Central Asian Innovation Hubs Open Pathways for Startups to the Middle East

The delegation of the Central Asian Innovation Hub participated in Dubai AI Week 2025, one of the world’s largest events dedicated to artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Their participation marked an important milestone in strengthening the presence of Central Asian startups on the global technology map and laid a strong foundation for their expansion into Middle Eastern markets.

Dubai AI Week, organized by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence and the Dubai Future Foundation, brought together more than 10,000 participants from 100 countries, including leading experts, investors, and representatives of major technology corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, IBM, and NVIDIA. The event’s mission was to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across economies, government institutions, and educational systems.

As part of the program, a memorandum of cooperation aimed at expanding opportunities for Central Asian startups was signed between Astana Hub, IT Park Uzbekistan, Al-Farabi Innovation Hub, and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The document was signed by Magzhan Madiyev, CEO of Astana Hub; Jamila Khalibaeva, Global Marketing Director of IT Park Uzbekistan; Aslan Sultanov, Founder of Al-Farabi Innovation Hub; and Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC.

The parties agreed to establish a joint hub to promote the region’s IT solutions in the UAE, offering startups access to infrastructure, collaborative R&D projects, and international investment funds. This initiative will enable emerging technology companies to accelerate product development and gain entry into Middle Eastern markets, leveraging the resources and expertise of the region’s leading innovation ecosystems.

The memorandum also provides for the launch of joint acceleration programs for startups from Uzbekistan and Central Asia, direct access to DIFC’s venture funds with a combined capital exceeding USD 2 billion, and the exchange of best practices in the regulation of the digital economy and artificial intelligence. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, and Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, underscoring the high level of interregional cooperation.

During the Machines Can See exhibition, the Central Asian Innovation Hub delegation showcased innovative solutions developed by regional startups. Companies such as Qalan, Arlan Biotech, Dereknet, Growz, and Unitlab presented their AI-powered technologies in the exhibition area, attracting interest from investors and representatives of international corporations.

Unitlab AI unveiled a data automation platform that accelerates AI model development by a factor of 15 and reduces costs fivefold by integrating advanced automation tools.

The agrotechnology startup Growz introduced a solution leveraging AI to improve the productivity of smallholder farms by diagnosing plant diseases through image analysis, providing tailored agronomic recommendations, and managing the full cultivation cycle via a mobile application featuring an integrated marketplace.

Commenting on the occasion, Jamila Khalibaeva, Global Marketing Director of IT Park Uzbekistan, stated:

“The establishment of a hub in Dubai is a strategic move that will provide startups from the region with direct access to resources, investment, and advanced expertise from the MENA region. It not only expands growth opportunities for Central Asian entrepreneurs but also supports the integration of the region’s innovative solutions into the global digital economy.”

As part of their business program, the delegation also held meetings with the UAE Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; the Dubai Digital Authority; the DIFC Innovation Hub; the venture studio Truleum Venture Partners; and ITES companies seeking to expand their presence in Central Asia.

The participation of the Central Asian Innovation Hub in Dubai AI Week 2025 reaffirmed Central Asia’s growing role in the global technology landscape and marked a significant step toward building sustainable international partnerships, opening new avenues for the regional startups.