The Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, has launched Founders of Tomorrow, a national programme designed to connect Emirati university talent with real economic and institutional challenges and accelerate the creation of market-ready, scalable businesses.
Developed in partnership with INJAZ UAE, the initiative embeds entrepreneurship within real operational needs from government, semi-government and corporate entities, creating a direct pipeline from academia to enterprise. The programme aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the emirate’s economy by 2033.
Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, Acting CEO of Dubai SME, said the initiative strengthens Dubai’s position as a global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation by creating a practical pathway from education to enterprise and reinforcing sustained government support for Emirati entrepreneurs.
Razan Bashiti, Chief Executive Officer of INJAZ UAE, said Founders of Tomorrow converts youth potential into tangible economic impact by equipping students to develop market-ready solutions aligned with Dubai’s long-term economic ambitions.
Through the programme, Emirati students and early-stage university startups will work in multidisciplinary teams to address priority sector challenges, supported by structured mentoring, hands-on guidance and challenge-based learning delivered by INJAZ UAE. The most promising concepts will enter the Dubai SME ecosystem for incubation, funding facilitation, market access and government procurement support.
Partners for the inaugural cohort include American Hospital Dubai, du, Dubai Air Navigation Services, Dubai Police and Emirates Flight Catering. The programme was launched at Dubai Founders HQ and marks the first phase of a long-term strategic partnership between Dubai SME and INJAZ UAE.
Founders of Tomorrow supports Dubai SME’s wider goal of facilitating 27,000 new Emirati businesses and enabling 8,000 SMEs to grow by 2033.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
