Hub71

TL;DR

Abu Dhabi's flagship startup hub, offering free-zone licensing, subsidised housing/office, and equity-free incentives worth $5k–$250k/yr to founders.

Hub71 is Abu Dhabi's flagship startup ecosystem, launched by Mubadala in 2019 with the explicit mandate of attracting global tech founders to relocate to the UAE. It provides a Hub71-branded free-zone licence (with simplified visa sponsorship), subsidised housing and office space in Maryah Island, and an 'Incentive Programme' offering $5k–$250k/year of equity-free credits depending on cohort and stage.

Founders accepted into Hub71 typically get a fast-track route to ADGM company setup, residency visas for the founding team, and introductions to UAE sovereign LPs (Mubadala, ADQ, Mubadala Capital). The trade-off is a relocation expectation — Hub71 isn't designed for founders who only want a postal address in Abu Dhabi.

Worked example

A London-based climate-tech startup joins Hub71 Cohort 9: $150k of equity-free Hub71 incentives over 2 years (housing + office credits + cloud-services credits), Hub71-sponsored ADGM SPV setup, and a warm intro to Mubadala that closes a $3M Series A bridge.

Common pitfalls

• Joining Hub71 without genuinely planning to relocate and risking the loss of the licence and incentives.
• Underestimating the heavy reporting expected by Hub71 in exchange for the free credits.
• Treating Hub71 introductions to sovereign LPs as automatic checks — they still run their own diligence.

When this shows up in a pitch deck

Founder decks for Abu Dhabi-headquartered startups call out 'Hub71 Cohort 12 — $200k of equity-free credits' on the team slide.

Related terms

• Dubai Future District Fund — AED 1B Dubai government fund-of-funds and direct investor backing early-stage tech startups based in or relocating to Dubai's Future District.
• Mubadala / PIF — Two dominant MENA sovereign wealth funds (Mubadala $300B, PIF $925B AUM), anchor LPs in global VC funds and direct investors in late-stage tech.
• ADGM — Abu Dhabi's English-common-law financial free zone: Cayman/Delaware-style law, 100% foreign ownership, zero CT. Popular for VC funds and tech holdcos.
• Free Zone Company — UAE company in one of 45+ specialised free zones (DMCC, RAKEZ, Hub71): 100% foreign ownership, zero personal tax, but limited mainland trading.
• Golden Visa (UAE) — 10-year renewable UAE residency visa for investors, founders, and high-skill specialists, decoupled from employer sponsorship — a talent lever.

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