Images: Hub71
Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, has launched Hub71+ Life Sciences, a new specialist platform aimed at accelerating innovation and commercialisation across biotechnology, medical technology, and digital health.
The initiative strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for healthcare and life sciences, offering founders direct access to regulators, hospitals, investors, and industry partners.
Announced during Hub71’s annual Impact Event, Hub71+ Life Sciences provides startups a structured entry point into the UAE capital’s expanding medical innovation sector.
Founders will be able to leverage Abu Dhabi’s integrated health cluster for clinical validation, regulatory support, and market access, helping translate research from lab to patient-ready solutions.
Hub71+ Life Sciences to support healthcare innovation
“Since 2019, Hub71 has supported hundreds of startups that have helped shape Abu Dhabi’s innovation landscape,” said Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71. “With Hub71+ Life Sciences, we are channeling that experience into a dedicated environment where founders, researchers, market players, and investors can collaborate to advance healthcare innovation.”
The ecosystem has been launched in alignment with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), and the HELM cluster (Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine). The collaboration underscores Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to build a high-performing life sciences economy anchored in advanced research and sustainable healthcare.
The DoH, EDE, and HELM cluster by ADIO join as founding partners, while the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and Ultrahuman act as anchor partners
.In total, 12 partners will work with startups to identify investment opportunities and accelerate the commercialisation of transformative medical technologies.
“As a founding partner, EDE will work side-by-side with innovators to engage early with regulators, clarify evidence expectations, and make use of collaborative pathways so safe, effective solutions reach patients faster,” said Dr Shaikha Al Mazrouei, director of the Reference National Laboratory, Drug Department, at EDE. “Through Hub71+ Life Sciences, we aim to turn strong science into clear regulatory packages, accelerate approvals, and support international recognition for products developed in the UAE.”
The launch follows momentum from startups such as BioSapien, Ovasave, and Biotwin, which are developing oncology, fertility, and AI-driven medical solutions within Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem.
Their progress highlights the emirate’s growing depth in translational research and innovation infrastructure.
Hub71+ Life Sciences will connect regulators, corporates, investors, and entrepreneurs to drive collaboration, regulatory efficiency, and access to funding, clinical trials, and proof-of-concept projects.
The goal is to enhance research output and establish Abu Dhabi as a competitive global center for life sciences innovation.
Hub71 currently hosts nearly 300 startups that have collectively raised Dhs9bn and generated Dhs5bn in revenue. Hub71+ Life Sciences joins the platform’s growing suite of sector-focused ecosystems, including Hub71+ Digital Assets, Hub71+ ClimateTech, and Hub71+ AI.
Startups in biotech, medtech, and digital health can apply to join Hub71+ Life Sciences and become part of Abu Dhabi’s expanding innovation community.
Hub71 Impact Event marks new programme launches
At the Hub71 Impact Event 2025, held under the theme “Impactful Momentum”, the organisation also unveiled a series of new partnerships and initiatives designed to drive the next phase of innovation-led growth in Abu Dhabi.
Hub71 announced Initiate, a new programme empowering early-stage founders to transform bold ideas into viable startups from Abu Dhabi. Operated in partnership with global venture builders SC Ventures and VentureOne, Initiate provides hands-on venture-building support to validate concepts, refine business models, and prepare founders for scale, positioning Abu Dhabi as one of the few global hubs offering an end-to-end pathway from idea to market-ready venture.
The Impact Event also saw the expansion of Hub71+ AI, adding 15 new strategic partners, including the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) and BECO Capital as anchor partners. This growth strengthens Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to become the world’s first AI-native government by 2027 and a global testbed for responsible AI innovation.
In addition, Hub71 announced new collaborations with the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and Numou, expanding access to pilot funding, working capital, and entrepreneurial support. Through its partnership with ECA, Hub71 will integrate the Anjal Z initiative into its Access Programme, securing Dhs3m in pilot funding and up to Dhs500,000 in incentives for startups developing early-childhood solutions.
Meanwhile, the partnership with Numou, an ADGM subsidiary, introduces procurement financing for SMEs, improving liquidity and accelerating business growth.
“Abu Dhabi’s tech ecosystem continues to be shaped by a shared purpose of driving impact through innovation and collaboration,” said Alwan. “The launches we announced today reflect how far we have come in our mission to expand opportunities for founders and entrepreneurs and how we are strengthening Abu Dhabi’s role as a platform for technology growth.”
The event also reinforced Abu Dhabi’s growing international connectivity, with eight high-potential Web3 startups from Hong Kong joining Hub71 through the Hub71 x Hong Kong Immersion Programme.
The move further establishes Abu Dhabi as a cross-border gateway for global startups expanding into the Middle East.
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