Top Fashion Startups In The UAE

The United Arab Emirates is not just a glamorous tourist destination, but also a global centre for fashion innovation, especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The luxurious malls, designer boutiques and runway events certainly add to the appeal that the UAE is the place to be for designers and brands.

And given its digitally savvy consumers coupled with cutting-edge logistics and strong investor confidence, fashion startups here are scaling at an impressive rate.

Why Is The UAE A Hub For Fashion Innovation?

One of the main reasons for the success rate of fashion startups in the UAE is its location. It connects Europe, Asia and Africa to each other, making it attractive for brands who want to sell to international markets.

There are also fewer barriers when it comes to opening a business compared to other regions, due to the number of free zones within the UAE. There are also programmes like the Dubai Design District which play an active role in bringing designers, retailers and tech together under one roof.

Of course, the UAE has one of the most diverse populations in the world with its residents and expats having a range of different cultural backgrounds. This means they all have their own style preferences and brands can cater to them all from high-end luxury buyers to those who want to hop onto the next trend.

Top Fashion Startups In The UAE

So with the UAE being one of the Middle East’s most exciting environments for startups, who are the companies transforming the industry? Let’s take a look.

1. The Luxury Closet

The Luxury Closet began as a single sale of a Hermès Birkin bag back in 2012 and has now become a luxury resale marketplace. The platform aims to make designer fashion more accessible, serving customers in over 80 countries.

Instead of selling new products, the company focuses on pre-owned items from clothes and handbags to watches and accessories.

They have a Celebrity Closets initiative where local celebrities are able to sell items from their personal wardrobes to fans, which is all authenticated by experts before the sale is finalised to ensure quality.

2. Namshi

Namshi is one of the biggest online fashion platforms in the Middle East, offering consumers everything from trending seasonal pieces to every day looks.

The platform features over 1,300 local and international brands offering same-day or next-day delivery within major UAE cities, putting it on par with global e-commerce giants.

In 2017, the company was acquired by Emaar Malls and more recently, has formed part of Noon’s ecosystem which has substantially accelerated its growth across the region.

3. Ounass

Launched in 2016 by Al Tayer Group, Ounass is a digital luxury destination curated for the Middle East. It includes over 300 of the world’s top-tier designers in fashion, accessories and beauty, all tailored with local tastes and trends in mind.

The company is known for their ultra-fast delivery including their 2-hour delivery service in Dubai as well as VIP personal shopping and exclusive capsule collections.

With a starting catalogue of around 65 brands, the platform has now grown exponentially and has expanded its services across the GCC.

4. Styli

Styli was launched in 2019 as a fast-growing e-commerce fashion marketplace that seamlessly blends global trends with affordable prices and speedy delivery.

Catering to young and mobile-first consumers, it offers over 25,000 styles across men’s, women’s and kids’ fashion.

Customers appreciate the brand’s focus on value as well as fast delivery within 24-48 hours, easy returns and multiple payment options.

5. squatwolf

Squatwolf takes a different approach to most of the e-commerce players in the UAE, carving out the meeting of fashion and fitness as their niche. The brand was founded a decade ago in 2016, creating performance-focused activewear.

It started with just one gym wear collection and now serves customers in more than 120 countries, aiming to blend performance with style and comfort.

The company has their flagship store in Dubai Mall as well as an online store with international delivery options.

6. eyewa

eyewa began as a fashion accessory startup, bringing prescription glasses, contacts and stylish sunglasses to the modern GCC shopper. Today, the brand has grown into an omnichannel platform with an online store and over 150 retail stores around the Middle East.

The company raised a $100M Series C, bringing its total funding to approximately $130M, indicating serious investor confidence in its model.

They have built their own in-house eyewear brands, aiming to position eyewear as something that is both functional and fashionable.

7. Designer-24

Designer-24 was founded in 2014 with the idea of online fashion rentals in the Middle East, which could change how people accessed designer clothing and accessories without needing to buy them outright.

Users are able to rent luxury dresses and accessory items on the platform, making high-end fashion more accessible as well as sustainable.

Their business model proves that shoppers can still enjoy designer pieces for special events or occasions without it costing exorbitant amounts.