A new cohort of 17 Emirati founders is set to build the next generation of technology companies from Abu Dhabi, backed by the inaugural MZN program, a joint initiative by the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and Hub71, the capital’s global tech ecosystem. The program aims to support early-stage ventures in critical sectors like HealthTech, ClimateTech, and AI, reinforcing the UAE’s strategy to cultivate homegrown innovation.
Quick Facts
- 17 Emirati founders selected for the first MZN cohort.
- Ventures span sectors including HealthTech, ClimateTech, and AI.
- Over 75% of the founders are building their first company.
A New Wave of Emirati Tech Talent
The MZN program showcases a diverse range of ventures driven by local entrepreneurs. Among them is 18-year-old Afra Al Ahbabi, founder of NABDH Technologies. Her AI platform streamlines medical consultations by automatically transcribing doctor-patient conversations in Arabic and English, handling clinical notes and insurance documents to reduce administrative tasks for physicians.
Another founder, Maryam Alabbar, 22, launched ReachLLM to help businesses optimize their visibility on AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini, a concept she refined after experiences in London and San Francisco.
Meanwhile, 35-year-old Abdalla Al Ghafeli is tackling environmental challenges with his startup, StarVolta. The company is developing technology to convert methane into clean hydrogen while capturing carbon as valuable materials like graphene, creating both environmental and commercial value.
Building a Pipeline for Local Innovators
The MZN Hub71 program was created to provide a structured pathway for Emiratis at the earliest stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Selected from over 370 applications, the cohort is notably young, with most founders under the age of 35. The initiative reflects a deliberate strategy to empower local talent and build a sustainable pipeline of tech companies within the UAE.
Ahmad Ali Alwan, Chief Executive of Hub71, explained that the mission is to grow technology startups from Abu Dhabi, from initial idea to global scale. He emphasized that the UAE’s focus on technology is not a recent development.
“If I go back to 2017, we were among the first countries in the world to establish a Ministry of Artificial Intelligence,” Alwan noted, pointing to institutions like the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and organizations such as G42 and MGX as proof of the nation’s long-term investment in building an innovation-led economy.
Abu Dhabi’s Rising Global Profile
The ecosystem’s growth is gaining international attention. According to the 2026 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome, Abu Dhabi has entered the world’s top 50 emerging startup ecosystems for the first time. The report valued the emirate’s ecosystem at $73.4 billion between July 2023 and December 2025, recognizing its strengths in AI, R&D, and funding momentum.
Alwan believes that Abu Dhabi’s appeal to founders extends beyond financial incentives. He stated that the emirate’s geoeconomic relationships and the leadership’s clear vision for economic diversification are primary draws for entrepreneurs looking to build and scale their companies.
“We’re trying to unlock the value Abu Dhabi is deploying into technology and turn that into opportunities for our startup ecosystem,” he added.
About Hub71
Hub71 is a global tech ecosystem based in Abu Dhabi, launched in 2019 to support the growth of technology startups. It provides founders with access to capital, market opportunities, and a vibrant community to help them scale their ventures from ideation to exit. Since its inception, Hub71 has supported over 400 startups.
Source: The National
