LinkedIn has announced its annual ranking of the top 10 UAE-based companies that have demonstrated exceptional growth in the past year through the LinkedIn Top Startups List 2022.
‘LinkedIn Top Startups’ is an annual global ranking that lists the emerging startups to work for and is produced by LinkedIn’s News team. The list is formed through an analysis of billions of interactions by the 850+ million members on the platform and measured based on four pillars: employment growth, engagement with the company and its current employees, job interest and attraction of top talent.
On the heels of the global pandemic and in light of the global economic uncertainty that followed, the companies spotlighted on this year’s list are rising to the challenges of the moment and continue to innovate, gain attention and attract top talent in 2022.
While global hiring is trending downward across various markets, the UAE was an exception showing a relevant increase in hiring percentage (8.2%), which continues its streak of positive growth relative to 2021. This trend was also reflected in the companies on this list that are hiring and actively looking for talent, reinforcing their growth potential and the opportunities that lie ahead.
The Top Startups for 2022 in the UAE are:
- ekar
- Postpay
- Pure Harvest Smart Farms
- The Giving Movement
- Right Farm
- Tabby
- Sarwa
- Baraka
- Opontia
- Huspy
Key trends observed from this year’s Top Startups list:
- Going green:
- Sustainable solutions are top of mind for regional entrepreneurs. Startups like Pure Harvest Smart Farms (#3) and Right Farm (#5) venture into agri-tech to offer sustainable solutions and reimagine food supply. Such innovative solutions are essential for food security, especially in this region which faces higher risks of droughts and food shortages due to climate change.
- Other startups, such as The Giving Movement (#4), are doing their part by producing streetwear using sustainable materials and donating a percentage of their proceeds to different causes.
- BNPLs on the rise: Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platforms like Postpay (#2) and Tabby (#6) are a testament to the growth of the fintech sector, unlike other regions where such startups are on the decline.
- Democratizing investment: With financial independence becoming crucial in today’s uncertain climate, a lot of retail investors are turning to fintechs like Sarwa (#7), baraka (#8) and Huspy (#10) to invest their money in stocks, houses, and digital currencies.
Salma Altantawy, Senior News Editor at LinkedIn, said “This year’s list has witnessed the emergence of many startups from financial backgrounds with over half the list consisting of fintechs, signaling the increase in popularity and adoption of innovative fintech solutions by UAE entrepreneurs and consumers.”
She adds, “UAE’s Top Startups List 2022 reflects the strong ambitions of entrepreneurs in this region. Albeit a more nascent sector regionally, the startups and VC space is facing unprecedented growth despite the economic downturn that is sweeping the globe. The startups on this list are those that are successful in navigating the evolution of consumer and business needs, leading the way through the new world of work”.
