Abu Dhabi has cemented its reputation as one of the world’s leading cities for innovation and entrepreneurship, supported by a comprehensive ecosystem that enables startups to grow, scale, and expand into international markets.
At the heart of this ecosystem is Hub71, which plays a central role in strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for entrepreneurship and modern technology.
The community currently hosts around 300 startups, which have collectively raised AED9bn ($2.45bn) in funding and generated AED5bn ($1.36bn) in revenue — clear indicators of the vitality of the emirate’s digital economy and its growing influence as a regional innovation leader.
Global expansion
Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71 said Abu Dhabi’s technology ecosystem is steadily moving toward international expansion through new programmes and partnerships designed to enhance the global presence of startups.
He explained that the latest expansion includes Hong Kong, where Hub71 launched a startup integration programme alongside new strategic partnerships that strengthen growth pathways for resident startups.
These efforts form part of Abu Dhabi’s broader push to open new markets and position the emirate as a launchpad for global innovation.
Alwan said the ecosystem focuses on emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, climate technology, and digital assets, alongside the newly launched Hub71+ Life Sciences cluster.
These sectors, he added, are experiencing high global demand and present major growth opportunities for startups aiming to build global success stories from Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi startups
Several standout success stories have emerged from Hub71’s growing community of innovators:
- Aurem: Abu Dhabi-based Aurem has developed advanced solutions for the financial services sector and recently raised $7m in total funding. The company’s AI-driven product, Workflow Builder, enables institutions to create financial databases and workflows in hours or days — a process that traditionally takes months
- Vivan Therapeutics: In biotechnology, Vivan Therapeutics, founded by Laura Towart, has raised £4.6m in capital and £3.7m in global research grants. The company is establishing new laboratories in Abu Dhabi in collaboration with local medical centres to apply its innovative cancer-treatment technologies. Towart explained that Vivan’s platform analyses tumour fingerprints to identify the best treatment combinations for each patient, resulting in more accurate, less toxic, and cost-effective therapies. She credited Abu Dhabi’s flexible regulatory environment for supporting the swift deployment of cutting-edge biotech solutions
Hub71 success
- Mansa: Fintech startup Mansa, founded by Abhinav Mehta, has raised $10 million from global investors and processed more than $250m in transactions through its digital liquidity solutions. The company partners with multiple payment firms across and beyond the UAE and benefits from Hub71’s network in building links between public and private sectors. Mehta said Abu Dhabi’s robust financial infrastructure and business-friendly ecosystem make it an ideal environment for fintech expansion
- Monit: Industrial technology firm Monit, founded by Mustafa Jafri, relocated from Pakistan to Abu Dhabi through Hub71 to access Gulf markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. The company has generated $3m in revenue and is seeking an additional $3 million in funding to establish an assembly line in Abu Dhabi for manufacturing and exporting its devices across the region. Jafri said Monit’s AI and IoT technology is designed to prevent accidents and save lives in high-risk sectors such as oil, gas, and mining, improving safety standards and workplace performance
Abu Dhabi innovation
Hub71 continues to anchor Abu Dhabi’s transformation into a global centre for entrepreneurship, technology, and investment, supporting the emirate’s broader economic diversification goals under Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.
With continued expansion into high-growth sectors and new international markets, Abu Dhabi’s innovation ecosystem is positioning itself as a global destination for ambitious founders and investors seeking sustainable, technology-led growth.
