Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, has signed a strategic partnership with the UAE–India CEPA Council (UICC) to operationalise the innovation agenda of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The collaboration creates an end-to-end pathway for high-potential Indian startups to validate and scale their ventures across the MENA region from Abu Dhabi.
The partnership, signed on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum (ADIF) Mumbai, is designed to facilitate a two-way exchange of innovation, soft-landing support, and investment access between the two economies.
A guided pathway for scale-ups
Hub71 will support the UAE–India CEPA Council’s flagship Start-Up Series, which has already attracted over 10,000 applications from India, demonstrating strong demand for UAE expansion. Many applicants align with Hub71’s priority sectors, including FinTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, and mobility, highlighting the strategic fit between India’s strengths and Abu Dhabi’s sector-focused agenda.
Hub71 will onboard the five winning startups from the Series into its Immersion Programme, which is designed to fast-track market readiness via a combination of virtual onboarding and in-person sessions in Abu Dhabi. The ecosystem will provide mentorship, curated knowledge sessions, and crucial connections within the Abu Dhabi tech ecosystem.
One of the five winners will be further selected for the Hub71 Access Programme, gaining structured entry into the ecosystem, tailored soft-landing, and viable pathways for long-term regional growth.
Strengthening the innovation corridor
The agreement aligns CEPA’s policy framework with Hub71’s founder-centred ecosystem, streamlining market entry, accelerating go-to-market pathways, and unlocking new investment flows. The framework also enables the cross-referral of high-impact startups between UICC and Hub71 for soft landings in both Abu Dhabi and India.
Founders referred through this framework will receive comprehensive support, including regulatory facilitation, company setup, market access, and introductions to investors.
H.E. Abdulnasser Alshaali, Ambassador of the UAE to the Republic of India, stated that innovation lies at the heart of the UAE-India partnership, strengthening the shared ambition to build a dynamic, interconnected startup corridor that drives investment and sustainable economic growth.
Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, said that the partnership shortens the distance between market readiness and regional scale, reinforcing Hub71’s commitment to supporting ambitious founders as they expand across borders.
The post Hub71 Partners with CEPA Council to Streamline Indian Startup Entry into Abu Dhabi appeared first on The Fintech Times.
