Hub71 has entered a strategic partnership with the UAE–India CEPA Council to strengthen cross-border startup expansion between Abu Dhabi and India. The agreement, signed during the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum in Mumbai, operationalises the innovation agenda of the UAE–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Under the partnership, Hub71 will support the Council’s flagship Start-Up Series by providing structured market-entry support. The five winning startups selected at the series finale in New Delhi will be onboarded into the Hub71 Immersion Programme — a hybrid onboarding model combining virtual preparation with in-person sessions in Abu Dhabi to fast-track market readiness. Startups will receive mentorship, curated knowledge sessions and access to Abu Dhabi’s wider tech community.
From these five finalists, Hub71 will also select one startup for its Access Programme, offering tailored soft-landing support, founder engagement opportunities and guided pathways for long-term growth in high-potential regional markets.
UAE Ambassador to India Abdulnasser Alshaali said CEPA has opened a new chapter in bilateral ties, highlighting the role of innovation in driving investment, technology exchange and sustainable economic growth. Hub71 CEO Ahmad Ali Alwan called the partnership a “guided pathway” that reduces barriers for Indian founders entering Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem. CEPA Council Director Ahmed Aljneibi added that the collaboration brings CEPA’s entrepreneurship objectives to life by enabling two-way innovation flow and job creation.
The UAE–India Start-Up Series, launched in June 2025, has already attracted more than 10,000 applications from India, many aligned with Hub71’s priority sectors such as fintech, healthtech, agritech, mobility and advanced technologies. The partnership also establishes a framework for referring high-impact startups between both entities, including support in company setup, regulatory facilitation, investment access and potential eligibility for grants and incentive programmes.
By reinforcing two-way access routes and deepening CEPA-linked collaboration, Hub71 continues its mission to position Abu Dhabi as a launchpad for global expansion and convert bilateral cooperation into tangible technology and economic outcomes.
