Dubai Internet City has signed a strategic partnership with German Entrepreneurship GmbH to strengthen the startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the UAE and beyond.
On behalf of Dubai Internet City, Mr. Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of commercial at TECOM Group, signed the agreement with Dr. Thomas Mack, Head of Scouting & Advisory at German Entrepreneurship GmbH.
Under the terms of the agreement, Dubai Internet City will support German startups with the data, insights, and resources needed to enter the UAE and new regional markets. German startups will also be invited to establish a base at Dubai Internet City and access its rich network of industry peers, corporates, potential investors, universities, and public sector specialists.
Ammar Al Malik Executive VP of Commercial TECOM Group
“In today’s dynamic global economy, startups expanding to new markets need seamless entry points that facilitate smoother transitions and alleviate cultural differences to foster an environment supportive of business growth and innovation. Dubai Internet City’s ecosystem provides invaluable opportunities for startups, who gain access to mentorship, potential collaborations, and a diverse talent pool through our network, which is aligned with the structural priorities of the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’ vision. As the home of international technology giants, our district nurtures collaboration and peer learnings, and is the ideal launching pad for companies looking to start- or scale-up from Dubai into new regional and global markets.”
Germany is an important trading partner of the UAE, and the non-oil trade exchange between both countries was valued at $9.6 billion in 2022. Germany is the UAE’s second-largest trading partner in the European Union, accounting for 17 percent of the UAE’s total trade with the bloc last year, while the UAE was Germany’s largest Arab trade partner in 2021.
“We are pleased to sign this agreement with Dubai Internet City, a regional leader in the technology sector. The memorandum provides German companies with not only the opportunity to gain a smooth entry into a new market, but also to swiftly collaborate with global industry leaders that have a home at Dubai Internet City and engage with its wide entrepreneurial network of investors, accelerators, and other startups across the region,” said Dr. Mack.
The agreement was signed as Dubai Internet City and in5, TECOM Group’s startup incubator that has nurtured over 850 enterprises since its inception in 2013, participated in the GITEX Global 2023 and Expand North Star 2023 events in the city this week.
Dubai Internet City is an Innovation Partner for GITEX Global 2023, which is being held at Dubai World Trade Centre on 16-20 October. The district is the region’s largest tech hub and has led Dubai’s digital transformation strategy for over two decades, serving as a platform for global tech brands, start-ups, and innovators to work, connect, and innovate. It is home to more than 3,000 customers, including Fortune 500s and SMEs such as Google, 3M, Microsoft, and Careem, in addition to over 29,000 professionals and entrepreneurs.
Dubai Internet City is part of TECOM Group’s portfolio of business districts that includes Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai Science Park, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, and Dubai Industrial City.
