enterprises a free one-year Canva Business subscription with AI powered design and visual communication tools.
The numbers point to a deliberate strategy. With more than half the supported startups coming from outside the UAE and nearly a quarter building in AI, Dubai is importing the companies it wants to lead its digital economy rather than waiting for them to emerge at home.
The Shenzhen pitch makes the direction explicit. Dubai wants Chinese AI and deep tech firms to treat the emirate as their launchpad into the Middle East, Africa and beyond. For founders watching the region, the signal is hard to miss. Dubai is competing for AI companies, and it is putting institutional weight behind the effort.
