Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund

Funds United Arab Emirates innovation by supporting startup launch, technology pilots, and commercial growth support for local firms.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund is a UAE federal innovation initiative launched in 2016 under the Ministry of Finance. It works with Emirates Development Bank to support the National Innovation Strategy and help UAE-based startups in technology, health, education, space, water, clean energy, and transportation. Its member community has raised more than AED 2.8 billion to date.

Its core route is a government-backed loan guarantee rather than a cash grant, and the accelerator is non-financial. The guarantee is listed at about AED 660,000, while eligibility centers on UAE presence, a proven track record, and growth-stage plans with market potential. The application path runs through screening, due diligence, committee review, and lender checks, and the full process is designed to take about 10 business weeks.

MBRIF is best for firms that need debt support instead of equity dilution or grant capital. It behaves more like a lender partnership than a public grant competition, and the strongest candidates already have revenue, a credible expansion case, and a financing plan that can move through the commercial bank layer after the fund's review.