Who Is Backing The AI Race?
Everyone wants a piece of the
AI economy and the Gulf is betting big.
The UAE is now the world’s leading AI adopter, Dubai is pushing its private sector toward Agentic AI, and Abu Dhabi is breaking into the global Top 50 emerging startup ecosystems.
UAE’s university MBZUAI just launched the world’s largest fully open AI models. And in 2025, MENA AI startups pulled in a
funding record of $858M.
The Middle East is putting serious money and muscle behind
AI innovation, and the big names in tech are moving into the region.
Microsoft, NVIDIA, Amazon, Google, OpenAI and Mistral are
all building partnerships across the region and putting money into AI and infrastructure
in the Gulf. (Source)
In just a few years, the region has become a magnet for AI
talent, capital and companies that are driving the next generation of
technology.
For founders this means one thing: more opportunities for
growth.
Where Can
Founders Plug In?
Across the world, governments, accelerators and innovation
hubs are competing to attract the next generation of AI startups.
If you're building in AI, these are some of the programmes
worth exploring now.
GCC
🇦🇪 Hub71+ AI
Abu
Dhabi's dedicated AI startup programme offers up to AED 250,000 in-kind
support plus AED 250,000 cash for equity, alongside direct access to
investors, partners and government-backed opportunities. Learn more here.
🇦🇪 Founder Institute Dubai:
AI
Arabia Company Builder
The Agentic AI-focused programme is currently accepting applications, with the
next deadline on 8 September. Apply here.
🇶🇦 Startup Qatar AI Compute
Credits Programme
Grant programme designed for startups building AI, machine learning and
data-driven products, with access to GPU infrastructure and compute resources. Click to Apply.
🇴🇲 NUMO by Oman Ministry of
Transport, Communications and Information Technology
Supporting startups developing AI, cloud and digital technology solutions
through mentorship, ecosystem access and growth support. Explore here.
Global
🇰🇪 Kenya Artificial Intelligence Accelerator Programme 2026
Applications close on 6 September. The initiative led by the Ministry of
Information, Communications and the Digital Economy supports startups building
AI solutions with measurable social and economic impact. Apply here
🇩🇪 STARTPLATZ AI
Accelerator NRW
A publicly funded four-month programme supporting founders using AI to
accelerate business growth. Applications
close on 27 September.
🇮🇳 iDEX Open
Challenge
India's Innovation for Defence Excellence programme is seeking AI and
defence technology startups. Selected companies can access grant funding of up
to approximately $180,000. Applications
close by end of September.
🇬🇧 AI Growth Lab
The UK Government has opened a new AI Growth
Lab designed to help AI innovators navigate regulation. Applications
close on 27 September.
The AI Ecosystem
Comes Together @ ENS
The next-generation of AI founders need to build where they
can find capital, customers, partners and the people who can help them scale
and deploy.
This December, Dubai becomes a meeting point for the innovators,
investors, corporates, governments and tech leaders shaping the future of AI.
At Expand North Star founders will meet the people putting real money
and real opportunities behind Artificial Intelligence.
EXPAND NORTH STAR 2026
Summit: 7 December — Dubai World Trade Centre
Expo: 8–10 December — Expo City Dubai
Get involved.