Tally Solutions today announced the launch of TallyPrime 7.1, which introduces three key enhancements for UAE businesses: e-Invoicing readiness, direct EmaraTax-powered VAT compliance, and enhanced invoice personalization, helping organisations align with the country’s evolving digital ecosystem while continuing to operate with simplicity and confidence.

As one of the few business management software providers offering direct integration with the EmaraTax portal, Tally continues to simplify tax and compliance workflows for businesses across the UAE. Businesses using TallyPrime for VAT e-return filing have experienced an average improvement of over 17% in filing efficiency through direct API-based integration with EmaraTax.

A key highlight of the latest update is comprehensive support for UAE e-Invoicing workflows. TallyPrime 7.1 offers a guided onboarding journey, from initial setup through EmaraTax registration, helping businesses become e-Invoicing ready through a simple and intuitive process.

Built-in validations proactively identify missing or incorrect information before invoices are exchanged, helping improve accuracy and ensuring smoother interactions with the e-Invoicing ecosystem.

Businesses can choose between instant invoice exchange and bulk processing based on their operational requirements, while bilingual support in English and Arabic ensures ease of adoption across the UAE’s diverse business community. To further strengthen security, TallyPrime 7.1 incorporates two-factor authentication fore-Invoice exchange, adding an additional layer of protection through OTP-based verification and helping safeguard business transactions from unauthorised access.

As an FTA-accredited solution for VAT filing, TallyPrime 7.1 further strengthens its connected compliance capabilities through direct integration with the EmaraTax portal. Users can securely access filing statuses, download and reconcile Customs Import and Tourist Refund Scheme data, compare VAT returns against their books, and submit VAT 201 returns directly through TallyPrime.

By bringing compliance workflows closer to day-to-day business operations, the release enables businesses to maintain greater accuracy, visibility, and control over their tax processes. For organisations maintaining accurate accounting records, VAT returns can typically be prepared in less than five minutes using TallyPrime’s built-in VAT reporting capabilities.

The release also introduces a substantially enhanced invoice personalisation experience, enabling businesses to create invoices that reflect their unique identity while maintaining the trust and credibility associated with a Tally invoice. With a range of modern,customisable invoice templates, businesses can personalise invoices with logos, signatures, watermarks, and business-specific information, allowing them to express their brand in a way that is uniquely their own. The result is an invoice that reflects boththe business’s identity and Tally’s consistency, professionalism, and credibility.

Commenting on the launch, Vikas Panchal, Senior General Manager – MENA, Tally Solutions, said, “The UAE continues to set a strong benchmark in driving digital transformation initiatives that are creating a more connected and future-ready business environment. As businesses prepare for the next phase of the country’s e-Invoicing journey, they needtechnology that not only supports evolving requirements but also works the way they do. With TallyPrime 7.1, we have focused on helping businesses embrace this transition with confidence through e-Invoicing readiness, connected compliance through direct EmaraTax integration, and greater flexibility in everyday business operations. By bringing these capabilities together in a single experience, we are enabling businesses to participate more effectively in the UAE’s digital economy while staying focused on growth.”

The launch comes at a pivotal moment as businesses across the UAE prepare for a more digitally connected business and compliance ecosystem. Through TallyPrime 7.1, Tally Solutions continues its commitment to building technology that adapts to the way businesses operate, helping them simplify operations, stay aligned with evolving regulatory requirements, and confidently participate in the UAE’s digital economy journey.

TallyPrime 7.1 is now available for businesses across the UAE. Existing customers can seamlessly upgrade to the latest release and immediately access the new e-Invoicing, connected VAT compliance, reconciliation, security, and invoice personalisation capabilities.

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Advancing its 2030 vision to support 1,000 ventures and facilitate AED 50 million in commercial deals for Sharjah-based businesses, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has launched the ‘Sheraa Membership’, a unified founder support system designed to provide entrepreneurs with continuous access to mentorship, funding opportunities, relevant networks, and ecosystem resources throughout every stage of their growth journey.

By 2030, the membership aims to support the launch of more than 50 youth-led businesses and create 1,000 jobs. Applications to the annual membership are now open on a rolling basis through Sheraa’s official website: https://sheraa.ae/membership. Applicants of all nationalities interested in setting up or growing their ventures in Sharjah are eligible to apply.

Sheraa Membership brings together access to the center’s founder support ecosystem through a single, integrated platform. Designed to support entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey, the membership provides access to tailored programmes, expert guidance, community connections, growth opportunities, and resources that help founders move from idea validation to business growth and expansion. By creating a more connected experience, the membership enables entrepreneurs to access the support most relevant to their needs as their businesses evolve.

