UAE Ministry of Economy clinches triple victory at GovMedia Conference & Awards 2025

The Ministry was recognised for its Future 100 startup initiative, Zero Bureaucracy reform programme, and the National Economic Register (NER).

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy emerged as a standout performer at the GovMedia Conference & Awards 2025, securing three titles: United Arab Emirates Public Sector Initiative of the Year - Trade and Industry for its Future 100 programme, United Arab Emirates Administrative Reform Program of the Year - Trade and Industry for the Zero Bureaucracy initiative, and United Arab Emirates Digital Initiative of the Year - Trade and Industry for its National Economic Register platform titled ‘Growth.’

Together, these initiatives illustrate the Ministry’s transformative vision in advancing economic competitiveness, public sector reform, and digital governance in the UAE.

Future 100

The "Future 100" initiative aims to identify and accelerate the growth of 100 high-potential startups each year across future-focussed sectors such as artificial intelligence, fintech, renewable energy, and the creative industries. The programme supports selected companies through providing strategic visibility, access to funding, business acceleration services, and global exposure.

Startups are evaluated based on their innovation, impact, and alignment with national priorities. The initiative receives more than 1,100 applications annually, reflecting strong demand for support amongst entrepreneurs in emerging sectors.

In the past year, the initiative recorded a 30% increase in participation from female entrepreneurs and UAE nationals, highlighting its role in fostering an inclusive startup ecosystem. Government leaders and business founders view the programme as a key enabler of a sustainable, knowledge-driven economy.

The Future 100 list is published annually and includes startups and scaleups headquartered in the UAE. These companies are selected for their contributions to high-impact, future-driven industries such as Web 3.0, robotics, biotechnology, smart mobility, creative industries, legal tech, agri-tech, and health tech.

The initiative reinforces the UAE’s position as a global hub for innovative and fast-growing enterprises, particularly within the future economy sectors. It aims to accelerate the growth of startups, promote investment in future-focussed sectors, and ensure the continuous and sustainable development of the UAE's economic landscape.

The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Economy in partnership with the Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, and is supported by a growing network of 38 public and private sector partners committed to advancing innovation and entrepreneurship in the UAE.

Zero Bureaucracy Programme

Complementing its forward-looking entrepreneurial focus, the Ministry has received significant recognition for its Zero Bureaucracy Programme—a bold administrative reform aimed at eliminating procedural inefficiencies and promoting digital-first service delivery.

Aligned with the UAE’s “We the UAE 2031” vision, the initiative has reengineered 36 core government services, reduced documentation requirements by 52%, cut processing times by 50 to 70% in key areas, and decreased the number of required data fields by 64%.

By digitally linking 11 entities across government and private sectors, the Ministry has eliminated redundant approvals, reduced transaction costs, and positioned the UAE as a global model for seamless and efficient public service delivery.

This transformation contributes significantly to improving the ease of doing business and creating a more flexible and attractive regulatory environment, thereby enhancing the country’s ability to attract companies and foreign investment. It reflects the Ministry’s commitment to building a competitive economy driven by innovation and digital efficiency.

National Economic Registry (NER) - Growth

Rounding out the Ministry’s triple win is the National Economic Registry (NER), known as “Growth,” a centralised digital platform that provides access to real-time economic and business license data across all seven emirates.

“It streamlines data sharing and economic activity tracking, providing real-time insights to policymakers, investors, and businesses to support informed decision-making and enhance service delivery,” the Ministry of Economy added.

Growth, the National Economic Registry (NER) platform, leverages AI and big data analytics and features a unified Economic Register Number (ERN), ensuring all businesses have a consistent identifier. This foundation helps streamline business identification, provide data for strategic planning and insights, and support compliance efforts.

With over 1.5 million business licenses and more than 2,000 economic activities classified using AI, Growth is setting a new standard for digital economic governance and reinforcing the UAE’s global competitiveness.

These three initiatives collectively embody the Ministry’s multifaceted strategy—supporting bold innovation through entrepreneurship, delivering tangible administrative reform, and enabling data-driven decision-making through cutting-edge digital infrastructure. They are not only aligned with national transformation agendas but are also setting global benchmarks in public sector excellence.

With these achievements, the Ministry of Economy and the UAE government continue to spearhead transformation, setting an example in crafting a digital, inclusive, and future-centric national economy.

GovMedia Conference & Awards gives recognition to the trends and best practices that transform the public sector in the Asia Pacific. The awards programme promotes excellence and provides a platform for exemplary government initiatives.

The Gov Media Awards is presented by Gov Media Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be recognised for your organisation's government projects and initiatives, please contact Jane Patiag at [email protected].