For a tech startup in the Middle East are you better off starting in Dubai, Amman, or elsewhere?

Many key strategic factors effect such decisions, (capital ,legal ,labor & investment laws) , expansion plans, targeted customers & audience , the necessity of physical existence, the type of technology you are adapting , and most importantly type of product or service you offer.
For example Jordan has the low operational cost advantage specially for the technical part, Dubai & KSA have the strong purchasing power advantage, i have experienced both situations the virtual and physical existence and both are valid

In my opinion the most valuable asset to any organization is their people.
So I would personally want a startup in a location such as Dubai in which I can attract & retain the best talent and most diverse employees.
There are other locations in the Middle East that are more cost effective than Dubai in terms of Salaries but you will be hard pressed to find the choice of talent that you do in the UAE.

I believe it is related to your targeted customers and your ability to serve them.
It is not applicable to create a Jordanian startup that serves luxury life in Dubai.

Amman would be a good choice, the cost is less comparatively and the Jordanian policies favor businesses coming and setting up businesses there.
They have amazing local talents, and the climate is amazing as well.

Dear Rabea,

 

Many startups are going through the same decision-making process; we all hear that Dubai is probably the best location to build a business in the region, but incidentally it’s also the most expensive. So why did we ultimately decide to make the move to Dubai while keeping our costs low? Here’s how.

 

You need a big city with a bigger and more competitive market. If you win in this market, then you can take what you’ve learned, repeat it, and win in every market. I think you should start your business in Dubai, starting your Tech-Start in Dubai will either be great for your business or a great learning experience. Either way you win.

 

I highly recommend establishing the company in Dubai Internet City.

 

In short, I think every company should try to operate closer to their customers, suppliers or skilled labor force; for me Dubai has all three.

 

Please check the top60 startups in Middle East to make sure that most of them coming to life frin Dubai & Egypt.

http://sutrahr.com/top-startups-middle-east-companies-dubai-saudi-arabia-uae/#.Uil7-z_VsjF

 

Most of the world knows Egypt as the center of the Arab Spring, and most recently a continuing series of revolts and crackdowns. However, that’s only part of the story.Egypt is actually home to burgeoning start-ups and is one of the most entrepreneurial places in the world. That’s the Egypt most people fail to see— the ordinary Egyptians who are standing tall, even as the government falls.

 

During the Arab Spring, young entrepreneurs launched new innovative ventures and slowly made themselves a big part of the tumbling Egyptian economy.

 

This phenomenon started sometime before Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak was ousted, and only received a massive boost once the revolution reached its peak. This period coincided with the decline of big multinational corporations and business establishments in the country, as the economy had obviously taken a turn for the worse owing to the political instability. Egypt was experiencing a mix of economic uncertainty, social disparity, and policy failure. In this power vacuum, the entrepreneurs rose.

 

However, the country's young entrepreneurs are still standing. They are envisioning products, inventing them, procuring funding, and eventually spreading them across the market. Only now, people are starting to take notice.

 

Choose between Dubai or Cairo ... and good luck for you.

 

Best Regards,

Hany Sewilam AbdelHamid

Business Development Manager