Dubai Internet City and German Entrepreneurship GmbH Form Strategic Alliance

Dubai Internet City and German Entrepreneurship GmbH have joined forces in a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering the startup and entrepreneurship landscape not only in the UAE but also on a broader scale. The agreement was officially sealed by Ammar Al Malik, the Executive Vice President – Commercial at TECOM Group, on behalf of Dubai Internet City, and Dr. Thomas Mack, Head of Scouting & Advisory at German Entrepreneurship GmbH.

Under the terms of this partnership, Dubai Internet City is set to extend its support to German startups, equipping them with valuable data, insights, and resources needed to venture into the UAE and other regional markets. Furthermore, German startups will be warmly encouraged to establish their base at Dubai Internet City, thereby gaining access to its extensive network, which includes industry peers, corporates, potential investors, universities, and public sector specialists.

Expressing his views on this milestone partnership, Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President – Commercial at TECOM Group, emphasized the importance of facilitating seamless entry points for startups expanding into new markets. This approach, he stated, would mitigate the challenges posed by cultural differences and pave the way for an environment that nurtures business growth and innovation in today's dynamic global economy.

“Dubai Internet City’s ecosystem provides invaluable opportunities for start-ups, 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.”

“We are pleased to sign this agreement with Dubai Internet City, a regional leader for the technology sector,” said Dr. Thomas Mack, Head of Scouting & Advisory at German Entrepreneurship GmbH. “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 start-ups across the region.”

The collaboration between Dubai Internet City and German Entrepreneurship GmbH holds particular significance due to the substantial trade relationship between Germany and the UAE. In 2022, the non-oil trade exchange between these two countries reached an impressive value of $9.6 billion. Germany stood out as the UAE's second-largest trading partner within the European Union, accounting for 17% of the UAE's total trade with the EU in the previous year. Simultaneously, the UAE held the position of being Germany's largest Arab trade partner in 2021.

This partnership agreement was inked as Dubai Internet City and in5, TECOM Group's startup incubator that has nurtured over 850 enterprises since its establishment in 2013, actively participated in the GITEX Global 2023 and Expand North Star 2023 events within the city during the week. Dubai Internet City, as the Innovation Partner for GITEX Global 2023, played a central role in this event held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from October 16 to 20. This tech hub is the largest of its kind in the region and has spearheaded Dubai's digital transformation strategy for over two decades. It serves as a thriving platform for global tech brands, startups, and innovators, fostering a collaborative environment for work and innovation. The district boasts a diverse clientele of more than 3,000 companies, including Fortune 500 corporations and SMEs like Google, 3M, Microsoft, and Careem, in addition to hosting over 29,000 professionals and entrepreneurs.

Dubai Internet City is part of TECOM Group's comprehensive portfolio of business districts, which also 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.