World Union of Arab Bankers data show SMEs’ dominance in Dubai and a high number of new licenses in 2024, yet survival rates for international entrants highlight execution over market access.

Dubai attracts founders with opportunity, access, ambition, and pro-business infrastructure, yet many ventures stall due to weak operating models rather than market limitations.

This shift enables startups to run with a full C-suite level of capability from day one and scale in line with growth curves, offering calm, clarity, and credibility during expansion.

Fractional leadership—made feasible in the UAE through freelance licensing, residency programs, and Golden Visas—gives access to senior finance, operations, or strategy talent without full-time costs.

Fractional leadership is framed as a structural, not just cost-cutting reform, aligning with Dubai’s flexible, fast-moving, growth-oriented business culture.

Founders often bring vision and speed but lack an operational backbone, leading to cash shortfalls and compliance obstacles as ventures scale.

A misalignment between traditional HQ-style processes and Dubai’s local environment hinders scaling, with early executive hires avoided due to cost or misfit.

Zaid Aboobaker, founder and CEO of CompassPoint Consulting, is cited as a source for the analysis.