Dharmendra Pradhan Explores Hub71, a Global Tech Startup Ecosystem in Abu Dhabi

Union Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, embarked on a three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, during which he explored various areas of mutual interest. As part of his visit, Minister Dharmendra Pradhan made a significant visit to Hub71, a prominent global tech ecosystem situated in the heart of Abu Dhabi.

Hub71, a leading tech startup ecosystem in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, serves as a thriving platform for startups. It offers co-working spaces, mentorship, funding opportunities, and various resources to empower startups and catalyze their growth. Currently hosting more than 1,000 startups from over 60 different countries, Hub71 has successfully attracted over USD 1 billion in funding for its startup ventures.

During his visit to Hub71, Minister Pradhan gained insight into the ecosystem’s distinctive model, which fosters innovation by uniting entrepreneurs and technology sector investors. Expressing his impressions of the visit, Minister Pradhan posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), “A vibrant community of innovators, entrepreneurs and investors working together to shape a sustainable and prosperous future. At Hub71, industry partners, corporates, investors, mentors as well as govt regulators provide all the necessary support to nurture the spirit of enterprise and help start-ups scale exponentially,” he wrote.

He highlighted the collaborative spirit at Hub71, where industry partners, corporations, investors, mentors, and government regulators join forces to provide comprehensive support, nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit and propelling startups toward exponential growth.

The visit to Hub71 represents a strong commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation, emphasizing the importance of whole-of-society ecosystems in unlocking a country’s full entrepreneurial and innovative potential.

Minister Pradhan’s visit to the UAE has already seen significant developments in the education and skill development sector. He met with the UAE’s Minister of Education, Dr. Ahmad Al Falasi, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening educational cooperation, including initiatives to enhance student and faculty mobility, ANI reported.

Furthermore, Minister Pradhan explored the potential for student and workforce mobility between the two countries, affirming their commitment to strengthening institutional mechanisms. He also interacted with members of the Odia Community in the UAE, receiving a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora during his visit. This collaborative effort seeks to foster greater synergy and collaboration in critical areas of mutual interest within the education and skill domain.