The Innovate Edition | May 2025
20 Emirati leaders join inaugural cohort of Dubai Financial Expert Programme
Dubai International Financial Centre ( DIFC ), the leading global financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and the Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Leadership Development (MBRCLD) announced that 20 Emirati leaders have joined the inaugural cohort of the Dubai Financial Expert Programme, embarking on a six-month intensive training programme.
STRATEGIC SPOTLIGHTS
DIFC Innovation Hub community's start-ups featured in 'UAE Future 50' initiative
Lune® , Itifaq AI , and DeepOpinion , part of the DIFC Innovation Hub community, were among the selected start-ups driving innovation across 15 future-focused sectors, including FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, HR Tech, AgriTech, cybersecurity, renewable energy, smart mobility, and space. These sectors are strategically aligned with the UAE’s vision for economic diversification and global competitiveness.
About Dubai AI Academy:
We are thrilled to announce the latest addition to Dubai AI Campus - Dubai AI Academy. A gateway to mastering the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence.
Dubai AI Academy has partnered with leading organisation and experts to offer specialised and custom programmes designed to equip professionals with a deep understanding of AI technologies, their applications, and strategic implications. Our offerings in AI typically cover a broad spectrum of topics.
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From Dubai to Germany: Sharing a Vision for the Future of Innovation
Mohammad Alblooshi , CEO of DIFC Innovation Hub , joined the Dubai Business Forum Germany to share perspectives on Dubai’s growing innovation ecosystem. His insights offered a valuable look into how Dubai is positioning itself as a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Leading the Conversation: Dubai FinTech Summit 2025 with Insights from Mohammad Alblooshi
At the 2025 Dubai FinTech Summit, global leaders—including Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO of DIFC Innovation Hub—discussed Dubai’s rise as a leading FinTech hub. Arabian Business, the official media partner, shared exclusive insights from the event shaping the future of finance.
This month, we shine a spotlight on three visionary start-ups from the DIFC Innovation Hub community that have been recognised in the ‘UAE Future 50’ initiative by the Government Development and the Future Office, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Economy.
Launched in the presence of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum , the initiative honours high-potential Emirati-founded start-ups driving the UAE’s future economy.
Our Recognised Start-ups:
Lune® Technologies
A UAE-born B2B platform working with banks, FinTechs, and card issuers to enrich and analyse transaction and income data. Lune empowers consumers with a clean, holistic view of their financial habits while enabling institutions to deliver hyper-personalised financial products and insights.
Revolutionising legal research with artificial intelligence, Itifaq simplifies complex legal processes by automating document analysis, generating concise summaries, and offering real-time legal recommendations—all via a user-friendly, trusted chatbot tailored to legal professionals.
A global leader in Agentic Process Automation, DeepOpinion helps enterprises automate mission-critical operations—especially those reliant on unstructured data.
With a no-code platform that combines AI and digitisation, DeepOpinion enables 90%+ automation in back-office workflows. Clients include industry giants such as Allianz, Siemens, and e&.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DUBAI FINTECH SUMMIT 2025
From bold ideas to breakthrough technologies, DIFC Innovation Hub showcased the best of its ecosystem at the Dubai FinTech Summit 2025 through a dynamic series of workshops, masterclasses, and demo days.
Highlights included sessions by Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) on regulatory innovation, Fintech Tuesdays masterclasses on fundraising and autonomous finance, and expert talks by Sfty.co and Legal Circle on compliance and virtual assets.
The summit also featured demo days from leading innovation programmes including ADIB’s Innovation Scouting Programme ( ADIB - Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank ), Ripple’s XRPL Accelerator - Launch Programme ( Ripple ), and Transguard’s Early Stage Accelerator Programme ( Transguard Group ) — spotlighting emerging start-ups with game-changing solutions.
Capping off the event, Fadi Ghandour closed the du AI Advantage Series with a powerful fireside chat on AI, entrepreneurship, and scaling with impact.
WHAT'S ON AT THE HUB
DIFC Innovation Hub partners with Zurich Middle East for the Zurich Financial Well-being and Engagement Innovation Challenge
The challenge focuses on bridging the gap between financial awareness and action. Zurich is seeking platforms that can deliver tailored, mobile-first financial well-being experiences, embed relevant insurance offerings, and use behavioural nudges to drive measurable outcomes.
Asia and India Book of Records Holder, For 30 Patents in a single day.
3moAsia and India Book of Records Holder, For 30 Patents in a single day.
3moBusiness Lawyer | Helping Founders & Startups become Investor Ready through legal structuring and resolving shareholders disputes.
3moSuch a refreshing and informative issue, DIFC Innovation Hub. Thank you for sharing!
EMBA | IT strategy & Digital innovation strategy | Transformation Leader | Project & Portfolio Management Expert | Agile Execution | Bank as a Service | Cass & Waas | Embedded Finance |
3moThe collaboration between DIFC and MBRCLD exemplifies the power of strategic partnerships in fostering leadership development. Such initiatives are crucial for creating a resilient and forward-thinking financial ecosystem in the UAE.