- What
- Free 16-week tech incubator with mentoring and investor introductions; no cash amount.
- Who
- UAE residents 18+ with an Emirati co-founder and a tech idea or MVP under two years old.
Checked · October 2026 · dubaifoundershq.com/en/launch-your-business/incu · How we check ↗
See Hamdan Innovation Incubator (Hi2) 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
Hamdan Innovation Incubator (Hi2) is a government incubator (16 weeks) in the UAE. Dubai SME's incubator for Emirati founders, established in 2014 and integrated into Dubai Founders HQ in July 2026. Its 16-week technology incubator takes a cohort of around 20 Emirati founders from an early idea or MVP to an investable company: a validated business model and tested MVP, a go-to-market plan and direct introductions to active regional investors. Sessions run online and in person at Dubai Founders HQ; no cost to join if accepted. The current edition closed applications on 31 August, starts in October 2026 and ends with a Demo Day in February.
- Amount
- Programme support - no cash amount published; no cost to join if accepted
- Terms
- Not published
- Eligibility
- UAE residents aged 18 or over
- at least one Emirati co-founder or team member
- a tech idea or MVP less than two years old
- commitment to all 16 weeks, including in-person sessions
- Sectors
- Technology - e-commerce, deep tech and the sectors driving the UAE's next decade
- Benefits
- Validated business model and tested MVP
- go-to-market plan
- direct introductions to active regional investors
- network of mentors, trainers and industry experts
- Demo Day
- Status
- Applications closed - the current edition closed on 31 August and starts in October 2026; the next edition is not yet announced (checked September 2026)
What the source says
“Join this 16-week incubator for Emirati founders turning early ideas and prototypes into investable companies.”
“16-week programme Cohort of 20 Emiratis Hybrid online and in-person format No cost to join if accepted”
“Established in 2014 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum”
“Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 13 July 2026: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has announced the integration of Hamdan Innovation Incubator (Hi2) into Dubai Founders HQ”
“To mark the integration, applications are now open for a new 16-week, technology incubator programme designed to support 20 Emirati entrepreneurs to transform early-stage ideas into scalable, high-impact businesses. The programme will begin in October 2026 and will be delivered at Dubai Founders HQ”
“Sessions run both online and in person at DFHQ in the 25hours Hotel Dubai, so you can balance the programme with your existing commitments.”
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| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamdan Innovation Incubator (Hi2)Free 16-week tech incubator with mentoring and investor introductions; no cash amount. | not published | No cost to join | Closed |
| 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 |
| CatalystSeed funding as SAFE notes, pre-seed and seed. | not published | Convertible | Active |
| 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 |
| 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 | Active |
| 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 |
| IntelakAED 50K equity-free grant. | AED 50K | No equity | Active |
| NQubatorIncubation cohorts with mentorship, investor access and demo days. | not published | Equity | Active |
| 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 |
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 Hamdan Innovation Incubator (Hi2) offer?
Free 16-week tech incubator with mentoring and investor introductions; no cash amount.
Does Hamdan Innovation Incubator (Hi2) take equity?
No cost to join — equity not published.
Is it open now?
No — it is currently closed. The status on this page follows the programme’s own site.
How do I apply?
No application form is published. Its website is the way in.
Sources
Primary source · dubaifoundershq.com/en/launch-your-business/incubators-in-dubai/hamdan · LinkedIn · linkedin.com/company/dubai-sme · Checked October 2026