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The UAE Has Launched A Program To Assist 100 Startups
The Future 100 program marks the start of a series of government initiatives aimed at improving the UAE’s future preparedness across multiple sectors.
The United Arab Emirates is already making a name for itself as a startup hub for global tech companies. Now, however, a program has been launched to ensure that the region’s economy is fully future-proofed.
The program, known as Future 100, aims to help 100 prominent startups across a diverse range of technology sectors, including space travel, renewable and carbon-neutral energy, and other emerging tech. As the program develops, it’s hoped that a new economic model will emerge, aligning the UAE with emerging trends and creating a lasting, 50-year impact.
“The Ministry of Economy continues to support innovative future projects that promote the UAE’s global leading position on competitiveness indicators and supports it as an attractive destination for future projects from all over the world. It further enhances its position as a permanent hub for creativity and innovation, securing sustainable growth for the UAE’s national economy and creating new jobs through startups, especially in sectors pertaining to the new economic fields, such as space, renewable energy, fintech, and AI,” says Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of the Economy.
Also Read: Hub71’s Startup Ecosystem Now Boasts Over 200 Members
According to other government sources, the UAE Future 100 roadmap emphasizes the improvement of future preparedness. The initiative is meant to symbolize the future orientation of the UAE leadership, focusing on the economic growth of the region, raising the GDP, and boosting the performance of new economic sectors.
Over the past couple of years, the UAE has initiated several programs of this nature with the goal of creating a robust, future-focused economy. The National Program for Artificial Intelligence 2031, the Green Growth Strategy, the Energy Strategy 2050, the Emirates Blockchain Strategy and the Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution are just a few of the initiatives that highlight the region’s lofty goals.
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Influencer Growth Fuels Saudi Creator Economy Surge
The Kingdom’s creator economy grew over 32% in Q1 2025, fueled by TikTok, UGC, and cost-per-action (CPA) influencer models.
Saudi Arabia’s creator economy saw a significant 32.37% growth in the first quarter of 2025, driven by an uptick in influencer marketing, content-driven e-commerce, and the increasing influence of user-generated content (UGC). These insights come from a recent study by Admitad and the Stllr Network.
Much of this momentum is coming from video-based platforms, where brands are leaning on creators who feel more relatable than polished ad campaigns. The trend shows a clear preference for authenticity, as audiences gravitate toward content that feels real and personal.
Mohannad Alzahrani, Co-founder and VP KSA of Stllr Network, highlighted the shift: “The rise of user-generated content (UGC) is changing the way brands engage with consumers. Audiences trust real creators more than traditional advertising, making UGC a key driver of authenticity and sales”.
TikTok remains the dominant platform in this space, reportedly reaching 88% of the Saudi population. It also showed the sharpest rise in influencer-led transactions. Other platforms followed with solid, if less dramatic, growth: X was up 17%, Instagram increased by 12%, and Telegram by 10%.
In terms of content niches, beauty led the pack with a 56% growth rate, followed by lifestyle at 45.8% and fashion at 18.2%. Tech content also showed healthy traction at 10.6%, while entertainment, food, fitness, parenting, and gaming posted smaller — but still positive — gains.
Also Read: Top E-Commerce Websites In The Middle East In 2025
The report analyzed more than 300,000 influencer-driven purchases. These efforts translated into a 15% year-on-year jump in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and a 5% increase in the number of orders in 2024. Influencers themselves are seeing the benefit, with average order values hitting $54 and creator earnings rising by 14%.
A noticeable trend is the move away from fixed-rate deals. More influencers in Saudi Arabia are embracing hybrid compensation models — especially cost-per-action (CPA) setups that tie their earnings directly to performance.
As Anna Gidirim, CEO of Admitad, explains, “The CPA model brings much-needed transparency to influencer marketing. Brands only pay for actual results, and influencers benefit by securing long-term partnerships while offering their audiences exclusive promo codes and special discounts”.
However, the ecosystem still shows a gender imbalance. The data indicates that 63% of creators in Saudi Arabia are men, while women account for just 37%.
Influencer Growth Fuels Saudi Creator Economy Surge
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