Dubai SME, an agency of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has partnered with INJAZ UAE to launch 'Founders of Tomorrow,' a transformative national programme. This initiative aims to embed university entrepreneurship within real economic needs, creating a direct pipeline from academia to enterprise. The programme is designed to accelerate the creation of scalable, Emirati-owned businesses, aligning with Dubai's ambitious long-term economic goals.
A Bridge Between Education and Enterprise
The core mission of Founders of Tomorrow is to connect talented Emirati university students with pressing, real-world challenges presented by government, semi-government, and corporate entities. By grounding innovation in operational and sector-specific realities, the programme ensures that new ventures are market-driven and outcome-focused. This practical approach moves beyond theoretical learning to foster tangible business solutions that address genuine industry needs.
Aligning with Dubai's Economic Vision
This initiative is strategically aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which seeks to double the size of the city’s economy by 2033. Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, Acting CEO of Dubai SME, stated that the programme represents a strategic step in strengthening Dubai’s position as a leading hub for entrepreneurship. It establishes a practical pathway from education to enterprise, reinforcing the pipeline of Emirati talent entering the city's business ecosystem.
Razan Bashiti, CEO of INJAZ UAE, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the commitment to turning youth potential into tangible economic impact. She highlighted that by linking university innovation with live corporate challenges, the programme equips the next generation of entrepreneurs with market-ready solutions. This collaborative effort between Dubai SME and INJAZ UAE is pivotal to realizing Dubai’s D33 economic ambitions.
Structured Support for Emerging Innovators
Through the programme, Emirati students and early-stage university startups will work in multidisciplinary teams to tackle priority challenges across key sectors. INJAZ UAE will provide structured, hands-on guidance, mentorship, and challenge-based learning throughout the ideation, validation, and solution development stages. The most promising concepts will then progress into the comprehensive Dubai SME ecosystem for further development and support.
Once integrated, qualifying participants will gain access to Dubai SME’s full suite of services designed to support entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. This includes business incubation, capacity-building, facilitation of funding opportunities, and market access support. These resources are crucial for empowering entrepreneurs to achieve sustainable growth and enhance their competitiveness within Dubai's dynamic SME landscape.
Forging Powerful Public-Private Partnerships
Founders of Tomorrow is supported by leading national entities that contribute real operational challenges, sector expertise, and mentorship. Partners for the inaugural cohort include American Hospital Dubai, du, Dubai Air Navigation Services, Dubai Police, and Emirates Flight Catering. These collaborations ensure that participating students engage directly with high-impact challenges that are aligned with pressing national priorities.
The programme was officially launched during an event at Dubai Founders HQ, which brought together students, supporting entities, and key ecosystem stakeholders. The event featured a panel discussion on translating public and private sector challenges into scalable entrepreneurial opportunities. It also included live challenge presentations, enabling direct and meaningful engagement between students and the participating organizations from the outset.
As the first phase of a long-term strategic partnership, Founders of Tomorrow is a critical component of Dubai SME's wider mandate to facilitate 27,000 new Emirati businesses by 2033. The initiative is poised to foster a robust culture of innovation and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs. Ultimately, it will contribute significantly to Dubai’s diversified economy and enhance its global competitiveness for years to come.