Additionally, the membership enables Sheraa to support entrepreneurs throughout their entire journey, creating ongoing access to its ecosystem beyond individual programme cycles. From aspiring founders and early-stage startups to alumni and growing SMEs, members can engage with the resources, networks, opportunities, and support most relevant to their evolving needs.

How the membership programme works
Sheraa Membership is built across sequential stages. Each stage is structured around defined entry and exit criteria, giving founders a clear framework for progression. Members follow a guided curriculum and task-based roadmap tailored to their stage, complemented by regular in-person sessions that provide hands-on support and direct access to Sheraa’s network of advisors and partners.

The membership includes three interconnected layers of support. The first covers discounted licensing and co-working access to help founders establish and operate in Sharjah, in addition to rent concessions and accommodation, insurance, education discounts, and lifestyle benefits.

The second delivers hands-on knowledge-building through masterclasses, business clinics, sprint labs, one-to-one advisory sessions with Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, and regular office hours. The third connects members to the broader ecosystem through investor introductions, access to Sharjah’s procurement platform, trade missions, and participation in the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival and other local and global showcase and networking opportunities.

Commenting on the evolution of the center’s founder support, H.E. Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, said: “Sheraa Membership is, at its core, a commitment to the founder. Every entrepreneur who walks through our doors can expect access to a program, and a sustained partnership that grows with them at every stage, from their first idea through to scale. As Sheraa enters its next decade, we are focused on broadening our impact through this membership. Looking ahead to 2030, our focus extends beyond supporting more ventures; it emphasises on enabling founders to build resilient businesses that contribute to Sharjah’s innovation-driven economy.”

The announcement of the membership came during a curated gathering of founders and ecosystem stakeholders at the Sheraa HQ at Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK). The event featured the Sheraa Founders Roundtable, which brought together entrepreneurs from Sheraa’s community, including RAWA Wellness, a homegrown UAE wellness brand, Eshara AI, an AI-powered platform providing real-time sign language translation through digital avatars, and Little Sprouties, a business providing healthy, farm-to-spoon meals for children aged 6 months to 4 years. Together, they discussed the role of community in scaling businesses and shared their experiences of growing their ventures within Sheraa’s ecosystem.

For 2026-27, Sheraa is looking to onboard up to 400 members across all stages. The membership’s goals align directly with Sharjah’s strategic priorities to build a competitive, knowledge-based economy and strengthen its startup and SME sectors.

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Cloudflare and beehiiv announced a strategic partnership to redefine the creator economy and how independent creators interact with AI. By integrating Cloudflare’s advanced Crawl Control technology directly into the beehiiv platform, the partnership equips creators with clear visibility and granular control over how AI models use their work.

As AI models evolve to offer new forms of search and discovery, independent creators are looking for flexible ways to understand and manage how their content is accessed. This integration simplifies the process by letting beehiiv users manage their digital footprint through two clear choices: publishers can either opt-in to maximum discovery to allow AI search engines and agents to crawl their work freely for broader distribution, or choose content protection, blocking AI scraping to preserve their archives for future monetization and licensing opportunities.

“Cloudflare is dedicated to protecting and enabling content creators, from independent bloggers to the world’s largest publishers,” said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare. “As the Internet evolves, our commitment remains the same: ensuring creators have the tools they need to thrive. This partnership with beehiiv is the next logical step in that mission, giving newsletter operators the transparency and control to navigate the AI era on their own terms, whether they are optimizing for discovery or preserving their work for future opportunities.”

“beehiiv was built to support creator independence,” said Tyler Denk, co-founder and CEO of beehiiv. “As AI changes how people find and consume content, publishers need real leverage. Our partnership with Cloudflare gives creators the data and controls they need to either maximize discovery and distribution, or protect their writing and dictate their own terms.”

Managing AI bots historically required complex technical engagement, like manual robots.txt updates or firewalls. This partnership removes those technical hurdles, giving publishers of all sizes–from large media outlets to individual creators–the ability to easily set automated preferences. Key features of the integration include:

• Personalized Analytics: Creators get an on-platform dashboard powered by Cloudflare APIs. This shows exactly which AI crawlers are attempting to access their content, which ones are being blocked, and the referral traffic those crawlers send back to the newsletter.
• One-Click Toggle Permissions: The ability to block or allow specific AI models based on the creator’s business goals.
• Future-Proof Rights Management: Automatic updates that adapt to new AI crawlers as they emerge on the web, ensuring creators have the most up-to-date control without needing to update code.

