Aqua Labs Investment has announced the launch of a $20 million “Startup Support Programme,” a move that strengthens the UAE’s ambitions to position itself as a global centre for digital innovation and future technologies. The initiative, unveiled in Dubai and supported by recent regulatory licensing in Abu Dhabi, demonstrates the country’s growing focus on blockchain, Web3, artificial intelligence and advanced financial infrastructure as key pillars of its Vision 2030 national strategy.
The fund aims to support early-stage ventures working in frontier technology sectors, particularly those driving real-world asset tokenisation, decentralised digital systems and next-generation financial products. Through this programme, startups will receive funding, technical support, access to Web3 infrastructure, mentorship and strategic guidance, alongside opportunities to integrate into the UAE’s fast-expanding innovation ecosystem.
Speaking at the Vision 2030: Global Digital Economy & Brand Excellence Summit in Dubai, Aqua Labs founding partner Bobby Zhou highlighted the company’s mission not just to promote technological advancement, but to build real-world infrastructure that bridges institutional value systems with emerging digital frameworks. He emphasised that blockchain continues to be misunderstood by many who associate it solely with speculation and crypto market volatility, while its true potential lies in creating secure, transparent and trust-based digital systems.
According to Zhou, the role of Aqua Labs is to help shape this narrative by backing credible innovation and supporting founders who can apply blockchain and advanced digital tools to transform industries and governments. “Too often, when people hear the word ‘blockchain,’ they think of volatility, speculation or fringe technologies. For us, blockchain represents excellence and virtue. It is a framework for trust in the digital world,” he stated during the event. He added that the company’s focus is on building systems that encourage accountability, transparency and cross-border innovation.
Aqua Labs Investment recently secured its licence under Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development, allowing it to operate as the investment and infrastructure arm of the Aqua1 Foundation. The foundation focuses on using blockchain and tokenisation to create technological systems that serve sovereign wealth funds, regulatory bodies, enterprises and global institutions. The organisation believes that the UAE has created a regulatory and economic environment that is unmatched in terms of encouraging blockchain-driven digital transformation.
The $20 million programme will evaluate founders and startups from across the world, particularly those who can bring high-impact solutions and scalable business models to the UAE market. Venture support will not be limited to capital. Aqua Labs plans to create structured incubation and acceleration tracks, foster corporate partnerships and enable regulatory support for companies building in fintech, tokenised assets, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
The strategic timing of this fund launch aligns with multiple national priorities. The UAE government has repeatedly emphasised the importance of building a diversified digital economy, with major policy announcements on artificial intelligence, metaverse strategies, blockchain regulation, fintech licensing and national coding initiatives. With global interest in the tokenisation of real-world assets accelerating, international financial institutions now view the UAE as a primary testing ground for asset-backed digital investment products, sustainability-linked tokens and advanced capital-market infrastructures.
Industry analysts say the UAE’s approach to innovation stands out because it balances open-market incentives with strong governance, making it attractive to both startups and institutional capital. The presence of sovereign funds, global banks, fintech companies, blockchain enterprises and advanced digital infrastructure players has created a competitive yet collaborative innovation environment. Aqua Labs enters at a time when the ecosystem is growing rapidly, with founders increasingly selecting the UAE as a launchpad to scale globally.
The fund also reflects broader trends in the region, where the Gulf has positioned itself as a hub for modern economic models, including AI-driven businesses, blockchain-enabled trade and tokenisation-powered investment platforms. By helping founders access ecosystems across Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Aqua Labs aims to nurture the next wave of technology companies that will shape the digital economy across the Middle East, Asia and beyond.
In announcing the programme, Zhou reiterated that Aqua Labs sees its mission as long-term and transformational, not transactional. He stressed that innovation requires structure, resources and consistent mentorship, and said the organisation intends to play a hands-on role in helping founders execute ambitious ideas with practical, real-world impact. “Our goal is not just to imagine the future. Our goal is to build it,” he noted.
With the launch of this fund, Aqua Labs positions itself as a strategic participant in the UAE’s digital transformation journey. The initiative not only supports Vision 2030 but also shows confidence in the country’s future as a global centre for fintech, blockchain and AI-driven industries.
