Dubai–Korea partnership to shape the future by connecting next-generation startups with Dubai’s global innovation platforms

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) will strengthen cooperation with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) following a partnership agreement signed today. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), DFF and KOTRA will work together to boost innovation, entrepreneurship, and startups operating in future sectors.

The agreement reinforces Dubai’s position as an enabling ecosystem for pioneers and innovators, and as a launchpad for global startups shaping the future economy. It highlights shared opportunities for investment in future-driven sectors, provides a package of enablers and incentives to attract world-class talent and innovators, and expands collaboration between institutions in Dubai and Korea that are actively designing the industries of tomorrow.

The MoU was signed by Alia Al Mur, Chief Transformation and Partnerships Officer at DFF, and Mr Byungho Kim, Regional President for MENA at KOTRA, at AREA 2071 in Dubai’s Emirates Towers, in the presence of officials from both sides.

Kyungsung Kang, CEO & President of KOTRA, said: “Dubai has firmly established itself as more than a regional technology hub — it is now a global testbed for AI and the digital industry. Through this agreement, we will provide a foothold for Korean companies to directly participate in future projects in the Middle East and further accelerate digital economic cooperation between Korea and UAE.”

Alia Al Mur, Chief Transformation and Partnerships Officer at DFF, said: “Dubai is a global platform for anticipating the future and unlocking its opportunities. A community of global innovators and trailblazers are at the heart of this platform, and the city has become a hub for startups operating on the frontiers of technology and shaping the future economy. Through this partnership with KOTRA, we are excited to help yet more startups plug into our world-leading innovation ecosystem.

“Our model for international partnerships is based on creating long-term impact – not just for Dubai, but for our partner economies too. These partnerships are engines of Dubai’s future-readiness and central to its vision under the Dubai Economic Agenda 2033. More than that, they position Dubai as a city of the future – a living lab where global talent can conceive, test, and scale transformative solutions that will shape industries, empower youth, and help build a better future for humanity.”

Under the MoU, Korean companies and startups will be linked with UAE government entities, regulators, and local partners to support innovation and business expansion. This partnership will promote the participation of KOTRA in international events organised by DFF. The agreement will enable UAE startups, research institutions, and government entities to access Korea’s innovation landscape and explore collaboration opportunities across different sectors.