AI Crawl Control will be available to all beehiiv users in beta, giving every publisher visibility into how AI services interact with their content and the traffic they generate. beehiiv Max customers will also have access to AI Crawl Control, enabling them to block AI crawlers and decide how their content is used across the AI ecosystem.

The new AI control features will be available through the platform’s standard dashboard settings.

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AXON successfully concluded its exclusive Investor Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing together a distinguished group of investors, decision-makers, and leaders from the fintech and investment sectors across the Kingdom and the wider region to discuss the future of financial infrastructure connecting traditional finance with the digital economy.

The event was attended by representatives from some of Saudi Arabia’s leading investment firms and financial institutions, including organizations connected to the Kingdom’s national investment ecosystem and prominent venture capital funds such as the Ministry of Investment, Raed Ventures, Sadu Capital, and Takamol Ventures, alongside representatives from other investment firms, funds, and financial technology companies.

Held under the theme “Connecting Traditional Finance with the Digital Economy: The Future of Financial Infrastructure in the GCC,” the summit showcased AXON’s vision of building a unified financial orchestration layer that seamlessly connects banks, payment networks, stablecoins, and digital asset infrastructure within a fully integrated ecosystem designed to meet the highest standards of regulatory compliance.

During the event, the AXON team presented an overview of the company’s flagship products, including AXON Transfer and AXON Pay, which are designed to simplify and accelerate cross-border payments and settlements. The platform aims to reduce settlement times for international transfers and payments from several days to as little as one hour. The company also presented its product roadmap and expansion plans across Saudi Arabia as well as regional and global markets.

The summit concluded with the signing of a strategic investment agreement between AXON and Maarej Real Estate, under which Maarej committed to invest approximately SAR 4 million (approx. $1 million) in the company. The investment reflects growing confidence in AXON’s vision and its role in developing the next generation of financial infrastructure across the region.

Commenting on the occasion, Malek Alzubi, Co-Founder and CEO of AXON, said: “We are witnessing a fundamental transformation in the way value moves across the global economy. Our mission at AXON is to build the infrastructure that enables institutions to move seamlessly between traditional and digital financial systems within a comprehensive regulatory framework. Maarej’s investment marks an important milestone in our journey and reinforces the market’s confidence in the growth opportunities we are creating.”

For his part, Tamim Al-Juhani, Chairman of Maarej Real Estate, said that the investment reflects the company’s strong belief in AXON’s significant potential and its ability to play a pivotal role in supporting the region’s financial transformation. He added that the investment aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and contributes to strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for financial innovation. The agreement also marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the two companies to support AXON’s growth and expand its presence in the Saudi market.

AXON continues to advance its regulatory approvals while expanding strategic partnerships with leading global financial and technology institutions. The company’s long-term vision is to establish a unified financial layer connecting traditional banking systems with modern digital infrastructure, helping accelerate cross-border trade and payments across the region and beyond.

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Sia Arora, photographer and leading visual storyteller, explains how the next‑gen startup landscape is unlocking new opportunities for photographers, blending vision, authenticity, technology, and community to help creators thrive in today’s fast‑moving digital and gig‑driven economy.

How is today’s startup landscape — especially one driven by next‑gen founders — creating new opportunities for photographers and content creators?
The startup ecosystem has completely reshaped the creative economy. Today’s founders, especially Gen Z and young millennial entrepreneurs, understand the power of storytelling better than any generation before them. They build brands that live online first, and that means they need visuals that communicate identity, purpose, and emotion instantly. This shift has opened enormous opportunities for photographers and content creators. Startups move fast, experiment constantly, and rely heavily on digital presence — from pitch decks and product launches to social media campaigns and community‑building. In the gig economy, this creates a steady demand for creators who can deliver high‑quality, multi‑platform content with agility. What excites me most is that startups value creativity as a strategic asset, not an afterthought. They want collaborators, not just service providers. For photographers, this means you’re not just capturing images; you’re helping shape the brand narrative of the next generation of companies. It’s a space where fresh ideas are welcomed, experimentation is encouraged, and creators can grow alongside the startups they support.

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Music Nation, a pioneer in music rights management based in the United Arab Emirates, and the Human Artistry Campaign, a global alliance of more than 200 organizations across the creative and technology communities, today announced that MusicNation has joined the coalition advocating for responsible AI that supports innovation, while protecting human creativity, consent and creator rights.

