Dubai: Dubai Holding, the emirate’s global investment holding company, on Monday said that it would be a part of the Dubai Future Accelerators initiative and announced an investment of Dh1 billion in five years.

The group, along with other partners such as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) Dubai Municipality, and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority will work closely with Dubai Future Acclerators Foundation’s innovative new projects.

This programme, which is the world’s largest government-supported accelerator programme, has been established to develop a futuristic road map for key sectors of the Government of Dubai and to facilitate public-private partnerships that can expedite delivery of projects and ideas through design, innovation and entrepreneurship.


At the event, each of the founding entities presented one challenge that addresses a critical issue in key sectors of Dubai’s economy inviting innovative start-up companies to embark on large-scale collaborations with them.

Dubai Holding is focusing on digital solutions across the hospitality, food and beverage, and real estate sectors that reduce paperwork and the need for human intervention, while increasing transaction speeds and customer satisfaction.

Ahmad Bin Byat, vice-chairman and managing director of Dubai Holding, said: “This is a very exciting moment for Dubai Holding, where we are hosting and collaborating with some of the brightest entrepreneurs in the global tech industry to deliver enhanced experiences to our wide universe of customers and the wider community. Teams from across the group are supporting them on the new concepts and technologies that Dubai Holding will benefit from. These advancements will ultimately drive happiness among people across Dubai. We are seeing innovation unfold at our premises, and are proud to be helping bring the future of Dubai forward.”

Bin Byat added: “Aligned with the leadership’s vision, we believe that innovation is the key to the next phase of Dubai’s growth. Our partnership with Dubai Future Foundation demonstrates Dubai Holding’s role as a key catalyst for the emirate’s economic diversification. Through our support to their initiative, we are driving forward the National Innovation Strategy, which is vital to achieving the UAE Vision 2021.”

From nearly 2,300 applications submitted for the programme, 31 companies were shortlisted to work with the founding entities, with four working with Dubai Holding in the 12-week-long first phase.