Hub71

Role in the Startup Ecosystem

Hub71 is Abu Dhabi's flagship technology ecosystem, launched in 2019 as an initiative of the Abu Dhabi government in partnership with Mubadala Investment Company, ADQ, and other anchor partners. It is designed to attract early-stage and growth-stage tech companies from around the world to base part of their operations in Abu Dhabi, with a particular focus on founders targeting the MENA, South Asia, and Africa corridors.

Programs and Initiatives

The core offering is the Hub71 Incentive Program, which provides qualifying startups with subsidised housing, office space, and health insurance for founders and employees over a multi-year period. Hub71 has since launched specialised tracks including Hub71+ Digital Assets focused on Web3 and blockchain, and Hub71+ ClimateTech focused on decarbonisation technologies. The hub also connects founders to Abu Dhabi's sovereign capital base, government procurement opportunities, and a network of global venture investors with a presence in the UAE.

Who Benefits

Indian founders building scalable software, fintech, climatetech, healthtech, or digital-asset companies who want a Gulf and MENA market entry point are the natural fit. Hub71 has actively recruited Indian startups and founders, and several Indian-origin companies have used it as their UAE base.

Strategic Impact

Hub71 is less a grant programme and more a soft-landing and market-access platform backed by sovereign capital. For Indian startups, it offers a regulated base in a strategic geography, exposure to UAE family offices and sovereign wealth funds, and access to government and enterprise pilots in the region.