Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, Hub71, has outlined a focused strategy to enhance its position as a central hub connecting startup ecosystems across Asia, the Middle East, and the West. This initiative is a core component of Abu Dhabi’s broader vision to diversify its economy and establish itself as a premier destination for technology and innovation.
A Mandate for Economic Diversification
According to Peter Abou Hachem, Head of Growth and Strategy at Hub71, the platform’s primary mandate is to support Abu Dhabi’s economic transformation away from an oil-heavy GDP.
“Our existence is all about supporting Abu Dhabi to diversify the economy,” Hachem stated during a recent media interaction. “One of the initiatives under that big vision is to build Abu Dhabi into a global tech ecosystem.”
Since its launch in 2019, Hub71 has rapidly evolved into a vibrant community comprising startups from over 20 different sectors, playing a pivotal role in this national objective.
Strategic Growth and Ecosystem Building
Hub71’s development has progressed through distinct phases. The initial phase focused on proving its ability to attract high-potential startups to Abu Dhabi. The second phase shifted to actively constructing the surrounding ecosystem, building the necessary infrastructure and support networks.
“Phase three is all about focus, which was in the last two years,” Hachem explained. “We have a critical mass of startups across 20 sectors. We have a critical mass of partners.” The platform now focuses on leveraging these assets to drive targeted growth and global integration.
Forging Global Partnerships
Central to Hub71’s strategy is its expansive network of collaborations. The ecosystem currently boasts over 200 partners across various verticals and has established more than 15 partnerships with countries worldwide.
A key relationship is with India’s innovation scene, particularly through a collaboration with Hyderabad’s T-Hub incubator, which facilitates support for startups, talent mobility, and cross-border expansion.
“How do we attract companies from all over India, but also support our companies expand into India, would be one of the few strategies that we’ll have next as well,” Hachem noted, emphasizing the ambition to deepen these international ties.
Powering the Future with AI
Looking ahead, Hub71 is set to play a significant role in the UAE’s burgeoning AI landscape. Hachem highlighted the massive 5 GW Artificial Intelligence campus and data center cluster being developed by UAE’s G42 in partnership with global tech leaders like Nvidia, Microsoft, and OpenAI.
“We believe that the 5 GW factory will have a lot of opportunities across the value chain, not just for AI companies, (but also) for climate tech companies, because you need a lot of energy for this, for logistics companies for maintenance software, for anything related to building data centres,” he said. This development positions Abu Dhabi at the forefront of AI infrastructure and innovation.
About Hub71
Hub71 is Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem that enables founders to build globally enduring technology companies in any sector. Located in the heart of the UAE’s capital, Hub71 provides a vibrant community of founders, investors, and partners with access to a robust network, capital, and market opportunities. It is a key initiative of the Ghadan 21 program, aimed at accelerating Abu Dhabi’s economic development and diversification.
Source: The Week
