Dubai, UAE: Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye) region, has announced a partnership with Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, Hub71, to empower customers with cutting-edge FinTech solutions and drive a new era of advanced banking services.

As a leading local bank with regional and international operations, Emirates NBD's alliance with Hub71 opens doors to an array of possibilities that include expanding market reach to Abu Dhabi and introducing innovative financial solutions that cater to evolving customer needs, strengthening the bank's commitment to driving industry-wide advancements.

Abdulla Qassem, Group Chief Operating Officer at Emirates NBD, said: “As a leading local bank that has always been committed to driving innovation in the region, Emirates NBD leads the future of banking to enhance financial prosperity for its customers, people and communities. This collaboration marks a significant step towards elevating customer experiences as Emirates NBD Bank harnesses the entrepreneurial spirit of Hub71 to offer tailored solutions and streamlined services for our valued customers.”

Hub71 has onboarded more than 260 startups, which have collectively raised nearly AED 5 billion since its inception in 2019.[1] The global tech ecosystem provides the world’s most promising startups with incentives, programs and access to a vibrant community with a network of more than 140 local and regional corporate, government and investment partners to support their development and growth from Abu Dhabi to international markets. The UAE leads the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) FinTech market, reaching a record-high investment of USD 2.5 billion in 2022.[2]

Ahmad Ali Alwan, Deputy CEO of Hub71, commented: “At Hub71, we champion the growth of innovative startups scaling technology applications that can transform the future of finance and other sectors. Our partnership with Emirates NBD will pave the way for startups to validate products, secure commercial deals, and receive expert mentorship. By partnering with one of the UAE’s most progressive banks, we are creating a powerful combination for FinTech startups pursuing growth.”  

The UAE is a frontrunner in the global FinTech landscape, exhibiting remarkable growth potential, following significant innovation in digital banking, wealth management, remittances and payments.

About Emirates NBD  

Emirates NBD (DFM: Emirates NBD) is a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye) region with a presence in 13 countries, serving over 20 million customers. As at 30th September 2023, total assets were AED 836 billion, (equivalent to approx. USD 228 billion). The Group has operations in the UAE, Egypt, India, Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia and Bahrain and representative offices in China and Indonesia with a total of 853 branches and 4,213 ATMs / SDMs. Emirates NBD is the leading financial services brand in the UAE with a Brand value of USD 3.89 billion.   

Emirates NBD Group serves its customers (individuals, businesses, governments, and institutions) and helps them realise their financial objectives through a range of banking products and services including retail banking, corporate and institutional banking, Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management, global markets and treasury, and brokerage operations. The Group is a key participant in the global digital banking industry with 97% of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The Group also operates Liv, the lifestyle digital bank by Emirates NBD, with close to half a million users, it continues to be the fastest-growing bank in the region. 

Emirates NBD contributes to the construction of a sustainable future as an active participant and supporter of the UAE’s main development and sustainability initiatives, including financial wellness and the inclusion of people of determination. Emirates NBD is committed to supporting the UAE’s Year of Sustainability as Principal Banking Partner of COP28 and an early supporter to the Dubai Can sustainability initiative, a city-wide initiative aimed to reduce use of single-use plastic bottled water. 

About Hub71

Hub71 is Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem that enables founders to build globally enduring homegrown tech companies in any sector by providing access to global markets, a capital ecosystem, a global network of partners, and a vibrant community filled with highly skilled talent, governed by forward-thinking regulation.

Backed by the Government of Abu Dhabi and Mubadala Investment Company, Hub71 is growing its vibrant community of tech startups, investors, government, and corporate partners to ensure the availability of investment, commercial activities, and incentives from the public and private sectors. Through Hub71’s entrepreneurial infrastructure, value-add programs, enabling services and support packages, founders can build and scale widely adopted technologies with purpose and impact. Hub71 is on a mission to introduce new minds and technologies to Abu Dhabi, finding new ways to build globally enduring technology companies and sustain the nation’s continuous economic development.

For more information visit www.hub71.com and follow us on @Hub71AD #Hub71.

For further information on Emirates NBD, please contact:
Ibrahim Sowaidan
Senior Vice President
Head - Group Corporate Affairs
Emirates NBD
e-mail: ibrahims@emiratesnbd.com
Danaisha Gulabani
ASDA’A BCW
danaishga.gulabani@bcw-global.com
For further information on Hub71, please contact:
Zoe Saunders
Edelman
Email: TechHubEdelman@edelman.com

[1] https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/technology/2023/10/16/gitex-abu-dhabis-hub71-revamps-start-up-incentive-programme/
[2] https://www.moec.gov.ae/en/-/fintech-en