News

Hub71 Refreshes Its Company Building Program

Startups may be eligible for up to $204,000 to help accelerate growth and hasten their contribution to the local economy.

Published

3 years ago

October 17, 2023

Nour Nasir

hub71 refreshes its company building program

At this year’s GITEX Global conference, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, Hub71, has announced a refreshed startup incentive known as the Company Building Program, where eligible businesses can receive up to $204,000 to accelerate their growth — a 50% increase over the original funding figure.

Upon completion of the program, top-performing startups could also be selected by Hub71 for an additional cash incentive of nearly $70,000 in exchange for additional equity.

The new incentive is a “natural progression” for Hub71, expanding on its pledge to support early-stage technology companies.

hub71 abu dhabi deputy ceo ahmad ali alwan

“This impact and shift to provide greater value to our startup community solidifies our commitment to founders as we aim to enhance the growth trajectory of innovative companies with the simplicity and flexibility needed to ensure they succeed,” Deputy CEO Ahmad Ali Alwan said.

“Our dedication will go beyond financial support; we are deeply invested in the success of startups in our community and will remain engaged in ensuring their sustainable growth and development in Abu Dhabi and beyond,” he continued.

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Startups joining the Hub71 Company Building Program unlock an extensive network of corporations, government entities, and investment opportunities. The program also gives startups access to mentorship, advice, and support, which positively affects their ability to grow and contribute to the economy.

Globally, the startup sector is valued at a massive $3 trillion. By 2030, The UAE aims to create a home for 20 “unicorns” — startups with a valuation of $1 billion or more. Hub71’s new program should aid those ambitions, boosting the number of high-performing tech companies headquartered in Abu Dhabi.

News

Microsoft Plans $10 Billion-Plus Gulf Expansion Despite Iran Conflict

Security is shaping Microsoft’s approach, from resilience work with governments to what it will say about how the money splits by country.

Published

4 days ago

September 24, 2026

Nour Nasir

Microsoft

Microsoft is planning more than $10 billion of investment across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait through 2030, Vice Chair and President Brad Smith told Reuters, calling the spending schedule aggressive. The Iranian conflict that began on February 28 has not persuaded the company to scale back.

“We’re sustaining all the investments we planned to make before this conflict started, and we are in fact adding to them,” Smith said. The $10 billion-plus total does not, however, show how large those additions are.

The investment, which Smith described as part of Microsoft’s continued infrastructure expansion, is aimed at cloud and AI infrastructure and at the company’s growing regional operations. Microsoft also intends to put more than $400 million into subsea and terrestrial connectivity across the Middle East by 2030.

The spending fits the region’s own ambitions too. Gulf governments have been investing heavily in AI infrastructure as part of a push to diversify their economies beyond oil and gas and turn themselves into global technology hubs. Major cloud and AI providers have been drawn in part by the land and relatively low-cost energy on offer.

Microsoft is widening its partnerships with regional AI companies, though not on identical terms. In 2024, it invested $1.5 billion in Abu Dhabi-based G42 for a minority stake, and Smith currently sits on G42’s board. Saudi Arabia’s Humain and Qatar’s Qai are working with Microsoft on selected priority areas, but Smith said the company does not plan to make capital investments in either.

Also Read: Egypt’s Mobile Wallets Are Booming, But Cash Still Has Power

The conflict has added another strand to Microsoft’s work in the region. Since it began, Smith said, the company has supported regional partners with digital resilience assessments, and it is now working with Gulf countries through a digital resilience initiative focused on preparedness and the protection of critical data.

So far, the company has given no country-by-country breakdown of the investment, citing security among other factors. So while the headline figure is public, how Microsoft divides the spending among the four countries is not.