Hong Kong’s Cyberport Teams Up with Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 to Fast-Track Startups

Malaz Madani

Last updated 18-09-2025

3 min

Hong Kong’s Cyberport and Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 have partnered to connect start-ups to new markets.

The Hub71 Start-up Immersion Programme offers Hong Kong start-ups exposure in Abu Dhabi.

Cyberport aims to push companies beyond their borders, leveraging tech growth in the Middle East.

The partnership helps founders avoid pitfalls when entering new regions, enhancing cross-border success.

This agreement is a strategic move to invigorate start-up momentum between Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi.

Hong Kong’s Cyberport and Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 have shaken hands on a fresh partnership aimed at bridging two fast-rising hubs of innovation. The agreement, signed during Investopia Hong Kong, will see late-stage start-ups from Hong Kong gaining easier access to Middle Eastern markets while Middle Eastern businesses eye the Asian gateway through Hong Kong.

The memorandum of understanding was witnessed by senior officials from both sides, with Simon Chan, Chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport, and H.E. Mohammad Alhawi, UAE’s Undersecretary of Investment, both present. The actual signing was carried out by Ir Eric Chan, Cyberport’s Chief Public Mission Officer, and Ahmad Ali Alwan, Hub71’s CEO. It all looked very formal on paper, but the heart of it is quite simple: connect founders to growth markets, and do it quickly.

At the centre of the deal lies the new Hub71 Start-up Immersion Programme, a two-week initiative giving Hong Kong start-ups targeted exposure in Abu Dhabi. It begins with virtual market onboarding before shifting to face-to-face sessions in the UAE capital. Founders can expect access to regulators, investors, corporate partners and—crucially—mentorship channels that can help them navigate what is often a bit of a faff: entering an unfamiliar region. The programme rounds off with a Demo Day during Hub71’s Impact Event, a sort of showcase moment for investors and partners to see what’s cooking.

Eric Chan put it in spirited terms, noting that Cyberport isn’t just about connections but about being a “super value-adder.” He sees this partnership as a way to catapult companies beyond their home turf, tapping into the Middle East’s tech-fuelled growth while also enticing Abu Dhabi-based ventures to try their hand in Hong Kong. He stressed the importance of linking innovative businesses to high-opportunity regions—from the Belt and Road corridors to Southeast Asia.

Now, I’ll be honest: I reckon this kind of cross-border programme can be spot on for founders stuck at that awkward stage where they’re too big to stay local but not quite armed with the know-how to scale abroad. I remember chatting with a young fintech founder during an event covered by Arageek, who admitted expansion talks nearly sank his business because he misread regulatory timelines. Having structured immersion like this might just save others that headache.

That said, success doesn’t come served on a silver platter. Securing investors in the Gulf means understanding cultural and business nuances that aren’t learnt overnight. On the flip side, Hong Kong’s strategic position offers an undeniable pull for Abu Dhabi’s entrepreneurs wanting to break into sprawling markets like Mainland China or the Greater Bay Area.

If nothing else, this agreement keeps the momentum going. In a world where start-ups often feel like they’re running uphill, having a bridge between Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi could be the springboard they need. And if the results deliver even half as much as promised, plenty of founders will be chuffed to bits with the opportunities that land in their lap. It’s definately one to watch.

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