Is Hub71 Building the Next Wave of AI Giants?
Abu Dhabi’s push to become a global hub for artificial intelligence is taking another step forward with a new partnership between Fikra Ventures and Hub71, the emirate’s global tech ecosystem.
Under the agreement, Fikra Ventures will join Hub71 as a partner venture studio and work closely with founders under Hub71’s Initiate Programme. The focus is clear: building and scaling AI-native companies from Abu Dhabi, with a strong emphasis on real market demand and commercial readiness.
The partnership was signed at Hub71 by Wael Aburida, CEO and Managing Partner of Fikra Ventures, and Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71.
While AI innovation often grabs attention for advances in models and technology, both organisations recognise that long-term success depends on much more. Distribution, access to regulated markets and the ability to move quickly from idea to revenue are increasingly shaping which companies succeed. This collaboration aims to address those practical challenges by combining Hub71’s founder-focused ecosystem with Fikra Ventures’ venture-building platform.
As a founding member of the Initiate Programme, Fikra Ventures will support the development of an AI startup cluster through two main approaches. The first is venture creation, where AI-native companies will be built in-house or alongside founders, based on validated market needs. These ventures are designed to be enterprise-ready from the start, with commercialisation built into the product early on.
The second pathway focuses on global scale-in. Here, Fikra Ventures will work with selected international AI companies looking to enter the Middle East. By forming joint ventures, Fikra will help these companies establish a regional presence, build operating platforms and accelerate customer acquisition from Abu Dhabi.
Speaking about the partnership, Wael Aburida said the goal is to support Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a global centre for AI. He noted that Fikra Ventures aims to complement the emirate’s investments in AI infrastructure by helping high-quality AI companies establish themselves locally and scale internationally from Abu Dhabi.
From Hub71’s side, the focus remains on turning innovation into sustainable businesses. Divya Nair, Startup Journey Lead at Hub71, said the partnership strengthens the ecosystem’s ability to support early-stage venture creation while also helping global companies enter the region with clear go-to-market strategies.
Launched in 2025, Hub71’s Initiate Programme is designed for founders at the ideation and pre-seed stage, helping them move from concept to minimum viable product and early product-market fit. With Fikra Ventures joining the programme, founders will gain access to hands-on venture-building expertise aimed at creating AI companies that are practical, scalable and ready for global growth — starting from Abu Dhabi.
