Best startup cities in United Arab Emirates in 2027
3 cities in United Arab Emirates make our ranking of 1,000 startup cities worldwide. Dubai leads at #67 with a total score of 6.88, followed by Abu Dhabi (#169) and Sharjah (#722).
For women founders, Dubai scores highest in United Arab Emirates on the MeanCEO Index with 70/100. Each city page covers funding, company registration, taxes, founder visas, pros and cons, and the ten MeanCEO factors.
Startup cities in United Arab Emirates, ranked
| # | City | World rank | Total | Quantity | Quality | Business | MeanCEO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai | #67 | 6.88 | 1.87 | 2.21 | 2.8 | 70 |
| 2 | Abu Dhabi | #169 | 3.19 | 0.2 | 0.64 | 2.35 | 66 |
| 3 | Sharjah | #722 | 0.2 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.15 | 60 |
Total = quantity (startups, accelerators, coworking spaces) + quality (traction of top startups, unicorns, exits) + business environment (national conditions), from the StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index (2024 edition). The MeanCEO Index (0 to 100) is our own score of how livable and welcoming a city is for women founders.
Other countries in Middle East and North Africa
- Israel (11)
- Saudi Arabia (4)
- Morocco (3)