investopia 2025 Announces the Ranking of 100 Companies of the Future for 2024

UAE Government During Investopia 2025:

• Announcement of the ranking of 100 Companies of the Future for 2024
• Release of the list of 100 Companies of the Future for 2024
• The initiative enhances the UAE’s capacity to support new economy projects
• An 11% increase in subscription applications to the initiative during 2024, including from the technology, financial services, and creative industries sectors

The “100 Companies of the Future” initiative— a joint effort between the Ministry of Economy and the Government Development and Future Office— announced the companies selected for the 2024 list after successfully completing the evaluation process and meeting the required criteria.

The list features the top 100 startups contributing to the competitiveness of future economy sectors in the UAE.

The announcement was made in the presence of Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and President of Investopia; Aliya bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship; and Ahoud bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and Future.

The announcement was held as part of the fourth edition of Investopia 2025, taking place in Abu Dhabi on February 26–27, 2025.

In this context, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and President of Investopia, stated:”The UAE, under the wise guidance of its leadership, has made great strides toward transitioning into new economy sectors.

Since its inception, Investopia has embraced a forward-looking vision that supports the growth of innovative startups and encourages them to adopt modern technological applications across various vital economic sectors.

Hosting Investopia’s ‘100 Companies of the Future’ initiative for the second consecutive year confirms our national efforts to enhance the competitiveness of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, cementing the UAE’s position as an attractive destination for future projects and a leading hub of creativity and innovation.”

He added:”Through this initiative, we are committed to providing all the opportunities and resources that our national talent and startups need to develop more successful ideas and projects, thereby serving the community and supporting the nation’s transition toward a new knowledge-based and innovative economic model.”

 Aliya Al Mazrouei commented:”‘100 Companies of the Future’ supports the UAE’s vision to make the national economy more dynamic and competitive on a global scale, build a comprehensive base of human and productive capital, and create an advanced, innovative environment that shapes future economic sectors.”

She explained that the initiative achieved an 11% increase in the total number of applications received in 2024 compared to 2023, with most applications coming from the fintech, sustainability, and creative industries sectors.

She further added: “The initiative opens up new horizons for entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium-sized enterprises to expand their ideas and projects in the new and sustainable economy sectors.

It also facilitates effective networking with a broad array of investment funds and global investors, as well as access to the latest practices and trends in financing mechanisms for SMEs.”

She emphasized the crucial role of the initiative’s partners in selecting the startups that wish to join.

 Ahoud Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and Future, stated: “The UAE adopts an integrated approach to building the future, one that enhances the flexibility and readiness of various sectors, proactively innovates solutions to challenges, adapts to unforeseen changes, and reshapes sectors to align with emerging and future trends.”

She added:”‘100 Companies of the Future’ embodies the leadership’s vision by encouraging the development of future-oriented sectors and reinforcing the UAE’s position as an attractive destination and a stimulating environment for the growth and evolution of startups across various future sectors.”

She noted that since its launch in 2023, the initiative has supported the nation’s direction by attracting cross-sector startups in areas including space, cybersecurity, sustainability, fintech, smart mobility, and others.

She affirmed that efforts will continue to build on the initiative’s momentum and achievements, making it a key element in realizing the vision of “We Are UAE 2031,” a driving force in the nation’s endeavors to develop a knowledge-based, future-ready economy, and a nurturing environment for the advancement of economic sectors and emerging industries.

She congratulated the startups selected for the 2024 “100 Companies of the Future” list, wishing them success in making a significant contribution to the future economy of the UAE, and expressed her gratitude to the 38 private sector partners from the UAE and around the world for their pivotal role in the initiative’s success.

Partnerships and Incentives

The 2025 edition of the “100 Companies of the Future” initiative continues to strengthen its partnerships with government entities, innovation funds, technology companies, financial and banking institutions, as well as business accelerators, incubators, and venture capital funds.

The initiative has partnered with 38 key entities, including its strategic partner—the National Corporate Social Responsibility Fund “Majra”—along with business accelerators, the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi, the Hay Dubai for the Future Fund, Emirates NBD, the Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund, Investopia, Microsoft, MEVP, Careem, EY, Eurasia Capital, In5, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, FTI Consulting, and the Dubai International Financial Centre’s Innovation Hub.

These partnerships are a crucial component in supporting the startups selected through the initiative by enhancing their connectivity with a wide network of investment and financing funds and business leaders, while providing unprecedented incentives, facilities, and partnership opportunities to accelerate their digital transformation, innovation, and access to new markets.