Etihad to become official partner of Abu Dhabi’s tech startup venture Hub71

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has signed an MoU with Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s tech ecosystem, to support the expansion of entrepreneurs innovating in Abu Dhabi.

As official partner of Hub71, Etihad will offer more than 100 global startups within its tech community special rates and access to a dedicated booking platform to simplify their travel needs.

Hub71, is a flagship initiative of Ghadan 21, Abu Dhabi’s accelerator programme for business in the capital, and has expanded from 35 startups to 102 in under two years, representing 191 per cent growth, and raised Dhs185m for startups in 2020.

Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem now includes startups from Israel, South Korea, Czech Republic and Nigeria, which joined in December 2020.

“Etihad is looking forward to collaborating with Hub71, a flagship initiative of Ghadan 21, Abu Dhabi’s accelerator programme. Together, both entities will play a vital role in supporting the Emirate’s development by investing in business, innovation and people. The MOU will support the government’s efforts in diversifying the economy by rewarding businesses who choose to develop innovative technologies in Abu Dhabi,” said Mohammad Al Bulooki, COO at Etihad Aviation Group.

Etihad will also tap into Hub71’s global network of partners, engage with startup founders and entrepreneurs in order to launch innovation-driven activities. The airline will also explore mentorship opportunities, workshops, and community events. “Etihad looks forward to working with Hub71’s global pool of innovators to actively source, support and enable the rapid trial and production of promising solutions for the aviation industry,” added Al Bulooki.

Since Hub71’s launch, its community of startups has hired 250 people with plans for 340 more over the next 12 months.

Read: Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 community passes 100 startups