The Startup Ecosystem of Kuwait
Kuwait has 1 city in the top 1000 and is one of Middle East’s best countries for setting up a startup.
COUNTRY RANKING
Kuwait’s startup scene saw an increase in 2024 and jumped 3 spots from the previous year, outranking Morocco.
Population
Million
Regional Ranking
In Middle East
Global Ranking
Worldwide
Ecosystem
Startup Ecosystem Overview
The Kuwaiti startup scene is small but growing rapidly, positioning itself as a potential innovation hub in the region. With an abundance of funding opportunities and robust commercial infrastructure, startup founders in Kuwait have a solid foundation to build upon in one of the most politically stable countries in the Middle East. The key benefits of Kuwait’s startup ecosystem include a young and tech-savvy population, supported by strong government initiatives aimed at fostering growth and innovation. However, Kuwait faces stiff competition from neighboring countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which are also experiencing significant growth in their startup ecosystems.
The Kuwaiti government has played a crucial role in supporting entrepreneurs and startups through initiatives like the National Fund for SME Development, providing financing, training, and advisory services. Legislative reforms aimed at improving the business environment have also been put in place, addressing issues related to competition, financial obligations, bankruptcy, transparency, and information rights.
Ecosystem enablers such as Sirdab Lab, Boubyan Bank, and Zain Great Idea are introducing accelerator and incubator programs to nurture budding entrepreneurs and foster innovative ideas. Despite these positive developments, challenges still exist in attracting foreign investment and overcoming a cultural preference for public sector jobs. With the implementation of the Kuwait Vision 2035 New Kuwait strategy, which aims to attract more investment and boost productivity in non-oil sectors, we can expect to see further reforms that create a more favorable business environment in Kuwait.
To solidify its position as an innovation hub in the region, it is imperative for Kuwait to focus on the strategic development of Kuwait City’s startup ecosystem, leveraging its unique advantages and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Startups
Kuwait Top Startup Industries
Ecosystem HealthCheck
Kuwait Ecosystem Health Check
The health check tables allow you to look at the performance Kuwait has in each of the parameters that are part of StartupBlink's ranking algorithm. There are five tables, corresponding to the three subscores, the subscore analysis and industry ana...
- Overperformance
- Performance equal to global ranking
- Underperformance
ECOSYSTEM
Browse the startup ecosystem database of Kuwait
Become our Kuwait Ecosystem Partner
Startup Ecosystem Charts
Startup Funding in Kuwait2017 - 2024
Startup Funding in Kuwait 2017 - 2024
From 2022 to 2023, startup funding in Kuwait has remained stable%. During this period, the number of deals in Kuwait has remained stable%. Since 2017, total startup funding in Kuwait exceeded US$ $0.00.
Ecosystem
The Startup Ecosystem in Kuwait
Global Rank
Kuwait is ranked within the top 100 startup ecosystems globally.
Top Industries
Kuwait’s startup scene is best represented in Software & Data, Ecommerce & Retail, and in Fintech.
Top Cities for Startups in Kuwait - Ranked by StartupBlink
2024 National Rank  | City | Global Rank |  | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Data Available | ||||||
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