Funding exceeds AED 9 billion for start-ups in Dubai’s leading incubator in5

Funding raised by start-ups within Dubai’s leading entrepreneurship incubator, in5, has crossed AED 9 billion since its inception, as enterprising talent and ventures grow within Dubai’s pro-innovation framework.

Announced during the 10th anniversary edition of Expand North Star 2025, the world’s largest event for start-ups and investors taking place in Dubai Harbour on 12-15 October, the remarkable figure represents 14% growth over total funding raised as of October 2024, underscoring the role of in5’s nurturing ecosystem in accelerating entrepreneurship.

“The remarkable journey of in5’s start-ups past the AED 9 billion funding mark indicates their profound impact on the innovation economy,” said Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President at TECOM Group PJSC, on behalf of in5. “Each success story within our ecosystem contributes to shaping a brighter global future from Dubai, in line with the overarching vision of Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’. As we gather at Expand North Star 2025, we are committed to empowering the next wave of visionary entrepreneurs enriching tomorrow’s industries.”

in5 has nurtured more than 1,100 start-ups since its inception in 2013 by TECOM Group PJSC, the curator of 10 specialised business districts in Dubai. The incubator supports enterprises across four sector-specific verticals, including technology, media, design, and science. in5 Tech is housed at a dedicated centre at Dubai Internet City, while in5 Media and in5 Design are based at Dubai Production City and Dubai Design District (d3), respectively. in5 Science, launched in collaboration with Dubai Science Park, provides an enabling platform for future-focused science start-ups.

The first half of 2025 saw significant activity within the incubator, with in5 continuing to build on its support infrastructure for innovators and enterprises. During this period, in5 organised 94 events for its members, encompassing mentorship, advisory, training, and networking workshops. At Expand North Star 2025, in5 is showcasing its ecosystem members such as Bellboy, an AI-powered SaaS platform that automates hospitality services to enhance user experiences; Gainz, which connects retail investors and institutions with vetted debt financing opportunities; and MyGatePass, which is transforming visitor management through seamless UAE Pass integration.

Accelerating success
Reinforced by strategies such as Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’, in5’s commitment to innovation is actively expanding the city’s pool of tech-savvy entrepreneurs. This is underscored by recent success stories within the incubator, including Halo AI, which closed an AED 22 million seed round led by Raed Ventures and Shorooq. Additionally, Wittify AI secured an AED 5.5 million pre-seed round to upscale Arabic conversational artificial intelligence (AI), and Armoir closed an AED 1.8 million seed round to disrupt the premium luggage market.

in5 offers a platform for start-up growth with access to advisory, mentorship, and potential investment opportunities. in5 Tech is home to the in5 Investor Hub, a space where angel investors, venture capitalists, and institutional investors can directly engage with start-ups for funding and partnership opportunities. The incubator’s participation at Expand North Star reaffirms its commitment to spotlighting its innovative ecosystem at the event that drew more than 70,000 attendees, including 1,200 investors, in 2024.

in5 is part of TECOM Group, which has contributed to Dubai’s economic ambitions for more than two decades through sector-focused districts including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Design District (d3), and Dubai Industrial City.