Abu Dhabi is solidifying its status as a leading global hub for artificial intelligence, with Hub71 embracing its most AI-centric group of startups since its launch.
The latest cohort, revealed on Tuesday, includes 26 rapidly growing companies that have collectively secured over Dh818 million, marking the largest funding amount for any single group in the tech sector’s history.
Cohort 17 is particularly notable for its emphasis on AI-driven firms, making up over 81% of the selection. These startups are crafting solutions that align with Abu Dhabi’s economic priorities, including healthcare, finance, energy, and ClimateTech. Their presence highlights the emirate’s dedication to economic diversification and its increasing significance in shaping the global AI landscape amidst a strategic race among nations for AI leadership.
This announcement follows the earlier launch of Hub71+ AI, a dedicated ecosystem aimed at driving cross-sector innovations in artificial intelligence. Supported by AI71, Core42, Amazon Web Services, and Google for Startups, the platform is a key component of Abu Dhabi’s strategy to attract top innovators and establish itself as a central hub for AI adoption in the Middle East.
This year’s selection process was fiercely competitive, with over 2,000 global applications whittled down to 26 startups from 12 countries, including the US, UK, Singapore, France, Canada, Egypt, and India. The fact that nearly 75% of these companies are based outside the UAE underscores Abu Dhabi’s allure for founders seeking capital, market access, and strategic partnerships. Most are seed-stage companies, aligning with Hub71’s mission to nurture early-stage ventures into globally scalable businesses.
Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, affirmed that the new entrants’ quality reflects the robustness of Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem. “The startups joining Cohort 17 demonstrate the ambition and quality of founders we welcome. Supported by substantial funding and developing technologies with wide market applications, they are pursuing global growth. Their choice to build in Abu Dhabi emphasizes our ecosystem’s strength and its role as a global launchpad for innovation,” he stated.
Among the standout companies is Harmonic Discovery, a US biotech startup using AI to design precision therapies for complex diseases like sickle cell anaemia. With Dh31.2 million raised, the company’s move to Abu Dhabi signifies the city’s emerging role as a hub for advanced life sciences driven by machine learning. India’s Planys Technologies, another newcomer, is creating autonomous underwater robots and smart sensors for safer, diver-free inspections of critical infrastructure. Supported by $7.2 million (Dh26.4 million), it exemplifies the deep-tech innovation Abu Dhabi seeks to promote.
Sustainability-focused ventures are also prominent. Six companies are leveraging the Hub71+ ClimateTech ecosystem, including Singapore’s SunGreenH2, which is developing high-efficiency electrolysers for green hydrogen production. With Dh24.2 million in funding, the startup is tapping into Abu Dhabi’s goals to lead the clean energy transition. Meanwhile, blockchain and Web3 innovation remain integral to Hub71’s strategy, with eight startups joining under the Hub71+ Digital Assets ecosystem. Resolv Labs, a UAE-based crypto investment platform with Dh46 million raised, is one of the most notable additions in this sector.
The new cohort will benefit from Hub71’s Access programme, offering up to Dh500,000 in incentives and access to Abu Dhabi’s business networks, talent pool, and investors. Startups showing significant progress in their first year may qualify for up to Dh1 million in further support, aiding their commercial scaling. Beyond financial backing, Hub71 provides mentorship, regulatory guidance, and direct entry into priority industries, fostering an environment ripe for transformative technologies.
Abu Dhabi’s broader AI initiative is bolstered by sovereign wealth funds, academic institutions, and state-backed AI leaders like G42. The emirate has made substantial investments in AI infrastructure, from supercomputing to data centers, while attracting global talent and forging partnerships with industry giants. The launch of Falcon, the UAE’s large language model by the Technology Innovation Institute, further showcased the nation’s ability to compete with established AI powers.
Industry experts note that this momentum aligns with the UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031, aiming to position the country as a global AI leader by the next decade. By integrating AI into sectors like healthcare, education, transport, and climate adaptation, Abu Dhabi is setting itself up as both a regional hub and a formidable player in the global innovation arena.
They argue that the record Hub71 intake is more than just a milestone for startups; it signals Abu Dhabi’s growing influence in the AI economy. “By combining capital, infrastructure, and an enabling regulatory framework, the emirate is transforming into a launchpad where AI-powered companies can tackle global challenges from the UAE capital. As AI emerges as the defining technology of this era, Abu Dhabi’s expanding ecosystem suggests the city is well on its way to becoming one of the world’s most influential innovation centers.”
