UAE joins the race for world?s best tech hub

The tech revolution has changed the face of the expat world for ever, with country vying with country all across the world to attract the best and most innovative entrepreneurs.

Germany, Japan, China, Estonia, Singapore, Sweden and Norway are battling along with other up-and-coming destinations for the best tech brains on the planet, but expat entrepreneurs in the sector might well be surprised to see what the UAE has to offer. As a start-up hub, the emirates tick all the boxes for growth, dynamism, government incentives and sheer enthusiasm, and offer attractive finance options along with strong government support.

One leading listing in the sector showcased the UAE, Singapore and New Zealand as being digitally advanced and leading in driving innovation in the field. According to the Global Innovation Index, the UAE leads the Arab World pack for its innovation culture, new research institutes and tech centres promoting development in crucial sectors. Dubai Science Park and Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City are both examples of what’s now possible, and 95 per cent of all businesses in the region are SMEs and start-ups.

Government incentives spur rapid development by citizens, with the advantages hopefully aiming at expatriates as well over time. In general, the region benefits from first-world infrastructure, its important strategic location between East and West, a strong banking system and an already established position as an important business hub. For expat professionals and entrepreneurs, it’s a stable, safe place in which to grow a business or career, and its favourable tax regime is yet another attraction for start-ups. Downsides include the perception of expats in some quarters as well as the lack of logicality of its legal framework, but the expat lifestyle in the emirates is second to none.