Abu Dhabi has launched Hub71+ Life Sciences, a new vertical designed to accelerate innovation in biotechnology, MedTech, and digital health across the region. The initiative unveiled during the Hub71 Impact Event adds a new sector focus to the capital’s global tech ecosystem, offering startups direct access to healthcare regulators, hospitals, investors, and research networks.
The platform was developed in partnership with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), and the HELM Cluster, which focuses on Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine. Strategic partners include Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Ultrahuman, along with several global research and healthcare entities that will help startups validate and commercialize solutions more efficiently.
According to Economy Middle East, the launch comes as the MENA healthcare services market is projected to reach USD 412 billion by 2032, up from USD 241 billion in 2024, growing at around 7 percent annually. The expansion of healthcare investment and digital infrastructure across the region has created strong momentum for life sciences and MedTech innovation.
For Abu Dhabi, the creation of Hub71+ Life Sciences aligns with its economic diversification strategy, which aims to attract global companies into high-value sectors including health, technology, and advanced manufacturing. The emirate has already invested heavily in healthcare infrastructure, with initiatives like the Abu Dhabi Health Data Ecosystem enabling data-driven clinical research and policy planning.
Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, said the new vertical provides a connected environment where innovators and investors can work together to advance healthcare technologies that improve lives globally. He described the initiative as a bridge between researchers, entrepreneurs, and regulatory bodies designed to bring solutions to market faster.
Since its founding in 2019, Hub71 has grown into one of the region’s most active startup ecosystems. It now hosts close to 300 startups that have raised AED 9 billion (USD 2.45 billion) and generated AED 5 billion (USD 1.36 billion) in revenue. According to its latest impact report, Hub71 startups secured USD 2.17 billion in funding in 2024 alone.
By integrating regulatory frameworks, research institutions, and global health partners, Hub71+ Life Sciences seeks to position Abu Dhabi as a preferred base for health innovation companies entering the Middle East. The move also aligns with the UAE’s Centennial 2071 plan, which prioritizes investment in knowledge-based sectors and future technologies.
As global spending on life sciences surpasses USD 1.5 trillion, Abu Dhabi’s entry into the sector adds a regional hub to the map for biotechnology and MedTech startups. It offers the mix of regulatory certainty, government backing, and access to capital that global founders increasingly seek when scaling solutions across emerging markets.
Abu Dhabi strengthens its innovation economy with Hub71+ life Sciences