- What
- $50M corporate venture fund of telecom operator du, managed by Shorooq.
- Who
- Tech startups that fit du’s strategy; a significant share goes to UAE-based ventures.
Checked · October 2026 · du.ae/about/media-centre/newsdetail/du-launches- · How we check ↗
See du Ventures on the map next to the other 96 programmes in the UAE — and filter the whole Gulf by type, deadline and equity.
Open the map →In detail
du Ventures is a corporate venture capital arm (telecom) in the UAE. $50 million corporate venture fund launched in June 2026 by du, the UAE telecom and digital services provider, developed in partnership with and managed by Shorooq. It partners with startups and founders turning emerging technologies into real-world solutions in fintech, AI, cybersecurity, cloud, loyalty, gaming, enterprise solutions and customer experience technologies; Shorooq prioritises investments that fit du’s corporate strategy, with a significant share dedicated specifically to UAE-based ventures.
- Amount
- $50M corporate venture fund · ticket size not published
- Terms
- Not published
- Eligibility
- Startups and founders in fintech, AI, cybersecurity, cloud, loyalty, gaming, enterprise solutions and customer experience technologies that fit du’s corporate strategy; a significant share of investments goes to UAE-based ventures
- Sectors
- Fintech
- AI
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud
- Loyalty
- Gaming
- Enterprise solutions
- Customer experience
- Status
- Active — launched June 2026 and managed by Shorooq; no application form on du’s site (checked September 2026)
What the source says
“du, the leading telecom and digital services provider, today announced the launch of du Ventures, a $50 million corporate venture fund developed in partnership with Shorooq”
“du Ventures will partner with promising startups and founders who are transforming emerging technologies into real-world solutions, focusing on companies across fintech, AI, cybersecurity, cloud, loyalty, gaming, enterprise solutions, and customer experience technologies.”
“The fund will be managed by Shorooq, a leading multi-strategy investment firm that will prioritize investments that fit du’s corporate strategy, with a significant share of investments dedicated specifically to UAE-based ventures.”
“June 3, 2026 Press Release du launches du Ventures, a $50 million venture capital fund to drive the next wave of digital innovation, and appoints Shorooq as a fund manager”
“du launches du Ventures, a $50 million venture capital fund to drive the next wave of digital innovation, and appoints Shorooq as a fund manager”
“a $50 million corporate venture fund”
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Compare corporate VCs in the UAE
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| du Ventures$50M corporate venture fund of telecom operator du, managed by Shorooq. | not published | Equity | Active |
| ADIB VenturesMinority equity, mainly at Series A, in fintech and financial-technology companies. | not published | Minority equity | Active |
| Al Fardan VenturesDirect equity investment from early stage to growth. | not published | Equity | Active |
| CBIxBank-backed ventures arm investing in a small number of AI, fintech and Web3 firms. | not published | Not published | Active |
| CE-Ventures (Crescent Enterprises)Corporate venture capital, early to late stage and venture funds. | not published | Equity | Active |
| e& capitalEquity tickets averaging USD 5–30M; around $500M under management and committed. | USD 5–30M | Equity | Active |
| Emirates NBD Innovation FundStrategic equity, early to growth stage. | not published | Equity | Active |
| G42Builds and holds AI companies strategically; not an open-application funder. | not published | Equity | Active |
| NeoVentures (Mashreq)Corporate venture capital from Mashreq's fund. | not published | Equity | Active |
| Strategic Development Fund (SDF)VC tickets of $10–35M for early- and mid-stage frontier tech; venture debt via UAE banks. | $10–35M | Equity | Active |
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
Questions founders ask
What does du Ventures offer?
$50M corporate venture fund of telecom operator du, managed by Shorooq.
Does du Ventures take equity?
Equity.
How do I apply?
No application form is published. Its website is the way in.
Sources
Primary source · du.ae/about/media-centre/newsdetail/du-launches-du-ventures · Checked October 2026