The Nawat Al Qura accelerator will launch its first station in Al Rams, Ras Al Khaimah, during November and operate for 24 weeks while targeting assistance for 12 projects, according to a statement from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. Registration is available until October 30 for Emirati nationals aged 18 and older, either as individuals or in teams of two, through the platform at www.nwat.ae. The program delivers customized support based on the development stage of each venture.
Participants receive hands-on instruction in business fundamentals, finance, marketing, sales and scaling, the launching bodies reported. The accelerator facilitates product and pricing tests along with connections to experts, suppliers, partners and potential customers. This structure helps entrepreneurs refine their offerings and prepare for market entry.
The initiative operates under the National Strategy for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises in the Emirates Villages that Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan approved in March 2026, Arabian Business reported. That framework seeks to create diversified local economies in rural areas and equip residents to reach national and international markets while highlighting Emirati identity in goods and services. A companion Investment Attraction Strategy aims to secure more than AED1 billion for sectors including tourism, hospitality, industrial development and real estate.
Nawat Al Qura forms part of the broader national campaign The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World that the Ministry of Economy and Tourism has said will train 10,000 Emirati entrepreneurs and generate thousands of opportunities. Related efforts include a five-year program to develop 1,000 family entrepreneurs with about 200 families participating each year across multiple cohorts. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism figures show the number of entrepreneurs from Emirati families rose to 3,307 in 2024, marking a 4.5 percent increase from 3,166 the previous year.
The UAE maintains an extensive startup support network with more than 50 incubators and accelerators involved in the national campaign, according to documentation from the Ministry of Economy and Tourism. Programs such as those at in5 in Dubai Silicon Oasis and Hub71 in Abu Dhabi have assisted hundreds of companies through office space, grants up to AED2 million and mentorship without taking equity, a Business Dubai assessment found. The village-focused accelerator extends these resources directly into rural communities rather than concentrating them in major cities.
Future phases of Nawat Al Qura will deploy additional stations in villages across the seven emirates following the initial stop in Ras Al Khaimah, the Emirates Council for Balanced Development indicated. The program prioritizes tailoring its curriculum to the specific requirements of each project instead of applying a single template. This approach addresses varying levels of business readiness among participants from different regions.
