THE ROLE OF DIGITAL BUSINESS INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS IN THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF EMERGING ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF THE DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Abstract

This study sought to measure the actual impact of digital business incubators and accelerators on the sustainable development of emerging entrepreneurial ventures within the digital business environment of the United Arab Emirates, with a particular focus on the Dubai Future Foundation as a case study. The study employed a multimethod approach, combining descriptive and quantitative analysis. An electronic questionnaire was distributed to a stratified random sample of 180 entrepreneurs who benefited from the foundation's services, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 programme managers of the foundation. Statistical analysis via SPSS V.28 revealed a statistically significant positive correlation at the 0.01 level (α ≤ 0.01) between the foundation's services (funding, training, mentorship, infrastructure, networking) and the growth of entrepreneurial ventures in terms of innovation, revenue generation, job creation, and sustainability. The findings further indicated that the most pressing challenges faced by entrepreneurs are the complexity of regulatory procedures for startup projects and the difficulty of accessing financing at the pre-seed stage. Finally, the study recommended strengthening strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors to establish a dedicated funding pool for early stages, simplifying regulatory procedures through a unified digital platform, and designing specialised programmes focused on the global scalability of startups.