{"id":640030,"date":"2024-09-30T10:22:17","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T07:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/why-european-startups-should-consider-moving-to-dubai\/"},"modified":"2024-09-30T10:22:17","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T07:22:17","slug":"why-european-startups-should-consider-moving-to-dubai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-european-startups-should-consider-moving-to-dubai\/","title":{"rendered":"#Why European startups should consider moving to Dubai"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2fcde7876d0\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2fcde7876d0\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-european-startups-should-consider-moving-to-dubai\/#Why_should_startups_seriously_consider_Dubai\" >Why should startups seriously consider Dubai?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-european-startups-should-consider-moving-to-dubai\/#How_European_startups_can_land_softly_in_Dubai\" >How European startups can land softly in Dubai<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-european-startups-should-consider-moving-to-dubai\/#At_what_stage_of_growth_should_startups_think_about_moving\" >At what stage of growth should startups think about moving?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-european-startups-should-consider-moving-to-dubai\/#Making_the_move_to_the_UAE_easier\" >Making the move to the UAE easier<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-european-startups-should-consider-moving-to-dubai\/#Opening_an_office_Or_shifting_headquarters\" >Opening an office? Or shifting headquarters?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-main-content\">\n                            Dubai is a city on the rise. The first nine months of 2023 saw its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/mediaoffice.ae\/en\/news\/2024\/January\/21-01\/Dubai-Economic\">increase by 3.3%<\/a>, while in the same period, its information and communications sector shot up by 4.4%. Alongside its <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/data.worldbank.org\/indicator\/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?end=2023&amp;locations=AE&amp;start=2010\">prolonged economic success<\/a>, the city has also become <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/uae-and-india-are-now-the-best-places-to-start-a-business-but-western-countries-still-beat-them-in-one-key-respect-223363\">a haven<\/a> for startups and the tech sector in <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A big part of this has been the country\u2019s dedication to stoking business, something many feel Europe hasn\u2019t focused on in the same way. While the continent still has a strong global presence with a large market and a highly skilled workforce, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/dbs-dubai.com\/why-europes-troubles-make-dubai-an-entrepreneurs-dream\/\">many complain<\/a> about the cost of doing business and its array of strict regulations.<\/p>\n<p>For European startups looking to expand and grow, this can be off putting. Thankfully, there are more options now than ever for companies in this position \u2014 and one of these is Dubai and the UAE.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_should_startups_seriously_consider_Dubai\"><\/span>Why should startups seriously consider Dubai?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re seeing more and more founders and startups look at the Middle East as a credible opportunity for growth,\u201d says Peter Brady, assistant vice president of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dwtc.com\/en\/\">Dubai World Trade Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"inarticle-wrapper latest channel-cta hs-embed-tnw\">\n<div id=\"hs-embed-tnw\" class=\"channel-cta-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"channel-cta-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/tnw.events\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"\/><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/tnw.events\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"channel-cta-input\">\n<p class=\"channel-cta-title\">The <\/p>\n<p class=\"channel-cta-tagline\">The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol&#8217; founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It&#8217;s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>He posits there are multiple reasons for this, but one of the most important is how Dubai acts as a geographical hotspot for global expansion. \u201cDubai\u2019s a hub,\u201d Brady says, \u201cwe have access to something like four billion people within a four hour flight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This means businesses can not only work and expand within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), but also the global south as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>This is far from the only reason for European startups to consider expanding into the UAE though. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, the president and CEO of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dubaichamber.com\/en\/home\/\">Dubai Chambers<\/a>, says that Dubai has ambitious plans for the future that can directly benefit businesses from a variety of sectors.<\/p>\n<p>In our conversation, Rashed Lootah raised the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.investindubai.gov.ae\/en\/why-dubai\/d33-agenda\">Dubai Economic Agenda (D33)<\/a>, an \u201cambitious roadmap [that] seeks to double the size of the emirate\u2019s economy over the coming decade and position Dubai among the top three global cities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The part that\u2019s particularly interesting for European startups is that a core tenant of this plan is a focus on, and investment in, future-gazing technologies, such as \u201cartificial intelligence, smart city solutions, and fintech.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This isn\u2019t the only initiative in this vein either. The launch of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/u.ae\/en\/about-the-uae\/strategies-initiatives-and-awards\/strategies-plans-and-visions\/environment-and-energy\/the-uaes-green-agenda-2030\">the UAE Green Agenda 2030<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/u.ae\/en\/about-the-uae\/strategies-initiatives-and-awards\/strategies-plans-and-visions\/environment-and-energy\/the-uae-net-zero-2050-strategy\">Net Zero by 2050<\/a> strategies mean there are huge opportunities for companies working in the sustainability sectors too.<\/p>\n<p>European startups in any of these sectors will have access to financing, networking, and broad market opportunities that could help drive their business to the next level.<\/p>\n<p>While this expansion into the UAE could be resource intensive, there are other benefits that make this move relatively seamless.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_European_startups_can_land_softly_in_Dubai\"><\/span>How European startups can land softly in Dubai<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cDubai offers a business-friendly regulatory environment,\u201d Rashed Lootah tells TNW. \u201cThe emirate\u2019s numerous free zones, which are tailored to the needs of specific industries, provide significant tax advantages, streamlined regulations, and access to specialised infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The business-friendly regulation of the area is a topic Brady brings up too. \u201cThe government here is a very active supporter of entrepreneurship investment and creating an environment in which startups can thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It does this through specific investments and initiatives \u2014 some of which we\u2019ve already mentioned \u2014 but it also has a positive <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roach to regulation too. One example Brady points to is the \u201cworld first\u201d <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vara.ae\/en\/\">Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority<\/a>. This body oversees the provision, use, and exchange of digital assets, ensuring that crypto and blockchain companies have a strong regulatory environment in which to work from.