- What
- Seed funding as SAFE notes, pre-seed and seed.
- Who
- Local and international cleantech and sustainability startups.
- From abroad
- Open to companies from abroad — Must set up / establish the company in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi to expand into the MENA region All programmes open to founders from abroad →
- Latest
- Last cohort Jan 2026 — Catalyst Program cohort launching January 2026, applications openedNewest dated item on its own site · checked Oct 2026
Checked · October 2026 · catalyst.ae · How we check ↗
In detail
Catalyst is a CleanTech accelerator + investment fund (masdar city × bp) in the UAE. Clean-tech startup accelerator and early-stage investment platform backed by Masdar City and BP, based in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. 20 startups graduated, 15 investments through the programme and 3 direct investments (SAFE notes, pre-seed and seed).
- Amount
- Seed funding — SAFE notes, pre-seed and seed
- Terms
- Convertible — capital can convert to equity
- Eligibility
- CleanTech and sustainability startups, local and international
- Sectors
- CleanTech, Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, Energy Efficiency, EVs & E-mobility, Water, Waste Management, Cleantech Materials, AgriTech & BioTech
- Benefits
- Office & lab space
- Licensing & registration (company set up in Masdar City)
- Mentoring
- Pilot project opportunity
- bp and Masdar City network
- Status
- Active
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what Catalyst publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“Global (with a mandate to setup the company in Masdar City to expand the business to MENA region)”
“20 Graduated”
“15 Investment through program”
“Impact 2025”
“The Catalyst, backed by Masdar City and BP, is a MENA region's leading clean-tech startup accelerator and early-stage investment platform based in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi”
“Investment Mode | SAFE Note | 3 | Direct Investment | Stage | Pre-Seed and Seed”
Closing soon on the map
No published deadline in the next 30 days · All published deadlines →
Compare accelerators & incubators in the UAE
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CatalystSeed funding as SAFE notes, pre-seed and seed. | not published | Convertible | Active |
| 500 Global UAEEquity investment of US$100,000+ through the Sanabil Accelerator by 500 Global. | US$100,000+ | Equity; Phase 1 programme fee US$35,000 | Closed |
| Disrupt.comVenture builder that co-founds AI-first ventures and funds them from its own balance sheet. | not published | Equity | Open |
| Hub71AED 250K in-kind plus AED 250K cash via SAFE note; AED 250K top-up for high performers. | AED 250K | Equity | Open |
| in5 DubaiSubsidized business licence and coworking workspace. | not published | No equity | Active |
| IntelakAED 50K equity-free grant. | AED 50K | No equity | Active |
| NQubatorIncubation and acceleration programmes; Digital Commerce Cohort. | not published | Equity | Active |
| SheraaEquity-free ERF grants from an AED 5M fund plus programmes. | not published | No equity | Active |
| DIFC Innovation Hub — Fintech AcceleratorRegulatory sandbox access and programme support for fintech startups. | not published | No equity | Closed |
| Hamdan Innovation Incubator (Hi2)Free 16-week tech incubator with mentoring and investor introductions; no cash amount. | not published | No cost to join | Closed |
| Innovate For Tomorrow (Dubai Holding)AED 500,000 to the winner plus a funded UAE pilot; runners-up AED 250,000 and AED 100,000. | AED 500,000 | No equity | Closed |
| Plug and Play Abu DhabiAccelerator programme with potential VC investment. | not published | Not published | Active |
| Presight AI AcceleratorSix-month accelerator with a $50K in-kind SAFE note; no working application link today. | $50K | SAFE | Active |
| startADNo direct investment published; corporate pilots via sprint accelerators. | not published | No equity | Active |
No programmes match these filters.
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
All accelerators & incubators in the UAE → · Across the Gulf →
Questions founders ask
What does Catalyst offer?
Seed funding as SAFE notes, pre-seed and seed.
Does Catalyst take equity?
Convertible — converts to equity.
Can founders from abroad apply?
Open to companies from abroad — Must set up / establish the company in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi to expand into the MENA region.
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · catalyst.ae · Checked October 2026