- What
- Pitch competition with US$50,000 in equity-free cash prizes.
- Who
- Women-founded startups; co-founder holds at least 33%.
- Cost
- No equity — cash prize
- Status
- Active
Checked · September 2026 · dubai.tie.org/tie-women · How we check ↗
In detail
TiE Women MENA is a competition — equity-free cash prize in the UAE. Pitch programme of TiE Dubai for women-founded startups, run as an annual edition covering the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the rest of the Middle East. Winners receive equity-free cash prizes and the pitch must be delivered by the female founder or co-founder.
- Amount
- US$50,000 in equity-free cash prizes
- Terms
- No equity — equity-free cash prize
- Eligibility
- Women co-founder(s) holding a minimum 33% stake
- company licensed and registered on or after 1 January 2019
- the pitch is delivered by the female founder or co-founder
- Status
- Edition-based — the programme page names no closing date; the pitch portal shows a login only
What the source says
“$50,000 Equity free cash prizes”
dubai.tie.org/tie-women · seen September 2026
“Women co-founder(s) must have minimum 33% stakeholder”
dubai.tie.org/tie-women · seen September 2026
“Licensed companies registered on or after 1 Jan 2019 eligible to apply”
dubai.tie.org/tie-women · seen September 2026
“UAE | EMIRATI | SAUDI ARABIA | EGYPT | REST OF MIDDLE EAST”
dubai.tie.org/tie-women · seen September 2026
Closing soon on the map
Cultural Development Fund (CDF)
Grant · Saudi Arabia
Up to SAR 500,000 non-repayable per project, capped at 20 projects total.
No equity — grant
29 Sep 2026closes
Finspire
Accelerator · Saudi Arabia
SAR 100,000 development funding, earmarked rather than paid as cash.
Equity via SAFE, capped at 5%
4 Oct 2026closes
QSTP Incubation
Accelerator · Qatar
In-kind support: Doha workspace and housing for a four-week Sprint, talent and investor access.
Equity — 1.5% deferred SAFE-style stake
1 Nov 2026closes
More grants & prizes in the UAE
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Grant · UAE
Non-dilutive prize: US$1M per category winner, US$100K per finalist.
No equity — prize money
—
More programmes that take no equity →
Sources
Primary source · dubai.tie.org/tie-women · Checked September 2026