UAE Picks 6 AI Startups for Mastercard Global Accelerator

Six AI startups in the United Arab Emirates are getting a major boost to take their technologies from promising ideas to global solutions that could reshape how we use financial services.

The UAE's Artificial Intelligence Office and Mastercard's Center for Advanced AI and Cyber Technology in Dubai selected Loyyal, NewForm Technologies, NodeShift, Polynome, Valura.Ai, and zypl.ai for the inaugural Mastercard Lighthouse UAE program. These companies beat out dozens of applicants to earn spots in the four-month intensive accelerator.

The chosen startups bring diverse solutions to the table. Loyyal makes loyalty rewards programs work across different companies using blockchain technology. NewForm Technologies builds AI tools that automate banking operations while keeping customer data secure.

NodeShift protects sensitive information when companies use popular AI tools like ChatGPT. Polynome creates AI assistants that speak both Arabic and English to help banks and government offices serve customers better.

Stanford-born zypl.ai uses synthetic data to help financial institutions detect fraud and assess credit risk across 20 countries. Valura.AI offers automated investment management with real-time portfolio monitoring.

Expert mentors from Mastercard will spend the next four months helping these teams refine their products and prepare for expansion. The startups will also connect with financial institutions, investors, and business partners who can help them grow.

The Ripple Effect

This program reflects something bigger happening in the UAE. The country is building an entire ecosystem where government support meets private sector expertise to accelerate innovation.

Dr. Abdelrahman Al Mahmoud from the Artificial Intelligence Office says investing in AI startups means investing in the future economy. By creating the right environment for these companies to thrive, the UAE strengthens its position as a global leader in emerging technologies.

The selection process was rigorous. A panel of experts evaluated applications based on innovation level, team capabilities, business models, scalability, and global growth potential. Fourteen finalists made it to the last round before the final six were chosen.

The program will wrap up with a Demo Day where the startups showcase their progress to leaders from the innovation and investment community. It's a chance to prove how far they've come and attract the resources needed for the next phase of growth.

Gina Petersen-Skyrme from Mastercard says these six founders bring diverse perspectives and bold ambition to shape the future of financial services and AI in the region. Their success could inspire the next wave of innovators watching from the sidelines.