Hamdan Innovation Center integrated into Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub as 16-week tech incubator opens for Emirati founders
Hamdan Innovation Center joins Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub; a 16-week tech incubator will support 20 Emirati founders to scale ideas into startups in Oct 2026.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development announced the integration of the Hamdan Innovation Center into the Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub, creating a focused platform to support Emirati founders. The move consolidates a decade of work by the Hamdan Innovation Center into the city’s central founders’ ecosystem and launches a new 16-week technology incubator for early-stage Emirati entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to connect founders with mentors, investors and corporate partners to accelerate the transition from idea to investable company.
Integration of Hamdan Innovation Center into Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub
The Hamdan Innovation Center, commonly known as Hi2, was established in 2014 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to support Emirati entrepreneurship. Over more than ten years the centre provided programmes and services tailored to UAE founders, and its formal integration into the Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub marks a strategic consolidation of those resources. The Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment, operating under the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, said the relocation will enable a more streamlined pathway for founders within Dubai’s startup ecosystem.
Launch of a 16-week technology incubator for 20 Emirati founders
Alongside the integration, the establishment opened applications for a new 16-week technology incubator designed to support 20 Emirati entrepreneurs. The programme is scheduled to begin in October 2026 and will be hosted at the Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub, which was launched as a joint initiative between the Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Chamber for Digital Economy in 2025. The incubator is intended to help participants convert initial concepts and prototypes into viable, scalable companies that can attract follow-on investment.
Programme design and support offered to early-stage teams
The incubator is tailored to founders at the earliest stages of their journeys, including those with concept-stage ideas and teams developing minimum viable products. Participants will receive structured support to refine business models, validate market fit and develop go-to-market strategies, with access to technical and commercial mentoring. The programme emphasises practical milestones that prepare startups for pilot projects, partnerships and investor engagement within local and regional markets.
Expanded access to mentors, investors and corporate partners
By embedding Hi2 within the Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub, organisers say founders will benefit from a wider network of mentors, corporate partners and potential investors already active in the hub. The integration is designed to increase founders’ exposure to industry stakeholders and to facilitate introductions that can lead to commercial pilots and funding opportunities. Programme organisers highlighted that this broader ecosystem access is a key enabler for Emirati-led ventures seeking faster validation and scale.
Strategic aims cited by Mohammed bin Rashid SME establishment leadership
Ahmed Al Rom Al Muhairi, Executive Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, described the integration as an important step toward establishing an organised, end-to-end pathway for Emirati talent. He said the move will help founders progress from initial ideas to companies that are investment-ready and capable of scaling. Al Muhairi added that amid rapid global economic shifts, Dubai continues to invest strategically in founders by enhancing infrastructure and programmes that allow Emirati entrepreneurs to compete on the world stage.
Expected impact on Emirati entrepreneurship and market readiness
Officials expect the integrated hub and incubator to accelerate the growth of Emirati-led startups by shortening time to market and improving readiness for investment rounds. The initiative aims to support a pipeline of ventures that can contribute to Dubai’s broader economic diversification and digital economy goals. Organisers also noted that the incubator welcomes entrepreneurs regardless of prior funding or company founding experience, underscoring an inclusive approach to talent development.
Applications are open for the October 2026 intake, and interested Emirati founders are invited to apply whether they are at the ideation stage or already developing a functional prototype. The integrated Hamdan Innovation Center within the Dubai Entrepreneurs Hub will provide the cohort with mentorship, market testing support and connections to investors and corporate partners to help turn early-stage ideas into commercially viable ventures.