Dubai SME announced in a press release that it is integrating the Hamdan Innovation Incubator, known as Hi2, into Dubai Founders HQ to provide a dedicated platform for Emirati founders. The announcement highlights how the move builds on more than a decade of Hi2 operations since its establishment in 2014 under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. According to the statement, the integration creates an end-to-end pathway connecting participants with mentors, investors and specialised services at the headquarters.
The 16-week technology incubator programme will launch in October 2026 and select 20 Emirati entrepreneurs at the idea stage regardless of prior funding or company formation. Participants will focus on shaping concepts, validating market opportunities, refining product strategies and laying foundations for scalable ventures. The press release noted that graduates will retain access to the full Dubai Founders HQ ecosystem of events, partners and growth opportunities.
Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, CEO of Dubai SME which operates as part of the Department of Economy and Tourism, said in the statement, “Embedding Hi2 within Dubai Founders HQ is about creating a structured, end-to-end pathway for Emirati talent to move from first idea to investable business. In a global environment of rapid economic transformation, Dubai’s response has been to invest strategically in its founders, building the infrastructure and programmes that ensure our Emirati entrepreneurs are not only equipped to compete globally, but positioned to lead. Through the new incubator programme, we are opening that doorway to founders at the very earliest stage of their journey, welcoming all regardless of prior funding or company formation. This is how we build a stronger, more diverse pipeline of national startups, advancing the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.”
Dubai Founders HQ itself launched in October 2025 as a joint initiative of the Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy. The platform combines a physical campus with digital tools to guide founders through business setup, funding and scaling. Government allocations tied to the headquarters reached AED500 million to accelerate SME development across multiple sectors.
Hamdan Innovation Incubator supported 109 Emirati tech startups in the first half of 2024, according to Dubai SME figures that also show more than $3 billion in contracts awarded to entrepreneurs since the authority’s inception. The current integration aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which the Dubai Executive Council has described as targeting a doubling of the emirate’s economy by 2033 while securing a position among the top three global cities. The agenda further includes programmes to identify and nurture 400 high-potential SMEs for international competitiveness.
Applications for the Hi2 programme will close in August 2026 with submissions accepted through the Dubai Founders HQ portal. The technology focus reflects demand within Dubai’s startup ecosystem where artificial intelligence and advanced solutions have gained prominence in recent years. Hi2’s evolution into the headquarters framework extends its original mandate to foster innovative projects tailored for Emirati participants.
