Abu Dhabi awards 3 Emirati startups up to AED100,000 in support packages

Abu Dhabi has awarded three Emirati startups in-kind support packages of up to AED 100,000 following the conclusion of a 12-week venture-building programme run by Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) and Hub71. Seventeen Emirati startups entered the screening process for the inaugural MZN Hub71 cohort; the top three — Limb, Reach LLM and Hign Al Khaleej — received AED100,000, AED60,000 and AED40,000 respectively to help accelerate their go-to-market plans and product development.

"Seeing what these Emirati founders were capable of achieving after three months is exactly why early-stage support matters. When founders have access to the right guidance, networks and opportunities from the beginning, they're better positioned to build companies that create lasting impact for Abu Dhabi and beyond," said Basma Ahmed AlBadi AlDhaheri, Head of Value Creation at Hub71.

Launched to create an earlier entry point for aspiring Emirati entrepreneurs, the MZN Hub71 programme provides structured venture-building support, mentorship and access to Hub71's global tech ecosystem so founders can develop minimum viable products (MVPs) and the skills needed to scale. Over the 12-week period the inaugural cohort participated in 21 workshops, panel discussions and pitch clinics covering product development, market validation, AI strategy, go-to-market planning, fundraising and corporate engagement.

The MZN Hub71 Demo Day convened investors, ecosystem partners and government stakeholders as founders pitched ventures across multiple sectors including AI, HealthTech, ClimateTech, FinTech and AgriTech. A judging panel comprised representatives from Khalifa Fund and Hub71 evaluated presentations before awarding the three in-kind support packages.

• Limb — an AI-powered physiotherapy platform that enables remote monitoring and personalised rehabilitation — secured first place and the AED100,000 package.
• Reach LLM — an AI platform that helps brands optimise visibility and performance across large language models — took second place and AED60,000 in in-kind support.
• Hign Al Khaleej — a digital marketplace for buying, selling and auctioning camels across the Gulf — was awarded third place and AED40,000.

Programme partners and contributors included Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Vertix Holdings, Kraken, and Carzaty & Kavak, whose expertise informed modules and practical sessions designed to equip founders with real-world insights. The initiative emphasised early-stage validation and practical skills, bringing together domain experts to guide participants through building, testing and refining their propositions.

Organisers said the MZN Hub71 model is intended to act as a bridge for Emirati founders before they progress into later-stage programmes, shortening the time between idea and demonstrable product. By combining in-kind support with mentorship and ecosystem access, the programme aims to increase the number of homegrown companies that reach investment-readiness.

Looking ahead, the success of this first cohort sets a template for future rounds: continued collaboration between KFED, Hub71 and sector partners; stronger linkages to investors introduced at Demo Days; and tailored support for startups operating in specialised domains such as AI and AgriTech. For the winners, the immediate priority will be converting MVPs into scalable offerings that can attract follow-on funding and commercial partnerships across the UAE and the wider Gulf markets.