MusicNation becomes the first signatory to the Human Artistry Campaign from the Middle East, expanding the campaign’s international reach at a critical moment for the global music and creative industries.

The Human Artistry Campaign brings together organizations across music, film, television, publishing, journalism, voice acting, photography and other creative sectors to advance principles for ethical AI. The campaign supports innovation that respects human expression, protects creators’ rights, and ensures that artists, performers, songwriters, composers, publishers, labels and other rights holders retain control over the use of their work, voice, image and likeness.

MusicNation’s participation reflects the company’s role in helping implement the UAE’s vision for the protection and enforcement of musical copyrights, while supporting the country’s broader ambition to lead in responsible innovation. In 2017, the UAE became the first country in the world to appoint a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, signaling a national commitment to shaping the future of AI across every sector. As the UAE continues to rapidly advance AI across government, industry and the digital economy, MusicNation is uniquely positioned to help ensure that the creative industries are part of that leadership, reinforcing the importance of clear licensing frameworks, trusted rights infrastructure and creator-focused policies that allow technology and human creativity to grow together.

Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak, MusicNation’s Founder and Chairwoman, said, “The UAE has quickly established itself as one of the world’s most forward-looking markets for AI, innovation and the creative economy. As that momentum accelerates, MusicNation and our allies in the Human Artistry Campaign seek to support the next phase of growth on trust, transparency and respect for human creativity. We are proud to join the Human Artistry Campaign to support responsible AI, clear licensing frameworks and protections that ensure creators and technology companies can thrive together.”

Amer M. Samhoun, MusicNation’s CEO, said, “Human creativity is the foundation of music. As new technologies emerge, our goal is not to impede innovation, but to help ensure it develops on a foundation of respect for creators, clear licensing, transparency and trust. That is essential for artists, for technology companies and for the future of the creative economy.”

Dr. Moiya McTier, Human Artistry Campaign senior advisor, said, “MusicNation’s support reflects the growing global recognition that responsible AI must be built with respect for human creativity. Innovators and policymakers around the world are working to embrace powerful new technologies while preserving the uniquely human artistry, identity and rights that fuel culture. MusicNation’s leadership in the Middle East is an important addition to this growing international movement that prioritizes creators.”

With best-in-class tools, technology and leading industry partnerships with Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), the largest performing rights organization in the world, and SoundExchange Inc., the recording industry’s top digital global collective management organization, MusicNation is building the region’s premier rights management organization capable of supporting the timely, transparent and accurate collection and distribution of music royalties. BMI and SoundExchange are existing Human Artistry Campaign members.

The Human Artistry Campaign is a leading voice in global discussions around AI and creativity, including advocacy for protections against unauthorized deepfakes, voice clones and digital replicas, as well as support for market-based licensing models that allow technology companies and creators to collaborate responsibly.

MusicNation’s decision to join the Human Artistry Campaign follows a period of increased international attention on AI, copyright, licensing and personality rights. The Human Artistry Campaign has advocated for clear guardrails to ensure AI systems are developed in ways that respect existing law, require authorization for the use of creative works, and protect individuals from the unauthorized use of their voice, image and likeness.

For MusicNation, joining the campaign also reflects a broader commitment to helping build a robust music economy in the UAE and the broader Middle East and North Africa region. As AI becomes a growing part of the global creative economy, MusicNation and the Human Artistry Campaign share the view that innovation is strongest when supported by consent, transparency, licensing and respect for the people whose work, voices, images and ideas make creative technologies possible.

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Masdar City has officially launched Biosphere Labs, the GCC’s first commercially scaled shared laboratory facility, marking a major milestone for startups in biotechnology, life sciences, and deep‑tech innovation. Announced at the BIO International Convention 2026 in San Diego, the new facility directly addresses one of the biggest barriers facing early‑stage science‑driven ventures: access to specialised, capital‑intensive lab infrastructure.

For startups, the launch represents a transformative shift. Instead of spending months — and millions — building compliant lab environments, founders can now access ready‑to‑use bench space, advanced equipment, operational support, and a fully integrated life sciences ecosystem from day one. This dramatically reduces the cost, complexity, and time required to validate ideas, run experiments, and scale prototypes.

Developed in partnership with M42 and Attentive Science, Biosphere Labs is a plug‑and‑play innovation hub where emerging companies can build, test, and commercialise new technologies within a single, connected environment. For global startups looking to enter the Middle East, the facility also serves as a soft‑landing platform, offering immediate access to Abu Dhabi’s fast‑growing life sciences cluster.

