The integration of Hamdan Innovation Incubator (Hi2) into Dubai Founders HQ has been announced by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), a division of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), enhancing its function as a specialized platform for Emirati founders within Dubai’s broader startup ecosystem. Hi2 was founded in 2014 with the assistance of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. For over ten years, Hi2 has assisted Emirati business owners.
Hi2 will now give founders direct access to a wider ecosystem of programs, mentors, investors, corporates, and growth prospects as part of Dubai Founders HQ. The change is a reflection of Hi2’s growth into a more comprehensive founder support pathway that links early-stage entrepreneurs with the resources, market access, and mentorship required to develop and grow from Dubai. Applications for a new 16-week technology incubator program, which aims to assist 20 Emirati entrepreneurs in turning early-stage concepts into scalable, high-impact enterprises, are now being accepted to commemorate the integration.
The program, which was created in 2025 as a flagship project under the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, by DET and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, will start in October 2026 and take place at Dubai Founders HQ. Dubai Founders HQ is the main hub in the city that links entrepreneurs with corporations, investors, and ecosystem facilitators. The program is intended for Emirati entrepreneurs who are just starting out, from those with a potential idea to those who are working on a minimal viable product (MVP).
Hi2 will assist participants in refining their concepts, verifying market prospects, creating product strategies, and laying the groundwork for businesses that will be profitable. After completion, founders will still have access to the larger Dubai Founders HQ ecosystem, which includes events, programs, chances for community involvement, and relationships with corporate partners and investors.
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