News

Hub71 Accepts 16 New Tech Startups To Join Its Community

The selected startups specialize in industries including fintech, healthtech, foodtech, cleantech, and logistics.

Published

3 years ago

August 31, 2022

Nour Nasir

Hub71

Launched back in 2019 as a means of bringing together investors, organizations, and strategic partners, the tech ecosystem known as Hub71 has recently accepted 16 new startups into its fold from the USA, UK, Italy, and more to further the progress of innovation and entrepreneurship in Abu Dhabi. The recent news comes as the company plans to expand its operational reach, scaling into other markets along with the UAE.

Over the next two years, the new startup additions will join Hub71’s incentive program that will include large-scale funding, access to a rich ecosystem of academic and corporate investors, and potential government partners. The latest round of financing at Hub71 has raised $467 million overall and will help drive progress in diverse industries, including fintech, healthtech, cleantech, edtech, foodtech, and logistics.

“Our value-driven programs continue to attract high-tech startups to Abu Dhabi that are driving transformation within key sectors of the economy. As partners to over 170 startups in our community, we always strive to connect founders to our global network of blue-chip corporations, government bodies, and investors. With our ability to unlock real growth opportunities for founders, we expect this new cohort to gain tremendous traction over the next few months within the vibrant tech ecosystem that Abu Dhabi offers,” says Badr Al-Olama, Acting CEO of Hub71.

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Hub71’s startups include the Green Future Project, a platform supporting climate projects that track and trace environmental impact, Amwal, a platform enabling people to pay or send money based on their phone number, and Abhi, a fintech startup that lets salaried employees draw on their wages when needed.

In the first half of 2022, Hub71 helped startups land deals worth $700 million in revenues through the ecosystem’s corporate partners. Hub71 has also helped create around 1000 jobs.

News

Saudi EV Adoption Accelerates With BYD Expansion & Tesla Launch

Saudi Arabia’s EV market is gaining momentum as BYD plans major showroom growth and Tesla establishes a foothold in Riyadh.

Published

2 days ago

July 16, 2025

Nour Nasir

saudi ev adoption accelerates with byd expansion and tesla launch

Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a regional hub for electric mobility are drawing greater investment from global automakers. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is targeting 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the capital, Riyadh, by the end of the decade — an objective that’s now shaping the strategic interests of international EV brands.

Chinese manufacturer BYD is planning a substantial thrust into the Saudi market, building on its current footprint of three showrooms. According to Jerome Saigot, BYD’s managing director in the Kingdom, the company aims to open 10 showrooms by the end of 2026.

“Saudi Arabia is a complex market. You need to go fast. You need to think big,” Saigot recently told reporters. “We are not here to stay at 5,000 or 10,000 cars a year”.

The announcement follows Tesla’s entry into the Saudi EV space, with the US automaker opening its first showroom in Riyadh in April. Tesla joins early players like BYD and Geely in what remains a nascent but strategically important segment for the Kingdom.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has also ramped up its electric mobility agenda. Its efforts include major investments in Lucid Motors, the creation of local EV brand Ceer, and support for the rollout of national charging infrastructure.

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However, electric vehicles still only account for just over 1% of total car sales in Saudi Arabia, according to data from PwC cited by Bloomberg. Key challenges include high upfront costs, limited public charging access, and the added complexity of operating in extreme heat conditions.

In spite of those hurdles, Saigot views Tesla’s entry as a net positive. “The more Tesla communicates on marketing, the better it is for us,” he said. Saigot joined BYD in April, having previously held executive roles at Nissan and Great Wall Motor.

With multiple brands scaling up activity in parallel — and government-backed infrastructure investment underway — Saudi Arabia’s EV sector appears set for rapid acceleration over the next few years.