Post by Fast Company Middle East

#InTheNews: Abu Dhabi has entered the world’s top 50 emerging startup ecosystems after its ecosystem value surged 3,057% to $73.4 billion, according to the 2026 Global Startup Ecosystem Report from Startup Genome and the Global Entrepreneurship Network. Unveiled at the VivaTech conference in Paris, the report analyzed data from more than 5.5 million companies across over 350 startup ecosystems worldwide. Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO, Hub71, said: “Abu Dhabi’s continued progress reflects the strength of its innovation ecosystem and the collective efforts of founders, investors, corporates, and ecosystem partners. Greater access to capital, specialized talent, progressive regulation, and stronger market connections are creating an environment where ambitious startups can scale and compete globally. At Hub71, we remain focused on enabling founders to build enduring companies and reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for technology and innovation.” Samantha E., Managing Director MENA, Startup Genome, said: “Abu Dhabi’s 10+ rank leap in a single year positions it as one of MENA’s most dynamic emerging ecosystems and a benchmark for one of the region’s most deliberate ecosystem-building strategies. Its rise across AI, FinTech, ClimateTech, and Web3 & Digital Assets, and startup performance shows how the institutional backing of Hub71 can accelerate ecosystem maturity.” The report also ranked Abu Dhabi strongly across several MENA categories, highlighting its growing role in the region’s startup ecosystem.