Dubai Founders HQ, Mastercard Launch Financial Solution for Startups and SMEs

Dubai Founders HQ, an initiative of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, has partnered with Mastercard, with support from spend management platform Pemo, to launch a financial solution aimed at helping startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) manage cash flow and business spending.

The new founder finance solution provides eligible businesses with more than AED10,000 in first-year value, including cashback on eligible foreign exchange and advertising spend, access to Pemo’s expense management platform, Mastercard-powered corporate cards, and business offers.

According to the partners, the solution combines corporate cards, automated expense management, real-time spending visibility, and integrations with accounting platforms including QuickBooks, Xero, and Zoho.

Businesses can also issue cards to employees, set spending limits, automate receipt collection, and monitor company expenses through a single platform.

The organizations said participating businesses could recover between AED500 and AED1,200 per month in previously untracked expenditure, reduce administrative workloads through automated expense management, and shorten month-end financial closing timelines.

The initiative supports the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) and forms part of the Strategic Digital City Partnership between Mastercard and the Dubai Government.

“This initiative delivers tangible value through cost savings, stronger financial controls, and greater visibility over company spending, helping founders focus on what matters most: building and scaling their businesses,” Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), the economic development arm of DET, said. “It reflects our broader commitment to creating a resilient, founder-friendly ecosystem that enables entrepreneurs to thrive and supports the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.”

On his part, Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, added: “Dubai Founders HQ was created to make it easier for founders to access the right support, partners, and tools at the right time. This strategic partnership with Mastercard, supported by Pemo, reflects our commitment to delivering practical, high-impact solutions that address the real operational needs of startups and SMEs. By helping businesses manage costs, improve financial visibility, and operate more efficiently, the initiative supports founders in building stronger foundations for sustainable growth from Dubai. It also underlines the value of public-private collaboration in advancing Dubai’s position as a leading global hub for entrepreneurship and the digital economy.”

“At Mastercard, we are on a mission to power a prosperous economy while ensuring that no business, no matter how small, gets left behind,” Mark Elliott, Division President of East Arabia at Mastercard, said. “For the past 40 years, we have worked side by side with the government, banks, fintech companies, and businesses in Dubai to help develop a robust commerce ecosystem. As part of Mastercard’s Built Small. Moving Strong regional resilience program, our latest collaboration with Dubai Founders HQ and Pemo, helps SMEs to maintain business continuity and unlock enduring growth.”

“Through this collaboration, we are putting enterprise-grade financial tools directly in the hands of founders, helping them manage their businesses more efficiently, make smarter financial decisions, and grow with confidence,” Ayham Gorani, co-founder and CEO of Pemo, added.

Dubai Founders HQ said the partnership expands the range of operational and financial support available to entrepreneurs building businesses in Dubai through collaboration with public and private sector partners.

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