800 UAE Students Launch Real Businesses in 2026

More than 800 students across the UAE just proved that entrepreneurship education works best when it's real. Through INJAZ UAE's Company Program, these young innovators didn't just learn about business—they launched 99 actual enterprises, complete with products, customers, and all the messy challenges that come with building something from scratch.

Two teams rose to the top at this year's national finals. PocketPal, created by university students from the University of Wollongong in Dubai, built a fintech platform that teaches young people money management through gamified learning while keeping parents in the loop. HydroGuard, developed by high schoolers from the American School of Creative Science, uses artificial intelligence to detect swimmers in distress and send instant alerts before tragedy strikes.

The competition drew 595 high school students across 68 teams and 213 university students across 31 teams. They spent months developing business plans, testing their ideas, and pitching to mentors from companies like Nestlé, FedEx, and HSBC before reaching the finals at Dubai's Intercontinental Festival City.

H.E. Faisal Bin Juma Belhoul, INJAZ UAE's Chairperson, watched students present alongside Sheikha Alia Bint Butti Al Maktoum and officials from Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority. The event celebrated not just the winners but dozens of teams tackling everything from sustainable fashion to healthcare access.

Beyond the two championship titles, students earned recognition for standout achievements in sustainability, financial planning, and technological innovation. One collaborative project called TIBB brought together students from eight different schools to solve healthcare challenges.

The Ripple Effect

This program represents something bigger than student competitions. These young entrepreneurs are building skills the UAE will need as it pushes toward its Vision 2031 economic goals—resilience, creativity, and the confidence to turn ideas into action.

CEO Razan Bashiti put it simply: "The Company Program demonstrates what becomes possible when young people are given the opportunity to learn by doing." That hands-on approach means real failures, real pivots, and real victories that no classroom lecture can replicate.

The winning teams head to Cairo in November 2026 to compete against top student entrepreneurs from across the Arab region. They'll showcase not just their own innovations but the growing entrepreneurial culture taking root in UAE schools and universities.

Nearly a thousand young people now know what it feels like to build something real, and that experience will shape how they approach challenges for the rest of their lives.