Dubai, UAE – September 2025 – The UAE has quickly risen as one of the world’s most dynamic hubs for entrepreneurship. With visionary government support, access to global capital, and a diverse talent pool, Dubai has become the launchpad for startups with regional and international ambitions.
But with this rapid rise comes a challenge few are talking about: What happens when it’s time for founders to exit?
This is where entrepreneur and investor Martin Martinez steps in. Having built and exited three companies and acquired several more, Martin has lived through what he calls “The Founder’s Exit Dilemma.”
“Everyone celebrates funding rounds, scaling milestones, and IPOs,” Martin explains. “But no one prepares founders for the day they need to exit. And in Dubai’s fast-growing ecosystem, that day is coming faster than most entrepreneurs expect.”
The Unspoken Gap in the Middle East
Martin points out a unique gap in the regional market: while investors, VCs, and family offices are aggressively entering the UAE, most have limited operational experience.
“They know how to value a deal. They know how to negotiate terms. But they don’t know what it feels like to be the founder letting go of their life’s work,” he says. “That lack of understanding leaves many founders unprepared, and in some cases, underpaid.”
A Founder’s Perspective in a Region of Growth
Unlike traditional advisors, Martin speaks from lived experience. Over the past decade, he has focused on helping founders understand why, how, and when to exit long before the dealmaking stage. His approach is built on three principles:
- Plan Early – Begin preparing for an exit years in advance.
- Think Like a Buyer – Position the business the way acquirers evaluate it.
- Balance Emotion with Strategy – Recognize that exits are both financial and deeply personal.
“What makes my perspective unique is that I’m not an advisor. I’m an exited founder turned investor,” Martin says. “That dual lens is what founders in Dubai need right now as the market matures.”
Preparing for the Next Phase of Dubai’s Entrepreneurial Story
Dubai’s startup ecosystem is scaling fast. But as Martin emphasizes, the next chapter isn’t just about raising capital it’s about knowing how to exit smartly.
“The UAE has created a playground for entrepreneurship,” he says. “But if founders don’t understand exits, they risk losing out when it matters most. Exits are where wealth is created, legacies are cemented, and the ecosystem becomes self-sustaining.”
For Martin Martinez, The Founder’s Exit Dilemma isn’t just a warning it’s a call to action for Dubai’s entrepreneurs. “If founders here get this right, Dubai won’t just be known as a place to build startups. It will be known as the place to exit them successfully too.”
