Around 55 per cent of local angel investors are prioritizing the UAE over other global markets according to the latest research from startAD, the Abu Dhabi-based global accelerator anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi and powered by Tamkeen. 

 

The research profiled the typical angel investor in the UAE, whose average age is 42, which demonstrates that the emirates has a significantly younger angel investment circle compared to other nations, such as the US (58), the UK (57), and France (60+).

 

These findings reveal the importance of the UAE for angel investors globally and demonstrates the attractiveness of the region for startups.

 

For investors, FinTech startups were their most significant priority, receiving 29 per cent of investments, it stated. 

 

However, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is continuing to emerge in the UAE as a key source of interest for startup investors, with 18 per cent of investors watching its development, signifying the future emergence of entrepreneurism in the UAE centered on machine learning.

 

The research was unveiled at last week’s Angel Rising Investor Education Symposium, organized in partnership with VentureSouq, which brought together esteemed global leaders. 

 

These included Ken Miller, the President and CEO of Ken Miller Capital; Winston Ma, the CEO of China Silkroad Investment & Development; Jillian Manus, Managing Partner of Structure Capital; Vani Kola, Managing Director at Kalaari Capital and Pule Taukobong, Founding Partner at CRE Venture Capital, to discuss the future of angel investment in the UAE from a world-wide context. 

 

Panelists addressed audiences on the emergence of key markets such as India and China, and Africa and the role of the UAE in the future of the global economy.

 

Angel Rising 2019 was supported by the Ministry of Economy, Etihad Airways, Latham & Watkins, Khalifa Fund, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), and UAE Exchange.-TradeArabia News Service