The Global Startup Ecosystem Index Report 2026, published by StartupBlink.

It is now available online. Here are the key findings:

🌟 Global Key Findings

Growth Driving Force: The global startup ecosystem experienced an average growth rate of +10.3%, driven heavily by rapid technological evolution in Artificial Intelligence.

Middle East & Africa Boom: MEA led all global regions with an impressive +20.2% growth. Riyadh stood out as the fastest-growing city in the global top 100, surging +117.6%.

Top Ecosystem Champions: The USA (#1), UK (#2), and Israel (#3) preserved their top-three podium spots globally. Singapore (#4) recorded the fastest growth rate among top-10 nations at +24.4%.

Emerging Hubs: Fast-moving momentum shifted to mid-tier regions, with Central Asia (+81.0%) and South Asia (+27.5%) recording massive expansions.

📍 Country Spotlights

🇪🇸 Spain

Global Rank: #13 (▲1)

Annual Growth: +19.3%

Highlights: Spain emerged as one of Europe’s strongest growth stories, maintaining its position as Southern Europe’s leading startup hub. Its two anchor cities—Barcelona (#32) and Madrid (#51)—continue to drive momentum.

🇬🇷 Greece

Global Rank: #51 (▼4)

Annual Growth: +4.8%

Highlights: After gains in previous years, Greece slipped slightly out of the global top 50 due to a modest growth rate compared to faster-moving peers in the 51–100 tier.

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Global Rank: #8 (▲1)

Annual Growth: +13.7%

Highlights: Switzerland climbed for its fourth consecutive year, overtaking France to enter the global top 8. It ranks #2 globally in the Innovators Business Environment Index, supported by deep-tech strength in hubs like Zurich (#57).

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Global Rank: #30 (▼9)

Annual Growth: -27.5%

Highlights: The UAE faced a correction in overall score rankings, dropping 9 places, as Saudi Arabia overtook it in the GCC region. However, Dubai (#48) remains in the global top 50, and Abu Dhabi (#173) continued steady growth.

🇩🇰 Denmark

Global Rank: #17 (—)

Annual Growth: +9.4%

Highlights: Denmark held its ground at #17 globally. Anchored by Copenhagen (#55), the country maintains high innovation output per capita despite stiff competition from Asia-Pacific challengers.

👉 Here is the link to download the report