Abu Dhabi climbs startup ecosystem rankings despite global downturn
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI) Abu Dhabi's startup ecosystem has firmly established itself as one of the most dynamic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), ranking among the top five in the region in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER).The report - unveiled by Startup Genome at the recently concluded VivaTech in Paris -recognised the emirate's impressive rise in the rankings, despite a challenging global environment for startups. The GSER 2025 draws on data from more than five million companies across more than 350 ecosystems globally. This year's report highlights how Abu Dhabi soared into the top emerging global ecosystems, moving into the #51-60 tier, a significant leap from its previous #61-70 position. This advancement comes in a year when the global startup ecosystem value contracted by 14%, underscoring the emirate's resilience and strategic vision, the report said."Abu Dhabi's rise in the global rankings is a testament to the exceptional pace and cohesion of its innovation ecosystem, with Hub71 at the heart of this transformation," Samantha Evans, Managing Director MENA at Startup Genome, said in the report. "Amid a global downturn, Abu Dhabi's long-term vision and collaborative strength are driving sustained growth. We expect this momentum to accelerate, with Abu Dhabi poised to outperform many (of its) global peers in the coming years."According to the report, the emirate generated $4.4 billion in ecosystem value between July 2022 and December 2024, reflecting an annual growth rate of 6%. Abu Dhabi ranked among the top five MENA ecosystems in multiple key areas, including Performance (3rd), Knowledge (4th), Funding (5th), and the prominent Bang for Buck category, which measures the efficiency of capital deployment and returns on investment.The emirate ranked particularly high in the market reach of its ecosystem and funding availability; however, it showed room for improvement in knowledge and access to talent and expertise.Remarkable Support for StartupsAccording to VivaTech, the success of Abu Dhabi's startup ecosystem is driven by a combination of forward-looking government policies, targeted funding initiatives, and a robust support infrastructure. "Abu Dhabi's rise in global rankings reflects the strength of our startup community and the impact of Hub71's ecosystem-enabling initiatives," Hub71 CEO Ahmad Ali Alwan said in the report. "Through strategic partnerships, access to capital, and a supportive regulatory environment, we are helping startups scale internationally and contribute to Abu Dhabi's economic and technological ambitions."Among the key sectors that are fuelling this growth are FinTech, ClimateTech, and Digital Assets, all underpinned by innovative regulatory frameworks and purpose-built infrastructure. Notable enablers such as the Abu Dhabi Global Market's (ADGM) expanded licensing frameworks and substantial venture funding have attracted both local and international entrepreneurs, particularly in sustainability and blockchain technology.
Moreover, initiatives like the Khalifa Fund's MZN HUB have helped streamline regulatory processes and offer startups seamless access to global innovation networks, strengthening Abu Dhabi's influence on the international entrepreneurial stage.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Business
4 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Abu Dhabi attracts 13 cutting-edge AI start-ups to Hub71 in global tech push
Abu Dhabi is cementing its position as a global hub for artificial intelligence (AI), driven by world-class infrastructure, progressive legislation, and a thriving investment climate. The emirate's flagship global tech ecosystem, Hub71, attracted 13 new AI-focused start-ups in the first half of 2025, bringing its total to 53 companies specialising in AI innovation. The latest cohort represents top entrepreneurial talent from around the world, underscoring Abu Dhabi's appeal as a destination for high-value tech investment. AI firms in Abu Dhabi Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, saidthe platform plays a critical role in scaling these businesses by offering mentorship, facilitating market access, and creating pathways for global expansion. As these companies grow, he said, they generate high-quality jobs, drive knowledge exchange, and support strategic sectors. This reinforces Abu Dhabi's position as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and advanced technologies. The new AI-driven start-ups joining Hub71 in 2025 are: Aurem CambioML Fundbot Technologies Mithry New Path Bio Nodeshift Onloop Redbrick Simpleem Skipr Vivan Therapeutics xMap Vaxo With AI adoption accelerating worldwide, the emirate's continued success in attracting and nurturing cutting-edge tech firms positions it at the forefront of the global digital economy.
Zawya
20 hours ago
- Zawya
Hub71 attracts 13 AI-focused start-ups in first half of 2025
Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as a leading global destination for ambitious projects in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, supported by advanced infrastructure, progressive legislation, and a thriving investment environment. This has been reflected in the steady growth of advanced technology companies in the emirate. In this context, Ahmad Ali Alwan, Chief Executive Officer of the global tech ecosystem Hub71, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the platform successfully attracted 13 new AI-driven start-ups during the first half of 2025. With this addition, the number of AI-focused start-ups under Hub71 has risen to 52, representing top talent and entrepreneurship from around the world. This growth underscores the emirate's status as a global centre for digital innovation and a preferred destination for high-value investments in this vital sector. Alwan explained that Hub71 plays a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of these companies by providing specialised mentorship, facilitating market access, and opening new avenues for regional and global expansion. As these companies advance, he noted, their impact extends to the wider economy through the creation of high-quality jobs, knowledge exchange, and support for the growth of strategic sectors, reinforcing Abu Dhabi's role as a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and advanced technologies. The list of new companies joining in the first half of the year includes Aurem, CambioML, Fundbot Technologies, Mithry, New Path Bio, Nodeshift, Onloop, Redbrick, Simpleem, Skipr, Vivan Therapeutics, xMap, and Vaxo.
Gulf Business
4 days ago
- Gulf Business
Abu Dhabi's ADX onboards Thndr as first remote retail trading member
Image: Supplied The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has onboarded Thndr, a leading retail investment platform in the MENA region, as the first remote retail trading member on the UAE's largest exchange, the second biggest in the MENA region, and among the top 20 globally. Thndr, a Hub71 start-up, is one of the region's first fully digital investment platforms. Regulated by the Abu Dhabi Global Market's (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), the company is expanding into the UAE after building a strong track record in the region. In 2024, Thndr recorded more than $13bn in trading value and executed 12 million trades. The platform has over four million downloads, provides access to the UAE, Egypt, and US markets, and offers a range of asset classes including stocks, gold, mutual funds, and savings products. Thndr users will soon be able to invest directly in leading UAE-listed companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) via its mobile app, in line with ADX's strategy to connect Abu Dhabi to global capital. The announcement was made at an event at ADX's Abu Dhabi headquarters. 'ADX onboarding Thndr is a transformative step in creating tangible trading bridges across the region's capital market,' said Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, ADX group CEO. 'As the first exchange in the GCC to welcome Thndr, we are demonstrating our commitment to financial inclusion and leadership in unlocking new investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi's robust capital market.' Remote Trading Members enable individuals, international brokers, and institutions to trade ADX-listed securities without being physically present in the UAE, broadening the investor base, attracting foreign investment, improving liquidity, and boosting trading activity. Thndr was launched in 2020 Launched in Egypt in 2020, 'We're proud to celebrate this milestone with the CEO of ADX, driven by a shared belief that retail investors deserve access to a grade-A investment service,' said Ahmad Hammouda, co-founder and CEO of Thndr. 'This partnership gives our users the chance to invest in one of the region's strongest-performing markets over the past 5, 10, and 15 years, while also opening doors to exposure within MENA and beyond.' 'This launch is a major milestone for Thndr and a testament to an incredible partnership,' said Seif Amr, co-founder and board member of Thndr. 'This collaboration truly showcases why the UAE, with ADGM at the forefront, is a beacon of progress for the region.' The onboarding supports ADX's strategic projects such as the Tabadul platform, the first digital exchange center in the region based on the mutual market access model, and complements partnerships with global exchanges. With a market capitalization of Dhs3.1tn,
