How does Tumar Innovation Hub in the UAE work and how is it beneficial for startups in Central Asia

Recently, we held a live stream in our Telegram channel, where we discussed how the IT hub in the UAE is structured—from selection and participation conditions to how it can benefit teams from Central Asia. Below is the text version of the conversation for those who couldn’t join.

Rinata Ilyubaeva, CEO Tumar Innovation Hub

About me

I have been working in the IT sector for about nine years. Currently, I serve as the Chief Operating Officer at White Hill Capital, the holding company that oversees Tumar Venture Capital. Additionally, the company is developing the innovative hubs division in partnership with Astana Hub.

In 2024, our team launched the Al-Farabi Hub in Saudi Arabia, and in 2025, we opened a new hub in the United Arab Emirates as part of the Central Asian Innovation Hub initiative, implemented jointly with Astana Hub and IT Park Uzbekistan. In this project, I act as the Chief Executive Officer: I coordinate strategic partnerships and am responsible for implementing key tasks.

We recently announced the start of applications for the hub’s first acceleration program, which will take place in Dubai from September to November 2025. Applications can be submitted until June 20.

About Tumar Innovation Hub

In Kazakhstan, as well as in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries, there is a common task—to export technological talents and IT projects abroad. The region has a strong technological school, many DeepTech projects, good universities, and successful startup examples. However, on the global stage, Central Asia is currently underrepresented compared to Southeast Asia, Europe, and India. The goal is to strengthen the market and make it more recognizable.

To strengthen the market, Astana Hub and IT Park Uzbekistan launched the Central Asian Innovation Hub, which helps in promoting the brands of the countries and exporting IT projects. Offices are already operating in Silicon Valley, London, and Spain; they will soon appear in China and Saudi Arabia, and the next step is the Emirates.

The entire MENA region—the Middle East and Africa—is being considered. This is a promising market that is currently underexplored in the region. The African market is huge, and there are almost no projects from Central Asia there. For IT companies to enter that market and find the right niche, they need support. This is exactly the support that innovative hubs provide—they create infrastructure for a “soft landing.”

If a startup or technology company wants to expand beyond its region, the hub helps with every step: from company registration to finding investors and clients. This includes consulting on taxes and marketing, assistance with pilot projects, access to large companies and local investors. This allows for shortening the path and avoiding the mistakes of others.

The region is also logistically convenient: short flights and regular schedules. Dubai is a good hub for entering the Middle East and Africa markets. For example, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, and Qatar are huge markets where one city can have a population equal to the entire Central Asian region.

If a company already has a product that has proven its value in the local market and wants to scale, the next step is to find partners and build a network. In our hub, you can get all of this: connections, support, and acceleration of all processes. This is easier and faster than trying to enter a new market on your own.

This is the main task of the hub—to help startups enter the global market faster and more efficiently.

How to become a hub resident

We recently opened applications for the first acceleration program, the Digital Startups Scale-Up Program by Tumar Innovation Hub in Dubai. The accelerator starts in September 2025, with 10 startups planned to participate. You can apply now on the website—the deadline is June 20: applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Projects that did not make the final ten but have potential can become hub residents. Those who are not interested in acceleration but are ready to enter the international market can also apply for residency. To apply, you will need a pitch deck, a presentation, and an introductory call—the hub team will assess the product maturity and market readiness.

Participation formats range from virtual to offline residency. Within two months, the hub will complete the legal formalities, after which coworking space, office rentals, and business launch assistance in the UAE will become available.

The Emirates market is complex for beginners: there are numerous free zones, licenses, and nuances. The hub offers initial consultations, helps choose a free zone and license type, and provides trusted partners. Among the partners are the Dubai International Financial Center, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai Internet City. All services are available on the hub’s platform as part of comprehensive market entry support.

Opportunities for residents

Tumar Innovation Hub in Dubai will have a full-fledged co-working space where residents can work, meet with clients, and participate in hub events—meetups, meetings with lawyers, marketers, and service providers, as well as networking activities.

Residents will gain access to a community of startups from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other regional countries. Partnerships have already been established with several projects, allowing for direct communication—including through live streams with founders.