The new lab builds on Masdar City’s HELM cluster — a dedicated hub for health, longevity, medicine, and advanced biotechnology — which already hosts leading organisations such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Insilico Medicine, and the Abu Dhabi Biobank. For founders, this means proximity to potential partners, customers, and investors, all within a single innovation district.

Government and industry leaders emphasised the accelerator‑like impact Biosphere Labs will have on early‑stage ventures. H.E. Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, noted that the facility “provides researchers, startups and biotechnology companies with the infrastructure needed to build, test and scale new technologies,” helping translate discoveries into real‑world solutions. M42 and Attentive Science echoed this, highlighting the lab’s role in enabling scientific breakthroughs and supporting the creation of globally competitive intellectual property.

With more than 2,000 organisations already operating in the Masdar City Free Zone — including clean‑tech startups supported by The Catalyst — the addition of Biosphere Labs strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as a rising global destination for science‑driven entrepreneurship. For founders across biotech, genomics, precision medicine, and advanced materials, the message is clear: Abu Dhabi is building the region’s most accessible, startup‑ready life sciences ecosystem.

Ahmed Baghoum, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar City, said: “Biosphere Labs is a defining milestone in Masdar City’s life sciences journey and proof of what becomes possible when the foundations, partnerships, infrastructure and policy are built with intention. Masdar City was designed to be a test bed, a place where new models are not just imagined but demonstrated, and Biosphere Labs is precisely that. We are proud to help create the conditions for scientific innovation by removing barriers, attracting global expertise, and giving researchers, startups and biotechnology companies the platform they need to develop, test and scale new innovations.

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500 Global and Sanabil Investments announce the eleventh batch of the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global, a hybrid program supporting early-stage founders building in sectors critical to the region’s future. Running from April 5 to July 1, 2026, the cohort brings together a highly selective group of eight startups, chosen from more than 690 applications, with companies building across AI-driven products, fintech and payment infrastructure, healthcare diagnostics, digital risk and fraud, insurance distribution, compliance, and content and IP monetization.

For this cohort, the team looked for companies that demonstrate the potential for strong operating discipline, clear business fundamentals and a sharp focus on execution, qualities we believe are important in this region. In response to ongoing uncertainty across the Middle East, the program has adapted its format, with Phases 1 and 2 delivered fully remotely as part of its hybrid model. The approach reflects how the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global continues to evolve alongside the MENA ecosystem, giving founders practical support while maintaining the flexibility needed to build through changing market conditions.

Participating founders have received targeted mentorship, operator-led workshops, access to regional and global networks, and exposure to ecosystem stakeholders ahead of Demo Day on July 1, 2026. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all accelerator model, Batch 11 has been designed around hands-on execution support, with a particular concentration of AI-enabled and infrastructure-driven companies addressing foundational challenges in the region.

“Batch 11 reflects the rising caliber and ambition of founders building from the region today,” said Amal Dokhan, Managing Partner at 500 Global MENA. “We are seeing entrepreneurs develop globally relevant companies with stronger execution, deeper innovation, and clearer paths to scale. We remain committed to empowering these founders with the capital, mentorship, and network needed to help accelerate their growth.”

A spokesperson for Sanabil Investments added, “This cohort demonstrates the strength and relevance of the region’s next generation of founders, particularly those building solutions in sectors that matter most to long-term economic resilience and growth. Through the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global, we remain committed to backing ambitious entrepreneurs with access, insight, and institutional support as they scale solutions with regional and global potential.”

The Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global, Batch 11 companies are:

• Carevision – An AI platform that transforms any smartphone camera into a 60-second cardiometabolic risk scanner.
• Emtethal – A computer Vision and IoT technology helping hospitality operators detect and prevent food safety and operation violations in real-time.
• IBEA – Solves late B2B payments by turning them into revenue for buyers while giving suppliers early, debt-free access to capital.
• Kami – An AI-powered tools platform empowering Gen-Z content creators to monetize their work from day one by transforming short fictional stories into immersive, multi-format experiences.
• Melon Digital – An Insurtech app providing personalized coverage, transparent pricing, and AI-powered claims processing through mobile phones.
• Raid AI – Instantly detects deepfakes across channels, helping businesses prevent losses from identity theft and fraud.
• TPP – A media intelligence company that creates and scales Arabic content, helping brands make data-driven marketing investments.
• Xsquare – Helping businesses connect their financial operations in one unified view, saving them time from navigating disconnected tools to make sense of their money.

