The Emirates Growth Fund (EGF), the UAE’s flagship AED 1billion growth equity platform, and Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The partnership is aimed at advancing the growth and competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and growth-stage companies within their respective portfolios.
Signed during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, the agreement establishes a coordinated framework to invest growth capital, expand commercial pathways, and strengthen operational readiness for businesses. The collaboration reinforces both entities’ shared mission to elevate the private sector and support the UAE’s long-term economic diversification agenda.
Capital and mentorship for scaling companies
Under the new framework, EGF and Hub71 will work together to deploy growth capital and provide strategic support to high-potential ventures. The partnership combines Hub71’s ecosystem of high-performing startups with EGF’s financial muscle, aiming to build a stronger pipeline of competitive, scalable enterprises that can contribute to the nation’s economic development.
Khalifa Al Hajeri, CEO of the Emirates Growth Fund, commented: “Our collaboration with Hub71 represents a natural alignment between two national platforms dedicated to supporting the UAE’s economic future. By combining our respective strengths, we are empowering SMEs and growth-stage companies to scale, compete, and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s diversified growth agenda. Hub71 is the natural home for Abu Dhabi’s founders and is strategically placed to support us in identifying growth-stage businesses.”
Strengthening Abu Dhabi’s economic clusters
The partnership also reflects a broader strategy to strengthen economic clusters and deepen sector expertise in Abu Dhabi. Hub71 has been instrumental in scaling specialist ecosystems and attracting global startups to the region. By leveraging EGF’s mandate to invest in critical sectors such as manufacturing, food security, healthcare, and advanced technology, the collaboration aims to accelerate the development of businesses positioned to generate sustained national value.
Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, added: “Our partnership with EGF brings together Hub71’s founder-focused ecosystem with EGF’s growth capital and support for UAE-based companies. By combining our mentorship, programs, and network access with EGF’s scale-up capital, we can give high-potential ventures the pathway and confidence to grow sustainably. Announcing this collaboration at Abu Dhabi Finance Week reflects our shared commitment to enabling founders to build strong, long-lasting businesses.”
The Emirates Growth Fund, backed by the Emirates Development Bank (EDB), was established to bridge the funding gap for SMEs and provide long-term capital to help businesses grow sustainably and innovate.
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