Author: Arabian Media staff

GEMS Education has launched the “Next Billion Innovation” startup fund, a new initiative designed to empower and support GEMS students in delivering the next big solutions with the potential to make a global impact. The $1m fund will initially be made available to students at GEMS’ newest school, GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI), opening in Dubai in August 2025. SRI pupils will also have priority access to hands-on support and direct pathways to global startup ecosystems thanks to GEMS’ partnership with innovation platform Plug and Play Tech Centre, which provides an incubator programme for the most promising student…

UAE entrepreneurs are being offered funding support to cover business startup and expansion costs. The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) announced the continuation of its existing funding programmes by offering new financial package to support Emirati entrepreneurs with both emerging and established projects in Abu Dhabi’s priority sectors. KFED continues to accept applications for medium and long-term loans designed to fulfil the requirements of innovative business ventures in the UAE. Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development in the UAE The funding programmes include the Startup Funding Programme and the Scale-up Funding Programme for existing projects, aimed at enhancing the concept…

The new fund, Yango Ventures, will focus on seed to Series B investments primarily in online-to-offline (O2O), B2B software-as-a-service, and financial technology sectors, with plans to scale its capital base as entrepreneurial ecosystems expand in these high-growth markets. “We’re more than a tech company; we are an ecosystem committed to empowering entrepreneurs worldwide,” said Daniil Shuleyko, CEO of Yango Group. “Through Yango Ventures, we’re sharing our expertise and network to help startups scale, thrive, and drive meaningful change in their communities.” The fund’s creation represents a significant expansion of the Group’s operations beyond its core business of adapting global technology…

The UAE has been named the best place in the world for entrepreneurs as foreign ownership rules, government support and finance options make it easier than ever to launch a business in the country. The UAE has ranked first globally for the fourth consecutive year in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report 2024/2025. The report also ranked the UAE as the best place for entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises among 56 economies assessed this year. UAE tops entrepreneur ranking The UAE secured the top position among high-income countries in 11 out of 13 key indicators based on expert assessments…

Key Takeaways Cape Coral is a travel-friendly retirement destination close to Southwest Florida International Airport, which serves 71 destinations globally. The city has over 400 miles of navigable canals, making water travel and recreation highly accessible. In addition to its travel appeal, Lee County is home to 440 art centers and 1,816 health care establishments. The area has an affordable cost of living, especially in the food and tax categories, where costs are well below typical for the U.S. It’s still best to visit Cape Coral before relocating, particularly given its relatively high FEMA climate risk and rapidly growing population.…

The innovative hiring platform ‘Dandelion Civilization’, promoted by entrepreneur Dmitry Zaytsev, not only aims big by helping companies to go beyond résumés and AI screenings to uncover real human potential to boost hiring success rates by over 40 per cent, but equally to equip candidates to understand themselves better, improve their skills, and ultimately find more fulfilling careers. The startup, set for a grand take off in Dubai next month, aiming to garner a major chunk of an estimated $150 million market over the next 2-3 years, is currently in talks with some of the leading corporate groups in the…

The surge in investments, which include both equity and debt funding, comes despite many other regions, including the West and India, still seeing a slowdown in private and venture capital funding. Importantly, the momentum seems to be continuing into the second quarter as well, with erad, a Riyadh-headquartered alternative financing platform for SMEs, striking a $16 million equity investment deal in a pre-Series A round. The company is expected to announce the deal, involving leading global and regional funds, including YCombinator, Nuwa Capital, Khwarizmi Ventures and Aljazira Capital, on Wednesday, April 30. The $160 million Series E round funding by…

This represents a 135 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting the chamber’s ongoing efforts to cement Dubai’s position as a preferred global hub for tech startups. During Q1 2025, the chamber organised four events aimed at supporting the business community, empowering startups, nurturing talent, building partnerships, and enhancing the ease of doing business in Dubai. Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy In addition, 729 participants received training through the chamber’s digital upskilling programmes, which are designed to enhance the capabilities of specialised talent in advanced technology sectors and build a future-ready workforce. The chamber also continued…

A free zone in Dubai is offering entrepreneurs an express business licence service to get up and running in one hour. Meydan Free Zone officially launched Fawri, a new service that enables entrepreneurs to obtain a complete business licence in just 60 minutes. Meydan Free Zone says the platform redefines the speed and simplicity of company formation in Dubai, empowering founders to launch their businesses with unprecedented efficiency. Dubai free zone licence Fawri is a fully digital, all-in-one licensing solution designed specifically for solo entrepreneurs. With a seamless application process, eligible individuals can receive all core legal documents in an…

Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 and Google have launched the Google for Startups Accelerator, a joint programme to scale AI-focused startups within Hub71+ AI. A total of 26 startups from the Hub71 community have been selected to join the inaugural cohort, gaining access to a tailored three-month curriculum. Startups will gain access to Google’s global network of mentors, engineers, product leaders and Google Cloud credits. Abu Dhabi startups Top-performing startups will be eligible for up to $300,000 in credits, the highest tier of support available through the programme globally. They will also be considered for Google Cloud Platform (GCP) ecosystem tier credit…