A Comprehensive Guide to Raising Funds in the UAE
The "good" season is starting in the UAE.
From seed-stage startups to large corporations, Founders and CEOs will be visiting the UAE to meet key figures and investors.
So, what kind of investors can you find in the UAE?
?Angel Investors:
Angel investors in the UAE are quite different from those in other countries. They are typically wealthy individuals who initially moved to the UAE for tax benefits. However, after settling here, they discovered a safe and vibrant environment that enhances their quality of life. As a result, they relocated their businesses and families to the UAE, finding they now have 20% more capital to allocate toward angel investing.
This is what makes angel investors in the UAE a great type of investor to work with.
?Family Offices:
Emirati family offices are composed of 100 key families who have significantly contributed to the development of the UAE. These families typically manage conglomerates involved in sectors like real estate development, retail (fashion, food, furniture, etc.), exclusive franchise rights with hundreds of locations (e.g., McDonald's, Subway, KFC), construction, hospitality, tourism, and more.
These families deeply care about the UAE and their reputation. When engaging with them, it’s important to demonstrate a genuine intention to contribute to the local economy and show how partnering with your company can enhance their global standing.
This is what makes UAE family offices a great type of investor to work with.
?VCs:
Venture capital firms in the UAE generally manage between $50M to $250M in assets under management (AUM). Although the region has yet to see Sequoia-sized, multi-billion-dollar VCs, UAE-based VCs tend to be more founder-friendly and less corporate. Many are run by founders who have had large exits or by VCs who relocated from the West for better tax benefits.
Because of their tax advantages and smaller scale, UAE VCs tend to be more founder-friendly.
This is what makes UAE VCs a great type of investor to work with.
? Government Funds and Sovereign Wealth:
The financial powerhouses of the region are the GCC's sovereign wealth funds, and one of the largest is based in Abu Dhabi/UAE.
These funds manage nearly half a trillion dollars and are deeply committed to attracting talent and building unicorns in the UAE, much like how Telegram transformed from a Russian unicorn to a UAE unicorn after government funds invested.
These funds are split between massive entities like Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and government-backed accelerators such as Hub 71.
These government funds aim to support top-tier companies in becoming true UAE unicorns.
If you are coming to the UAE to meet investors and strategic partners. Send me a DM me on LinkedIn or go to www.doublemorgan.com