Hub71 Access Programme

Hub71 Access Programme — Cohort 20

Supports early-stage technology startups in Abu Dhabi with shared infrastructure, mentoring, and follow-on investment pathways toward scaling.

Hub71 is Abu Dhabi's global technology ecosystem, backed by Abu Dhabi's government and Mubadala Investment Company, designed to attract and scale technology startups from around the world by anchoring them in the UAE capital. The Hub71 Access Programme is the flagship general-track accelerator, accepting startups at seed through Series A stage across sectors including AI, climate technology, digital assets, and life sciences. Cohort 20 is open for applications until 2 August 2026, with the 12-month programme beginning in February 2027. Applications submitted after the deadline are considered for the following cohort rather than rejected outright.

Selected startups receive a package of up to AED 750,000 in combined support: AED 250,000 in flexible service provider credits (in-kind), AED 250,000 in cash delivered via a SAFE note in exchange for equity, and a performance-based top-up of an additional AED 250,000 cash (requiring additional equity) available to high-performing startups that commit to Abu Dhabi. This is not a traditional grant — the cash component is equity investment through convertible instruments. At least one founder must commit to relocating long-term to Abu Dhabi and building a team there; this relocation expectation is a firm programme requirement.

Selection follows four stages: application review by the Hub71 sourcing team, meetings with Hub71 staff, sessions with partner community evaluators, and a final selection committee decision. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from June through November 2026, with feedback provided within three months of submission. Applicants must submit a completed application form and a PDF pitch deck covering problem, solution, value proposition, business model, competitive landscape, market traction, prior funding, founding team credentials, and Abu Dhabi expansion plans. Sector-specific variants of the programme — Hub71+ AI, Hub71+ ClimateTech, Hub71+ Digital Assets, Hub71+ Life Sciences — run on the same core terms with additional specialised resources.