With Batch 11 concluding in July, applications for the next cohort are open. Startups from across the MENA region are invited to join the strong and growing community of ambitious founders shaping the future of innovation in the region. Apply here.

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The UAE Cybersecurity Council (CSC), in cooperation with Amazon Web Services (AWS), CrowdStrike, and e&, celebrated the successful completion of the first cohort of the AWS/CTIB Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator Programme at a closing ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi. The event marked the first time that the initiative’s leading commercial supporters had gathered in person since the programme’s launch at GITEX Global in October 2025.

The multi-year government-backed initiative, a core component of the UAE Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Bureau (UAE CTIB) and the UAE National Cybersecurity Strategy, sets an ambitious goal to accelerate more than 500 cybersecurity startups. The programme provides selected founders with equity-free access to global technology expertise, regional capital networks, 1:1 mentorship, and market pathways to develop ‘Made in UAE’ cybersecurity innovations that address emerging global cyber concerns.ort which ran from 25 March to 4 May 2026, received 157 applications from more than five countries and selected 23 startups spanning Cloud Security, Application Security, Identity and Access Management, Generative AI for Cybersecurity, and Data Security. The programme delivered 23 curated sessions totalling more than 30 hours of content, including 15 business strategy sessions, six technical deep-dives, and two keynote sessions, with contributions from all delivery partners. More than 25 distinguished speakers and mentors participated, representing the highest levels of cybersecurity leadership globally.

The programme delivered substantial value to participating startups, access to e& for venture investment, AWS Marketplace listing and co-sell support, discounts on CrowdStrike Falcon® Pro, investor pitch coaching, and go-to-market strategy advisory. In parallel, the initiative reinforced CyberE71’s mission of building the next generation of cybersecurity and AI ventures by connecting startups with potential partners, investors, enterprise opportunities, and government-backed enablement platforms.

At today’s closing ceremony, the Top 5 winning startups were announced, selected by a senior CISO Evaluation Panel drawn from initiative supporters and organisations. The panel assessed all 23 startups through a Shark Tank-style virtual pitch session, evaluating them on customer value, competitive differentiation, innovation, and growth traction. The winning startups will gain visibility with enterprise customers, investors, and government stakeholders across the region.

Cohort 1 was delivered entirely virtually and on schedule, a testament to the commitment and professionalism of every organisation involved, and a powerful signal that the UAE remains a resilient and forward-looking innovation hub.

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, said: “The successful completion of Cohort 1 of the AWS/CTIB Startup Accelerator Programme validates the UAE’s vision of building a robust, innovation-driven cybersecurity ecosystem. These 23 startups represent the next generation of ‘Made in UAE’ cybersecurity champions. Their success demonstrates that the UAE is not only committed to defending its digital future but to exporting cybersecurity excellence to the world. We look forward to welcoming future cohorts as we advance towards our goal of accelerating 500 cybersecurity startups under our National Cybersecurity Strategy.”

Chris Erasmus, General Manager, UAE, Rest of Middle East and North Africa at AWS, said: “The results of Cohort 1 exceed our expectations. From 157 applications to 23 exceptional startups building solutions across cloud security, AI-powered threat detection, and identity management, this programme has proven that the UAE has the talent, the ambition, and the ecosystem to become a world-leading cybersecurity innovation hub. AWS is committed to providing the cloud infrastructure, technical mentorship, and go-to-market support that startups need to scale globally.”

Daniel Bernard, Chief Business Officer at CrowdStrike, said: “Cybersecurity innovation thrives when governments, industry leaders, and founders come together with a shared mission. This first cohort shows the UAE is building more than a startup ecosystem – it’s building a long-term foundation for cyber resilience and innovation at scale. Alongside AWS, the UAE Cybersecurity Council and e&, CrowdStrike is proud to help the next generation of cybersecurity companies scale faster, solve urgent security challenges, and advance the vision of technology that is both Made in UAE and Protected by UAE.”

Abdulla Al Ahmed, Chief Government and VVIP Relations Officer, e& UAE said: “Cyber resilience has become a pillar of national resilience and a growth enabler for digital economies. The success of Cohort 1 demonstrates the power of combining regional infrastructure, venture ecosystem, and enterprise capabilities to create the conditions for cybersecurity startups to innovate responsibly, protect intelligently, and scale globally — all while anchoring their growth in the UAE’s trusted digital ecosystem.”

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