Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec) is the leading technology hub and coworking space within the UAE. Wholly owned by Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the regulatory body of Dubai Silicon Oasis, an integrated free zone technology park, Dtec is designed to serve as a one-stop-shop for technology entrepreneurs and startups by offering support in the form of setup, flexible coworking options and a nurturing ecosystem for young ventures.
Dtec started out as an incubator called Silicon Oasis Founders in 2012, supporting and investing in early-stage technology startups. In what was still a growing industry, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority recognized the need to build an enabling ecosystem to allow tech startups to thrive and grow within the UAE. To contribute to this vision, the first purpose-built Dtec location was opened in March 2015 with a mission to house and support up to 250 tech startups within its first three (3) years. Offering easy one-stop business setup within a progressively designed and community-focused co-working hub, Dtec filled entrepreneurs’ need for desk and office space within a nurturing and conducive environment. By 2018, Dtec was home to more than 750 startups and a second location was underway.
Today, Dtec spans more than 10,000 square metres of space across its two (2) locations and is home to over 1000 entrepreneurs from more than 75 countries. More than just a coworking space, Dtec offers its entrepreneurs and startup community a range of tailored events, trainings, mentorship and networking opportunities along with in-house innovation labs including the only Intel® Innovation Center in the MENA region and the HP Innovation Garage.
Dtec Ventures is Dtec’s in-house VC unit, investing in the promising future tech talent in the UAE. Some of its current investments include insurance marketplace, YallaCompare, online boutique for pre-loved luxury items, The Luxury Closet, intranet design software company, Shortpoint, cloud contact centre solution, Ziwo, and Step Group, a digital and new media company who also run the annual Step Conference, the top startup event in the region.
The Dtec community is supported by a large network of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, service providers and multinational companies including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Intel, and HP, offering a range of advisory, B2B, and financial support.
Reinforcing its commitment to the startup ecosystem, Dtec founded the Dubai Smart City Accelerator in 2017. Launched in partnership with Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du), Dubai Chamber, Smart Dubai, Visa, Orange Business Services, Rochester Institute of Technology – Dubai (RIT-Dubai), and powered by Startupbootcamp, this program has helped 40 startups from all over the world to accelerate their businesses in the UAE. Constantly evolving and keeping up with the shifting dynamics of the entrepreneurial landscape, Dtec will be launching a brand-new program for tech startups in late 2021.
With an estimated half a billion-dollar impact on the local economy through the creation of more than 4,500 jobs and a community of entrepreneurs driving the digitization of the UAE economy, Dtec has been at the forefront of the growth of the startup ecosystem in the UAE. As this ecosystem matures and evolves, Dtec plans to continue its growth to become the centre for tech startups and fuel their growth, innovation, and knowledge exchange within the UAE.
