Future 100 honours third cohort and opens registration for new edition

The UAE’s Future 100 initiative has recognised its third cohort of 100 companies operating in new economy sectors and announced that registration and nominations for its next edition will open in October.

The recognition ceremony took place during Investopia Bridge 2026 in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Co-Chair of Investopia.

A joint initiative of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the Government Development and the Future Office, Future 100 highlights companies developing innovative products, services and business models across emerging industries. The initiative also connects participating businesses with partners, investors and programmes designed to support their growth and expansion.

Startups and entrepreneurial ventures operating in new economy sectors will be able to nominate themselves for the upcoming edition and seek access to the initiative’s business support network.

Future 100 reports $100 million in investment attracted through partners

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said the UAE is focused on helping startups and new economy businesses grow through an ecosystem of legislation, incentives, funding opportunities, expertise and market access.

He said Future 100 recognises promising companies and supports their development, expansion and ability to establish new partnerships.

Since its launch, the initiative has helped attract investments worth $100 million through its partners, benefiting more than 53 companies enrolled in the programme, according to the ministry. The initiative supports the UAE’s broader ambition under the We the UAE 2031 vision to strengthen the country’s position as a global hub for the new economy.

Nuwa Capital, Global Ventures and Carta join the network

Future 100 signed three memoranda of understanding on the sidelines of Investopia Bridge 2026, bringing additional investment, business development and corporate services expertise into its partner network.

Nuwa Capital Ltd signed an agreement to support the growth and expansion of listed companies, promote the Future 100 list, participate in evaluating applicants and explore opportunities for business development and mutually beneficial partnerships.

Global Ventures will work with the initiative to develop business and partnership opportunities for participating companies and support their growth. Under the agreement, the investment firm also committed to investing at least $1 million in one or more companies joining the initiative.

Carta will provide services to help companies improve their readiness to attract funding, manage valuations and ownership, and address compliance requirements. The agreement also includes training and mentorship programmes, alongside a 25% discount on the platform’s annual subscription during the first year.

The new partnerships are intended to expand participating companies’ access to investment, specialist services and opportunities for commercial growth.

New report examines company growth and innovation

Future 100 also launched a report examining the journeys of participating companies, their business models, sectors and key achievements.

The report presents data on the distribution of companies by sector and growth stage, offering an overview of how businesses are developing and expanding across the UAE’s new economy.

It also examines the contribution of supporting partners and highlights the technologies, innovative solutions and business models being developed by participating companies.

Initiative recognises 300 companies across three editions

Future 100 has recognised 300 companies across its first three editions, selected from 3,395 applications. The third cycle alone received 1,282 applications, reflecting interest in opportunities for businesses operating in emerging sectors.

Applications are assessed against four main criteria: creative capability, market potential, business model sustainability and scalability, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact.

The evaluation process is designed to identify companies with innovative business models, the potential to scale and solutions that can contribute to the development of new economy industries.

The initiative’s partner network has grown to 42 organisations, spanning government entities, technology companies, financial institutions, venture capital funds, accelerators and incubators.

Majra – National CSR Fund is the strategic partner. Other partners include the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Dubai Future District Fund, Emirates NBD, Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund, Investopia, Microsoft, MEVP, Careem, EY, Eurasia Capital, in5, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, FTI Consulting, Nuwa Capital, EGF, Carta and DIFC Innovation Hub.

The network supports participating businesses through investor engagement, access to specialist expertise, business development opportunities and connections to new markets.

Future 100 spans 17 new economy sectors

The initiative covers 17 sectors, including space, biotechnology, sustainability and the environment, health technology, human resources technology, renewable energy, creative industries, agri-tech, education technology, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, food technology, fintech, smart mobility, legal technology and proptech.

It also encompasses technologies and business models such as e-commerce, the sharing economy, 3D printing, the Internet of Things, Web3, robotics, the metaverse, AI-enabled services and blockchain.

Through its annual recognition programme and partner ecosystem, Future 100 aims to help emerging UAE businesses strengthen their capabilities, attract investment and expand into regional and international markets.