While the country is moving towards a sustainable future, startups and tech entrepreneurs in the UAE are playing a significant role as they are best positioned to develop and offer solutions that have the potential to have an impact on the region and the entire world.  

Since access to funding and other enablers remains a huge challenge for startups all over the world, next month, as part of the Ministry of the Industry and Advanced Technology’s (MoIAT) new Make it in the Emirates competition, 24 global technology startups focused on sustainability will compete in the UAE to pitch their technologies and connect with investors and experts. 

Startups from various industries are encouraged to apply as long as they focus on sustainability, decarbonization, and digitization.

This competition has been launched in the run-up to the COP28 set to take place in Dubai later this year.

The competition from May 31 to June 1 seeks to support technology startups with sustainability-related innovations that can transform existing and future industries, the MoIAT said.

“Startups participating in the competition will be able to access unique investment and collaboration opportunities and be exposed to a suite of incentives offered by the UAE’s Advanced Technology ecosystem. The Ministry is committed to supporting companies of all sizes as part of our mission to create an industrial and technology ecosystem that generates inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” said Tariq Al Hashimi, Director of Advanced Technology Adoption and Development at MoIAT.

The first selection round will involve 24 startups chosen from the pool of applicants based on their innovation, disruptive potential, scalability, and sustainability, as well as their marketing potential, competitive advantage, and good social impact.

Representatives from Strata, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, EDGE Group, Technology Innovation Institute, Dubai Industrial City, and UAE University will be on the judging panel.