du launches $50 million investment fund with Shurooq to drive digital innovation

du has launched du Ventures, a $50 million corporate investment fund established in partnership with Shurooq, the companies announced on June 3, 2026. The new fund will target startups and entrepreneurs across the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East, with a focus on turning emerging technologies into practical, scalable solutions in areas including artificial intelligence, financial technology, cybersecurity and other enterprise and customer-facing technologies.

“The du Ventures fund is a natural extension of our commitment to driving digital transformation,” said Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of du. “By investing in early-stage technologies and startups aligned with our strategic priorities, and leveraging du’s infrastructure and enterprise reach, we are accelerating the development of practical solutions that deliver sustainable value to customers and shareholders, while contributing to economic growth.”

Context and structure of the fund

du described the launch as a strategic step in its evolution from a traditional telecommunications provider into an integrated digital ecosystem player. The fund — managed by Shurooq, described in the announcement as a multi-strategy investment firm — will allocate a significant portion of its capital to UAE-based startups and entrepreneurial ventures while covering opportunities across the broader Middle East.

According to the announcement, du Ventures will prioritise investments that align with du’s corporate strategy and that can benefit from the operator’s infrastructure and enterprise channels. Mahmoud Adi, co-founder of Shurooq, said the partnership is intended to combine capital with operational platforms to speed growth. “Promising startups need more than funding; they require access to strategic infrastructure and platforms,” Adi said. “Through du Ventures, we aim to bridge the gap between innovation and scalability, enabling entrepreneurs to bring transformative solutions to market more quickly.”

Target sectors and investment focus

• Artificial intelligence (AI)
• Financial technology (fintech)
• Cybersecurity
• Cloud computing
• Loyalty programmes
• Digital gaming
• Enterprise solutions
• Customer experience technologies

The fund is positioned to support early-stage technologies and startups that can integrate with or enhance du’s service offerings, including enterprise and consumer-facing products. du framed the initiative as a mechanism to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative solutions by coupling investment with access to du’s technical infrastructure and market reach.

Outlook

By committing $50 million and placing the fund under Shurooq’s management, du is signalling an intent to play a more active role in the regional startup ecosystem. The companies say the fund will help accelerate digital innovation across the UAE and the Middle East, support the development of scalable products and create potential strategic commercial partnerships. For entrepreneurs, the combination of capital, telecom-grade infrastructure and enterprise distribution that du offers could shorten time-to-market for solutions in the listed priority sectors.