DUBAI, 24th August, 2026 (WAM) -- Dubai PropTech Hub, an initiative of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and Innovo Group have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate construction innovation across the UAE and the wider Global South.
The agreement was signed at DIFC by Mohammad Alblooshi, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Innovation Hub, and Simon Penney, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Innovo, in the presence of Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, and Bishoy Azmy, Chief Executive Officer of Innovo.
The partnership will combine Innovo's live construction projects, engineering expertise and innovation ecosystem with Dubai PropTech Hub's capabilities to identify, test and scale technologies that improve cost efficiency, speed and delivery certainty.
The UAE construction sector contributes approximately 9.2 percent to GDP and is a key focus of Dubai PropTech Hub's PropTech 2033 report.
Launched in 2025 as part of DIFC Innovation Hub, Dubai PropTech Hub aims to support more than 200 PropTech start-ups and attract over US$300 million in investment by 2030. It provides licensing options, dedicated workspaces and support programmes to help companies move from concept to commercialisation.
Innovo will open its portfolio of live projects to start-ups and innovators, providing real-world environments in which new solutions can be tested and validated before wider deployment.
Half of the participants in Dubai PropTech Hub's inaugural Global Landing Pad programme focus on pre-construction and construction. Innovo's project access will support the testing and scaling of technologies including artificial intelligence, robotics, digital twins, automation, sustainable materials and new construction methodologies.
The partnership also aims to extend PropTech solutions developed in the UAE across Innovo's footprint in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, supporting technology-enabled construction models in markets expected to see significant urbanisation and construction growth.
Arif Amiri said, "The Dubai PropTech Hub was established to serve as a regional platform where innovation meets industry at scale. Innovo's participation enhances our ability to move PropTech solutions from concept into live construction environments."
He added that providing start-ups with access to real projects would accelerate commercial adoption and reinforce Dubai's position as a global leader in real estate innovation.
Bishoy Azmy said, "The construction industry is at a critical innovation juncture. By joining Dubai PropTech Hub, Innovo is reinforcing its commitment to reimagining construction and providing start-ups with the live project environments and engineering expertise needed to prove and scale their solutions."
The partnership establishes a framework for developing and deploying construction technologies that support productivity, safety, quality and sustainability, while strengthening Dubai's position as a hub for PropTech and construction innovation.