Startup Pitch Competition (MIITE)

MoIAT Startup Pitch Competition — MIITE

Supports deep-tech founders at MIITE with mentorship, investor access, and competition visibility.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The MoIAT Startup Pitch Competition is an annual event-linked competition hosted by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) as part of the Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) conference, UAE's flagship industrial platform. MIITE 2026 was held May 3–6 at ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi, marking the event's fifth anniversary. The competition provides a structured forum for startups to pitch new technologies to a panel in front of industry partners, investors, and government stakeholders from across MIITE's partner network, which includes ADIO, ADNOC Group, EDGE Group, Mubadala, and EDB.

Eligible technology sectors align with MoIAT's 12 target industrial sectors: advanced manufacturing and AI, aerospace and defence, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, future energy and decarbonisation, agri-food technology, chemicals and materials, and related categories. Cash prizes are awarded to winners, though specific prize amounts are not publicly disclosed. In addition to cash, winners receive access to mentorship and investor introductions through the MIITE partner network. Startups, for-profit companies, and universities are eligible to participate; the competition is not restricted to UAE-registered entities.

Because the 2026 edition concluded in May 2026, the next eligible window is the 2027 MIITE edition. The competition is held annually, typically in May at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi. Prospective applicants should monitor miite.ae for the 2027 call for entries and prize structure. Companies in advanced technology sectors seeking UAE government and investor visibility should treat this competition as both a funding opportunity and a market-entry platform, given the AED 180 billion in cumulative offtake agreements signed across MIITE editions.