Hub71 + Life Sciences: Abu Dhabi’s Next Chapter in Healthcare Innovation

Discover how Hub71’s new Life Sciences vertical is transforming Abu Dhabi into a global hub for biotechnology, digital health, and medical innovation — with startups like Bio Sapien and Epi Bone leading the way.

A New Era for Health Innovation

When Abu Dhabi launched Hub71 in 2019, it was more than a startup hub — it was a blueprint for a new kind of innovation economy. Today, that blueprint is expanding with the creation of Hub71 + Life Sciences, a new vertical that cements the emirate’s ambition to become a global centre for biotech, digital health, and medical research.

“We were getting a lot of strong health startups,” explains Divya Claudia Nair, who leads startup journey and ecosystem development at Hub71. “But the question was — do we have enough hospitals, labs, and clinical partners to support them? Was Abu Dhabi actually ready? Today, the answer is yes.”

Building the Infrastructure for Biotech and Digital Health

Abu Dhabi’s readiness is the result of years of ecosystem building. The Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has launched HELM — Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine — as a cornerstone initiative connecting government, academia, and private sector healthcare.

Now, entities such as Mubadala Health, PureHealth, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, 42 Group, and Blue Bottle Bio are working in tandem to create the labs, clinical trial infrastructure, and R&D partnerships that life science founders need to succeed.

Hub71’s role sits at the intersection of technology and healthcare, providing the access, mentorship, and investment that turns early innovation into scalable health impact.

Pioneering Founders, Transformative Ideas

Abu Dhabi’s new life sciences landscape is already producing global success stories.

One example is Bio Sapien, founded by Dr Khatijah, who developed a skin patch that delivers targeted chemotherapy directly to cancer sites. Inspired by her own father’s battle with cancer, the technology enables patients to receive treatment while maintaining normal life.

Since relocating to Abu Dhabi, Bio Sapien has raised more than $8 million, including funding from Golden Gate Ventures, and has entered clinical trials with the Department of Health.

Another is Epi Bone, a regenerative medicine pioneer using stem cells to grow new bone and cartilage tissue. With more than $50 million raised and FDA-approved trials already underway, the company is now expanding into the region to explore healthcare and defence applications.

“It’s not just about who wants to build in Abu Dhabi,” says Nair. “It’s also about whether Abu Dhabi is ready to support them — and now, with the right hospitals, labs, and partners in place, the answer is a clear yes.”

Collaboration at the Core

Hub71’s model is ecosystem-first, not accelerator-only. Rather than pushing startups through fixed programs, the team builds bespoke pathways — connecting each founder to regulators, investors, universities, and clinical partners that align with their mission.

This collaborative approach reflects Abu Dhabi’s wider innovation culture — agile, interconnected, and access-driven. Founders can meet regulators at ADGM, discuss trials with health authorities, or sit down with potential investors — all within the same ecosystem.

“You can’t get that kind of access in many markets,” says Nair. “Here, a founder can sit down with regulators or hospital partners and shape the future together.”

Sustainable Growth Over Vanity Metrics

While Hub71’s latest cohort drew 2,467 applications, only about 1.5 to 2 percent will be selected. This deliberate approach ensures depth of support over volume, maintaining Hub71’s focus on quality founders who are genuinely committed to building in Abu Dhabi.

“If you bring in a hundred startups and can’t support them properly, you’re just another program,” Nair explains. “We want to build something sustainable and meaningful.”

From Capital Hub to Innovation Capital

The launch of Hub71 + Life Sciences signals a wider shift in global perception: Abu Dhabi is no longer simply a source of investment capital — it’s becoming a launchpad for world-changing innovation.

By connecting global biotech, medtech, and healthtech founders with the resources, research networks, and market access they need, Abu Dhabi is accelerating the next generation of healthcare breakthroughs — from precision medicine and biotechnology to AI-driven diagnostics and medical robotics.

“We’re not just attracting startups,” Nair concludes. “We’re building an ecosystem that makes them want to stay.”