UAE's *Make it in the Emirates* accelerates start-up pipeline into industrial strategy with 2026 edition

The fifth edition of Make it in the Emirates once again put start-ups front and center in Abu Dhabi’s push toward industrial growth. This year’s pitch contest brought together entrepreneurs from both the UAE and abroad, all eager to showcase technologies that could eventually find their way into commercial markets.

According to those organizing the event, the 2026 competition not only offered cash prizes, mentorship opportunities, and direct paths to investors, but also reinforced the forum’s role as more than just a showcase. It’s also serving as a pipeline, helping early-stage companies that could contribute to the UAE’s broader industrial strategy.

This year’s winners were AC3D, Electrogenos Magan Ltd, and Waverity. They were recognized after presenting ideas across a set of priority sectors that mirrors where the UAE sees the biggest industrial opportunities: electric mobility and batteries, autonomous systems and drones, industrial robotics, digital twins and smart manufacturing, and industrial cybersecurity.

That particular sector mix says a lot. It indicates a policy focus extending beyond traditional manufacturing, toward technologies that support cleaner transportation, automation, data-driven industry, and stronger digital defenses. For climate-focused tech businesses in the UAE, especially those working on electric mobility and batteries, these sectors are highly relevant as the country continues expanding its low-carbon transportation infrastructure.

Participants were judged based on innovation, potential to scale, sustainability, market outlook, competitiveness, and overall national impact. The organizers clarified that the competition was open to start-ups at Technology Readiness Levels 3 through 9, a NASA-developed scale that measures how close a technology is to real-world deployment. So, it’s not just about fully mature companies; it’s also about those working on prototypes or near-ready products.

This competition fits neatly into the UAE’s National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, which has become the main guiding policy for industrial development. That strategy promotes public-private partnerships, local manufacturing, advanced materials, automation, and digital transformation. Start-ups that align with these goals are being positioned as key players in the country’s next-generation industrial landscape.

There’s definitely a continuity with earlier editions. In 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology launched its first-ever start-up pitch contest, drawing nearly 400 submissions, more than 60% from outside the UAE. That initial event awarded over AED 200,000 in prizes and recognized innovations like flow batteries, automated vertical farming, and AI-powered predictive agriculture, from companies such as VFlow Tech, The Food Engine, and Farmin.

The fact that the competition returned in 2026 suggests the format has now become a staple within Make it in the Emirates, rather than a one-off event. It seems to have established itself as a recurring platform for young companies seeking industry partners, government attention, and investor backing.

This year’s Make it in the Emirates 2026 is taking place at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, running until May 7. It’s hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, with co-hosts that include the Ministry of Culture, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, ADNOC Group, and L’IMAD. The event is organized by ADNEC Group.

Alongside the main event, there’s also the Make it in the Emirates Awards, which celebrate excellence in different industrial categories, such as advanced tech, industrial growth, quality and compliance, young professionals, inspiring leadership, and traditional UAE crafts. The awards and the pitch contest together create a layered platform, recognizing established industrial giants while also encouraging new ideas to join the national ecosystem.

For the UAE, this is increasingly important because industrial policy is closely linked to economic diversification and climate ambitions. Start-ups working on batteries, autonomous platforms, smart factories, or cyber-secure industrial tools can help add value locally and lessen dependence on imported tech. They also have the potential to make heavy industry cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient.

The real challenge, as always, is whether early-stage innovations can quickly move from the pitch stage to actual procurement, investments, and deployment. The focus on scalability and market readiness suggests that the organizers want more than just promising ideas, they want companies that can be built, sold, and manufactured right here in the UAE.

So, in a way, this pitch competition isn’t just a side event anymore. It’s becoming a fundamental part of the UAE’s industrial framework, tying entrepreneurship into national strategy and offering a pathway for climate-friendly technologies to enter one of the region’s most ambitious manufacturing agendas.