The Biggest Barrier for UAE Startups Just Got Removed
Premium retail space in the UAE doesn’t come cheap. For most homegrown startups, getting a foot in the door at a major mall is a distant dream. Majid Al Futtaim just changed the rules. The retail and property giant has launched Ma’an, a platform giving UAE startups and creative SMEs free access to its malls, stores, and entertainment venues.
27 Brands. Zero Cost. Maximum Exposure.
The first cohort of 27 UAE businesses is already live across Majid Al Futtaim‘s ecosystem — from THAT Concept Store and Crate & Barrel to VOX Cinemas and City Centre Mirdif. Names include Nomads Roastery, Silsal, Matcha Theory, and Risen Café, among others. No rent. No catch. Just direct access to millions of shoppers.
It Goes Beyond a Shop Floor
Ma’an isn’t just about physical space. The programme bundles in complimentary influencer marketing and media amplification — addressing the visibility gap that kills most early-stage businesses before they find their footing. Developed in partnership with Dubai SME, the initiative also feeds into Dubai Culture’s Creative Sector Resilience Portfolio under Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Why This Matters for the UAE’s Startup Ecosystem
This is public-private collaboration working at its most practical. Majid Al Futtaim gets fresh, homegrown energy in its destinations. Startups get the launchpad they’ve been waiting for. And Dubai edges closer to its goal of becoming a global hub for the creative economy. More cohorts are coming. For UAE founders, the window is open — and it won’t stay that way forever.
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