The UAE has unveiled the Startup Global Exchange Program 2025, a major new initiative aimed at connecting local and international startups with global markets, mentors, investors, and innovation hubs.
Announced by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) at Make it in the Emirates 2025, the program supports the country’s broader push to foster advanced, future-ready industries under the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology.
The first pilot will launch in partnership with Japan, with selected UAE-based startups heading to the Osaka Expo in September 2025. A reciprocal visit will follow in October, as Japanese startups arrive in the UAE to engage with national incubators and ecosystem partners.
Each cycle of the exchange will include 10 to 12 startups and feature tailored mentorship, global investor access, and placement in international innovation hubs. The structured program includes selection, onboarding, and cross-border immersion phases.
While Japan is the inaugural partner, MoIAT is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expand the initiative to other high-potential markets, positioning the UAE as a global hub for industrial innovation.
The announcement came during Make it in the Emirates 2025, the UAE’s largest industrial gathering to date, held under the theme “Advanced Industries. Accelerated.” The event features over 700 exhibitors and showcases more than 3,800 locally made products across 68,000 square meters, with over 30,000 attendees expected.
The exchange program and the wider industrial platform underscore the UAE’s long-term ambition to drive economic diversification through innovation and strategic global partnerships.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
