Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, Hub71, has announced its support for the second edition of the UAE-India Start-Up Series, an innovation program designed to help high-potential Indian startups expand into the UAE. The move, announced at the annual Hub71 Impact Event 2026, aims to strengthen the technology and investment corridor between India and Abu Dhabi.
Quick Facts
- Ten Indian startups will be supported.
- One startup will receive AED 250,000 in cash.
- Focus sectors include HealthTech, FinTech, and ClimateTech.
- Seven founders will join an immersion program in Abu Dhabi.
Inside the Program: Access, Immersion, and Investment
Start-Up Series 2.0, run by the UAE-India CEPA Council, will identify Indian startups with strong growth potential in sectors aligned with Abu Dhabi’s strategic priorities, including HealthTech, FinTech, ClimateTech, and Advanced Manufacturing.
The program offers a structured path for founders looking to establish a presence in Abu Dhabi. Seven participating startups will join the Hub71 Immersion Programme, which includes a week of virtual preparation and a week of curated, in-person sessions in the emirate. Three startups will be shortlisted for Hub71’s Access Programme, with one ultimately being onboarded. The selected startup gains access to mentorship, investor introductions, regulatory support, AED 250,000 in in-kind incentives, and AED 250,000 in cash through a SAFE note.
Building on a Successful First Run
The initiative builds on a partnership first announced in November 2025. The first edition drew significant interest, with several Indian startups already joining Hub71’s programs.
Endimension, an AI-powered radiology platform, was accepted into Hub71’s Access Programme as part of Cohort 18. The company, which is backed by investors like Inflection Point Ventures and SucSEED Indovation, serves over 800 hospitals and has analyzed more than 1.5 million medical scans.
Additionally, four other startups from the first series—BioReform, Docket Run, Data Sutram, and SBNRI—have entered Hub71’s Immersion Programme, participating in market-entry sessions, investor meetings, and ecosystem introductions.
Deepening the UAE-India Innovation Bridge
The program is a key part of the broader UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aiming to translate policy into practical opportunities for entrepreneurs.
H.E. Abdulnasser Alshaali, PhD, Ambassador of the UAE to India, stated: “The UAE-India relationship is one of the most consequential bilateral partnerships of our time, rooted in deep historical ties and given new momentum by the CEPA. The UAE-India Start-Up Series, delivered with the strong support of Hub71, is how we turn that ambition into reality: connecting Indian founders with Abu Dhabi’s capital, customers, and ecosystem.”
Ahmad Ali Alwan, Chief Executive Officer of Hub71, added: “Through the UAE–India CEPA Council Startup Series, Hub71 is welcoming a cohort of ambitious founders building innovative companies with strong market validation and global potential. The programme provides entrepreneurs with access to the expertise, networks, and opportunities needed to support their next stage of growth and international expansion.”
Applications for Start-Up Series 2.0 are set to open in July.
About Hub71
Hub71 is Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem that enables founders to build globally enduring homegrown tech companies in any sector by providing access to global markets, a capital ecosystem, a global network of partners, and a vibrant community filled with highly skilled talent governed by forward-thinking regulation. Backed by the Government of Abu Dhabi and Mubadala Investment Company, Hub71 is growing its vibrant community of tech startups, investors, government, and corporate partners to ensure the availability of investment, commercial activities, and incentives from the public and private sectors.
About the UAE-India CEPA Council
The UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) is a dedicated bilateral platform established to advance trade, investment, and innovation under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. It facilitates strategic collaborations between businesses, governments, and institutions across both countries to unlock shared economic opportunities, and serves as a convening, research, and advocacy body supporting exporters, investors, and entrepreneurs in navigating the bilateral relationship.
Source: Zawya