The hub is also preparing strategic partnerships with local entities. A collaboration with a major international bank in the UAE will be announced soon. Negotiations are also underway with technology companies and free zones that will assist with incorporation and licensing. Resident status will provide direct access to these organizations, bypassing cold applications and LinkedIn correspondence.

Additionally, residents will have access to bonuses and benefits, which will be announced later.

Tumar Innovation Hub Support

One of the key tasks of Tumar Innovation Hub is supporting startups in attracting investment and entering international markets. The team already has experience in this area: the Tumar VC venture fund is operational, and connections with leading investment funds have been established.

All hub residents can expect support in fundraising—both in the Central Asian and Emirati markets. Startups will gain access to local venture investors, with whom the hub will share pitch decks, organize meetings, recommend projects, and invite investors to mentorship. Additionally, a demo day is planned, similar to the format successfully implemented in Saudi Arabia. Alongside it, separate matchmaking events will be organized with representatives of free zones, innovative hubs, and other relevant structures.

A large number of specialized events—summits, forums, exhibitions—are held in the Emirates, which are not always accessible to market newcomers. Through the hub’s partners, startups will be able to receive information about such events, participate in them, including on preferential terms. Some projects may qualify for free startup packages, which are usually available for an additional fee. 

How the hub helps startups resolve legal and regulatory issues

The UAE market is more complex than it seems at first glance. One of the key challenges is choosing the right jurisdiction. The country has more than 40 economic zones, such as Dubai Internet City, Media City, Silicon Oasis, and others, and each actively promotes its services, but they do not always suit specific businesses.

Based on the team’s experience, there were cases where a company registered in one zone, only to later find out that its activities were better suited to another. This led to losses of time and money. To avoid such errors, the hub assists with screening, selecting the optimal zone, and choosing a license. Communication is conducted in Russian, Kazakh, and Uzbek.

Thanks to partnerships with trusted service providers, registration through the hub is cheaper than doing it directly. Selection is carried out considering the business model: FinTech—DFC, B2G—EDGM, and so on.

The hub also supports startups with regulatory issues. Unlike Central Asia, the UAE requires careful coordination and certification. Successfully passing these stages significantly increases the chances of commercial success.

Additionally, hub residents will be able to receive recommendation letters. Such letters, confirming that the project is supported by partner organizations such as Astana Hub or IT Park Uzbekistan, increase the chances of passing compliance and strengthen trust from local partners and investors.

Current state of the IT market and innovative ecosystems in the region

The MENA ecosystem is heterogeneous—countries in the region differ significantly in population, investment climate, and approach to technology. For example, despite its small size, Qatar has become an attractive direction due to state investments and a strong brand. Meanwhile, more populous markets, such as Egypt or Iraq, are less often in the focus of startups—despite their potential.

Entry into the MENA market should depend on the product. For AI startups, it makes sense to start with the UAE and Saudi Arabia—there, AI is included in state programs and actively promoted. If the product is related to infrastructure, it is worth looking at more populous countries where there is less competition and higher demand for basic technologies.

Special attention deserves Africa. For example, Rwanda is actively developing its IT sector, attracting foreign projects, and hosting large digital forums. Startups with a license and account in the UAE find it easier to enter such markets than to work remotely from Central Asia.

MENA is not a single market, but a collection of directions with different dynamics. But it is precisely here that there are currently the most opportunities for startups from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Starting with this region is often simpler and more effective than with other international markets.

Plans

I recommend subscribing to our social media channels—mine, Aslan Sultanov’s, as well as Astana Hub and IT Park Uzbekistan. All announcements are published there first, and also duplicated on LinkedIn and the website.

Also, a series of free online events will start soon: we will talk about free zones, taxes, the differences between the Emirates and other MENA countries, and opportunities in Africa. They are open to everyone—not just hub residents.

From September—the busy season begins: the launch of the accelerator, participation in Digital Bridge and ICT Week in Uzbekistan, where various events are planned.

Do you consider early stages? What other criteria are important for DeepTech besides AI?

Are there partnerships with local universities?

Answers to these and other questions are in our recent live stream: https://t.me/thetechkz/8848.