United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy joins forces with UICCA to accelerate circular economy endeavors
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) and the Ministry of Economy (MOEC) have joined forces in a significant partnership aimed at driving sustainable economic growth by empowering climate-focused start-ups.
The partnership was officially announced at Investopia 2025 in Abu Dhabi and was witnessed by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of UICCA, and Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy.
UICCA has unveiled findings from its inaugural policy brief, which focuses on the financial challenges faced by climate-tech start-ups in the UAE. The policy brief calls for dedicated scale-up funds, streamlined regulations, and cross-border market integration to bridge the growth-stage funding gap in the UAE's climate-tech ecosystem.
Sheikha Shamma highlighted that the initiative will provide a dedicated platform for entrepreneurs to scale climate solutions. "This partnership marks a significant step in supporting the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2031 and advancing the circular economy through the Circular Economy Cycle of the UICCA Launchpad Programme," she said.
The Circular Economy Cycle of the UICCA Launchpad Programme will launch in May 2025. Applications for the Launchpad Programme are now open to local, regional, and international start-ups. The registration portal for the Launchpad Programme will go live from 27 February 2025, and the registrations for the start-up competition will officially open on October 15, 2025, online via the UICCA official website.
MOEC will promote the accelerator, engage investors, and enhance regulatory alignment to bolster market access for green technologies. The UAE's commitment to adopting circular economy principles across key sectors was reaffirmed by Bin Touq.
The Launchpad Programme offers zero-equity, market-access support to early-stage ventures. This means that start-ups can benefit from the UICCA Launchpad Programme without giving up any equity in their businesses.
The policy brief, published by UICCA, further outlines the details of the financial challenges faced by climate-tech start-ups and the steps needed to address them. For more information, visit the UICCA Resources website or the UICCA Launchpad website, where you can apply for the Launchpad Programme.
This partnership between UICCA and MOEC is a testament to the UAE's commitment to fostering a sustainable and innovative climate-tech ecosystem. By supporting climate-focused start-ups, the UAE is not only driving economic growth but also contributing to the global fight against climate change.
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