Innovation beyond borders: how MENA diaspora entrepreneurs are reshaping systems

As Davos 2026 convenes under the theme “A spirit of dialogue”, discussions will focus on rebuilding trust and navigating technological, ecological and geopolitical transitions. One group already putting this spirit into practice – though rarely recognized in policy circles – is diaspora entrepreneurs.

From within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region itself, to global hubs such as Europe, North America and the Gulf, highly skilled members of the MENA diaspora are building companies that operate across borders, linking markets and financing innovation in ways that traditional institutions often cannot. Their contributions tend to fall outside of national innovation strategies, yet their influence is growing rapidly.

Recognizing the economic role of diasporas is not new. What is new and urgent is understanding their potential as builders of cooperation at a moment when fragmentation is becoming the norm.

The World Bank’s 2024 Migration and Development Brief notes that remittances to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) grew more slowly in 2023, reaching approximately $656 billion. Though they remain a crucial buffer for households, remittances alone are insufficient to build long-term productive capacity.

A recent World Bank study estimates that engaging just 1% of the global MENA diaspora – about 200,000 highly skilled professionals – in structured innovation, investment and knowledge-transfer initiatives could substantially expand the region’s technological capacity and strengthen cross-border trade and investment flows.

Diaspora founders bring what sociologists call “dual embeddedness”: the ability to navigate multiple regulatory, cultural and economic systems at once. This skill set is becoming increasingly valuable as countries confront simultaneous technological and geopolitical transitions.

Morocco shows what becomes possible when institutions engage their global talent. UM6P (Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique), a research university focused on innovation and technology, supports high-potential founders through its investment arm, UM6P Ventures. One example is Chari, a startup co-founded by Moroccan entrepreneurs with international experience, which is digitizing retail supply chains and expanding fintech solutions across Africa. Beyond its work inside the country, UM6P also engages its global talent through UM6P Global Hubs in Canada, the US and France, creating structured platforms that link Morocco’s diaspora with local researchers, startups and emerging industries.

Tunisia’s startup scene has been significantly influenced by its diaspora. The official 2020 annual report for the Startup Act indicates that more than 140 founders of labelled startups are from the Tunisian diaspora. InstaDeep, founded by Tunisian engineers abroad and acquired by BioNTech in 2023, shows how deep-tech companies rooted in local ecosystems can scale globally.

Egypt’s growing digital-health and fintech sectors increasingly attract investment from regional and international networks of Egyptian professionals abroad, particularly in the Gulf, Europe and North America. Platforms such as Vezeeta have raised capital from globally connected investors, while accelerators like Falak Startups work with founders who maintain strong ties to Egypt’s diaspora communities.

Amid economic pressures, diaspora networks offer stability. Lebanon’s Lebanese Diaspora Energy initiative connects founders with global mentors and investors. Jordan’s Invest in Jordan platform mobilizes diaspora expertise to support SMEs and innovation projects.

The UAE has become a hub for entrepreneurs building products for Africa, South Asia, Europe and the Gulf. Initiatives such as the Entrepreneurial Nation programme and startup visa pathways support founders from across the region in creating companies designed from the outset to operate across borders.

Despite their impact, diaspora innovators often operate without formal recognition:

Diaspora entrepreneurs already embody the cross-border cooperation that the global economy urgently needs. Their work connects countries, communities and ideas. As the world gathers in Davos to cultivate a renewed spirit of dialogue, acknowledging diaspora innovators is both timely and essential.

Their networks already exist. What is needed now is visibility, legitimacy and sustained collaboration, so that diaspora-led innovation becomes a recognized part of the global architecture of cooperation.