In a significant move to bolster Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading AI hub, AI venture builder Fikra Ventures has announced a strategic partnership with Hub71, the emirate’s global tech ecosystem. The collaboration aims to build and scale AI-native companies from the UAE capital to international markets.
Under the agreement, Fikra Ventures joins Hub71 as a partner venture studio and will serve as a dedicated venture builder for its Initiate Programme. The partnership was formalized with a signing by Wael Aburida, CEO & Managing Partner of Fikra Ventures, and Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71.
A Dual-Pathway Approach to AI Venture Building
This partnership establishes two distinct pathways for developing a robust AI startup cluster. Fikra Ventures will focus on both homegrown innovation and attracting global talent to the region.
The first pathway, Venture Creation, involves building AI-native companies in-house, collaborating with founders to address validated market needs. This approach ensures that enterprise-ready products and commercialization strategies are integrated from the very beginning.
The second pathway, Global Scale-in, is designed to attract established international AI companies. Fikra will form joint ventures with selected firms to pursue regional market opportunities, providing the operational platform and go-to-market execution needed to accelerate customer acquisition and scale effectively from Abu Dhabi.
Bolstering Abu Dhabi’s AI Ambitions
The collaboration aligns directly with Abu Dhabi’s strategic vision to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. By combining Hub71’s comprehensive founder-focused ecosystem with Fikra Ventures’ specialized venture-building platform, the partnership addresses critical success factors beyond AI model performance, such as distribution, market access, and speed to commercialization.
“We firmly believe in Abu Dhabi’s vision to be not only the capital of capital, but the capital of AI. We want to do our part to make that vision a reality,” said Wael Aburida, CEO & Managing Partner of Fikra Ventures. “We will complement the significant investments Abu Dhabi is making in AI infrastructure by rapidly enabling world-class AI companies to become leaders in Abu Dhabi’s tech ecosystem and scale globally from here.”
Divya Nair, Startup Journey Lead at Hub71, added, “This partnership with Fikra Ventures strengthens the ecosystem’s venture-building and market-entry capabilities, supporting new venture creation and enabling global companies to expand into the region through Abu Dhabi with targeted go-to-market support.”
Strengthening Hub71’s Initiate Programme
Launched in 2025, Hub71’s Initiate Programme is tailored to support founders at the earliest stages of their journey, helping them move from idea to minimum viable product (MVP) and achieve product-market fit. Fikra Ventures will enhance this programme by providing hands-on expertise, specifically focused on cultivating AI-native companies designed for global scalability.
About Fikra Ventures
Fikra Ventures is an AI venture builder focused on turning promising ideas into enduring businesses with speed and discipline. It builds AI-native companies in-house and forms strategic partnerships with global AI firms seeking to access customers and scale across the MENA region.
About Hub71
Hub71 is Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, enabling founders to build globally enduring companies by providing access to markets, capital, a network of partners, and a vibrant community. Backed by the Government of Abu Dhabi and Mubadala Investment Company, Hub71 is on a mission to attract new minds and technologies to the emirate, contributing to its sustained economic development.
Source: Zawya
