More and more governmental entities, corporations, and individuals believe in the potential of entrepreneurship to improve economies in the Arab world, and open structures to help entrepreneurs turn their projects into full-fledged companies. Among those structures are incubators.

Incubators are organizations whose aim is to accelerate the growth and success of entrepreneurial companies through an array of business support resources and services that could include physical space, capital, coaching, common services, and networking connections, as defined by the International Association of Scientific Parks.

They’re not to be confused with accelerators. As we explained in our list of accelerators in the MENA region, accelerators have the same goal than incubators - accelerate startups’ growth - but have a different format. Accelerators are more intense because there's a concrete time limit (they last around four months), and because they work with classes of startups that begin and end the program at the same time.

We’ve selected 15 incubators that are open to startups in the region.

ALGERIA

ANPT incubators

Based: Algiers, Oran, Annaba and Ouargala, Algeria
Launched: 2009, by the ANPT

Model: The ANPT (National Agency for the Promotion and Development of Technological Parks) features offices in Algiers, Oran, Annaba, and Ouargala Technoparks, for a minimum of 24 months, at a monthly rate of 5850 DZD (around $73 USD). Startups that work there receive a large array of services, including coaching, training, press relations management, assistance, and management of patent registration, and industrial and intellectual property protection. Projects holders at the idea stage can benefit from free incubation until their company starts generating revenue. Read our overview of startups in Algeria to learn more. 

EGYPT

TIEC 

Based: Cairo and Assiut, Egypt
Launched: September 2010, on a governmental initiative from ITIDA (Information Technology Industry Development Agency)

Model: TIEC Incubation offers entrepreneurs with an ICT-related prototype a one-year incubation program consisting of up to 120,000 EGP (around $16,700 USD) of in-kind services such as consultancy services, software, hardware, and marketing, access to technical, subject-matter advice, business consulting, mentoring, as well as a working space in either Cairo’s Smart Village or in Assiut. Since it is a semi-governmental entity, TIEC does not take any equity in startups and does not charge startups to participate. 

AUC Venture Lab

Based: Cairo, Egypt
Launched: July 2013, by The American University of Cairo

Model: AUC Venture Lab offers eight months of incubation to the startups that have graduated from its acceleration program. Startups get access to the same network of investors, trainings, project management, and assistance as before. There’s more information on AUC’s acceleration program in our list of the regional accelerators.

JORDAN

iPark

Based: Amman, Jordan
Launched: March 2003

Model: iPARK offers a fully equipped physical space to work from, with 45 independent office units which vary in size from three to eight+ person offices, as well as business services ranging from management team support, development, mentoring, and guidance to marketing and public relations, talent acquisition and recruitment, accounting services, and legal services.

LEBANON

Berytech

Based: Beirut, Lebanon
Launched: June 2001

Model: The Berytech team assigns entrepreneurs a mentor to accompany them during their incubation period, follow up on management and budget, and periodically audit their process. Startups have access to either of their three sites in Beirut, with fees starting from $250 USD per month for a desk. Eligible startups can benefit from grants up to $15,000 USD and from up to six months free of hosting/services. They can also apply for VC money through the Berytech fund.

AltCity

Based: Beirut, Lebanon
Launched: July 2011

Model: AltCity is a coworking space-turned-café and incubator. Entrepreneurs who work there get access to regular support meetings with the AltCity team, legal assistance, and contacts with banks, lawyers, investors, and potential team members. More services are to come in the future. Entrepreneurs at AltCity can also participate in the many startup-related events organized by the AltCity team.

PALESTINE

PICTI

Based: Ramallah, and Gaza, Palestine
Launched: 2004

Model: The Palestine Information and Communications Technology Incubator (PICTI) has offices in the West Bank and Gaza. In addition to the space and seed funding, PICTI offers full incubation services such as networking, and legal and financial coaching through PICTI business advisors, its Network of Mentors (PNM), as well as international networks such as Mowgli, Youth Employment Network (YEN), and BiD NETWORK. PICTI is a not-for-profit organization with a minimal equity shares recovery model.

Business and Technology Incubator (BTI) 

Badir Incubator for Information and Communication Technology

Based: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 
Launched: 2008, by Badir Program for Technology Incubators affiliated to the King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology

Model: The Badir incubator offers a place to work to Saudi Arabian technology entrepreneurs at the idea stage, as well as workshops, and various services such as business plans, and legal, administrative, commercial, and marketing assistance.

Afkar

Based: Riyadh, KSA, and Dubai, UAE
Launched: September 2013, by digital media company Intigral 

Model: Akfar.me supports startups that will build products and services tailored to the needs of Intigral’s existing clients. The incubator offers selected startups room in Intigral’s offices in either Dubai or Riyadh for three months, $20,000 USD in seed investment, in exchange for 5% to 20% of ownership in the product, access to their clients in Africa, Asia, and the MENA markets (with a focus on KSA), and mentoring. The incubator has brought on board mentors from MEVP, MBC Ventures, STC Ventures, AstroLabs, Arabnet, Wamda, and more. Read our report. 

TUNISIA

Wikistartup

Based: Tunis, Tunisia
Launched: October 2011

Model: The private – read: not free – incubator has two main activities: individual coaching to help startups set business plans, raise funds, and develop their businesses, and two training sessions for investors and innovation entrepreneurs, as well as a seminar on alternative funding and a session they market as the Business Angel Academy. 

Impact

Based: Tunis, Tunisia
Launched: December 2013, by LAB’ESS

Model: IMPACT offers social entrepreneurship companies a yearlong incubation program, including a workspace in the innovation hub Maison des Associations, strategic and individual coaching on-site, collective trainings, and coaching sessions with IHEC Business schools professors and mentors from the Groupe SOS, and access to associations support organization BAC and IMPACT’s extensive networks. Read our article here.

UAE

in5

Based: Dubai, UAE
Launched: May 2013, by Dubai Internet City

Model: In5 is an innovation hub hosted by Dubai Internet City (DIC). in5 assists entrepreneurs with establishing their business within the TECOM Freezone, gives them access to a pool of mentors and investors, offers access to seminars and workshops with industry experts and specialists, and gets them in to a range of SME networking events. in5 doesn’t fund startups, but offers discounts on registration, licensing, and visa fees, and offers fancy affordable offices (1,000 AED, or $272 USD, per month) for up to three months. Check out our report on four accelerators in Dubai.

Silicon Oasis Founders (SOF)