<\/p>\n<p>Compared to Europe, Dubai has lower taxes, less complex regulations, and a government that is investing very heavily in business. This can hugely reduce the difficulty for European startups landing in Dubai, as some of the costs and outlay will be lower in the region than other parts of the world.<\/p>\n<p>But let\u2019s say this is all sounding like an excellent idea and that moving to the UAE is something your startup is seriously considering, what then? How do you know your business is in the right position to move?<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1410612 js-lazy\" alt=\"Expand North Star Dubai 2023\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/09\/R3_9891-1.jpg\"\/><figcaption>Expand North Star Dubai 2023<\/figcaption><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1410612\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/09\/R3_9891-1.jpg\" alt=\"Expand North Star Dubai 2023\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"At_what_stage_of_growth_should_startups_think_about_moving\"><\/span>At what stage of growth should startups think about moving?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>On this, Rashed Lootah was unequivocal, encouraging startups \u201cto consider expanding into the UAE and Dubai at any stage of their growth journey.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, some startups will be in a better position to thrive than others. \u201cCompanies that have achieved great success [in Dubai] are those that have demonstrated a scalable business model and a level of success in their home market,\u201d says Rashed Lootah.<\/p>\n<p>This viewpoint is supported by Brady, who states that companies with pre-<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Series<\/a> A, Series A, or Series B funding are often in a great position to make the move to Dubai. \u201cThese are the ones that seem to be having the most traction and success when they\u2019re looking at the UAE as a market to scale,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>The key factors both Brady and Rashed Lootah see in European startups thriving in Dubai are those that have a solid foundation and a flexible structure. In other words, the businesses that do best have already had some success and are set up in a way to deal with undergoing change.<\/p>\n<p>As Rashed Lootah puts it, startups must be mature enough to \u201cpossess a high degree of adaptability, and ensure their solutions are tailored to meet the regulatory and market requirements of the region.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully, regarding the latter half of that statement, there are plenty of initiatives that\u2019ll make the transition to a different part of the world simpler.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Making_the_move_to_the_UAE_easier\"><\/span>Making the move to the UAE easier<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are a gamut of schemes geared to help European startups adapt to life in the United Arab Emirates. One such example is the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dubaichamberdigital.com\/en\/news\/dubai-chamber-of-digital-economy-launches-business-in-dubai-platform-to-advance-the-emirates-economic-agenda-and-consolidate-digital-leadership\/\">Business in Dubai<\/a> platform, which provides practical support to businesses, as well as matchmaking services that can connect them with partners.<\/p>\n<p>There are also a range of events that can help companies not only prepare for doing business in the region, but can provide a launchpad for growth too.<\/p>\n<p>For example, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expandnorthstar.com\/\">Expand North Star<\/a>, hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, is the world\u2019s largest gathering for startups and investors. In 2023, the event was visited by over 33,000 attendees, and also had over 1,600 startups and 1,000 investors present. This year\u2019s edition is expected to top that with 70,000 attendees, 1,800 startups and 1,200 investors flocking to the Emirate for the event from 13-16 of October.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvents hold a critical role in helping founders and startups grow,\u201d Brady says, \u201cnot least by connecting them to capital, but also by connecting them to customers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If a startup is in the right place, the combination of practical support and a thriving event culture can help them land on their feet and begin thriving in Dubai almost im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>tely.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1410611 size-full js-lazy\" alt=\"Expand North Star Dubai 2023\" width=\"900\" height=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/09\/R3_0095-1.jpg\"\/><figcaption>Expand North Star Dubai 2023<\/figcaption><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1410611 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/09\/R3_0095-1.jpg\" alt=\"Expand North Star Dubai 2023\" width=\"900\" height=\"573\" srcset=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Opening_an_office_Or_shifting_headquarters\"><\/span>Opening an office? Or shifting headquarters?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>At this stage, if a European startup has decided to grow by moving to the UAE, there\u2019s another question to answer: should they open an office, or move their entire headquarters to the region?<\/p>\n<p>Rashed Lootah says that opening an office in Dubai functions as a \u201cstrategic stepping stone,\u201d allowing businesses to test the waters and \u201cestablish a foothold in the market.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Moving their headquarters to the UAE, though, can \u201cunlock a wider range of benefits\u201d \u2014 such as full access to Dubai\u2019s talent pool \u2014 and \u201cpotentially more favourable tax structures.\u201d Yet, it\u2019s important to note that doing so will require more significant investment and a deep understanding of the local business environment.<\/p>\n<p>For most startups, the best route is opening an office first, exploring the market, and, if things go well, look to move headquarters later.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, there are huge benefits for European startups looking towards the UAE. If these businesses want to expand, secure more investment, and grow into the global south, then Dubai is an excellent location to do so from.\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/european-startups-moving-dubai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dubai is a city on the rise. The first nine months of 2023 saw its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increase by 3.3%, while in the same period, its information and communications sector shot up by 4.4%. Alongside its prolonged economic success, the city has also become a haven for startups and the tech sector in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":640031,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/tnw-blurple?filter_last=1&fit=1280%2C640&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.tnwcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Ffiles%2F2024%2F09%2Fadeolu-eletu-wN3iop4-j3A-unsplash.jpg&signature=63c3103e2ee6cb34c4a976bb7d7a488e","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-640030","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=640030"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640030\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/640031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=640030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=640030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=640030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}