Dubai PropTech Hub partners with Innovo to accelerate construction innovation

Dubai PropTech Hub, an initiative of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has partnered with Innovo Group to accelerate the development and adoption of construction technologies across the UAE and the wider Global South.

The agreement will combine Innovo’s live construction projects and engineering expertise with Dubai PropTech Hub’s innovation ecosystem, allowing new technologies to be identified, tested, and scaled in real-world environments.

The partnership was signed at DIFC by Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO of DIFC Innovation Hub, and Simon Penney, Deputy CEO of Innovo, in the presence of Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, and Bishoy Azmy, CEO of Innovo.

Through the collaboration, Innovo will provide startups and innovators with access to its portfolio of live construction projects, giving companies opportunities to test and validate solutions before wider commercial deployment.

The initiative will focus on technologies including AI, robotics, digital twins, automation, sustainable materials, and new construction methodologies, with the aim of improving cost efficiency, speed, productivity, and project delivery.

The partnership comes as technology plays a growing role in the UAE’s construction sector, which contributes approximately 9.2% to the country’s 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 startups and attract over $300 million in investment by 2030. The hub provides licensing options, dedicated workspaces, and support programs designed to help companies move from concept to commercialization.

Half of the participants in its inaugural Global Landing Pad program are focused on pre-construction and construction, making access to live projects a key part of helping emerging technologies progress toward commercial adoption.

“The Dubai PropTech Hub was established to serve as a regional platform where innovation meets industry at scale,” said Amiri. “Innovo’s participation enhances our ability to move PropTech solutions from concept into live construction environments.”

The collaboration also aims to take PropTech solutions developed in the UAE to international markets through Innovo’s presence across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, regions expected to experience significant urbanization and construction growth.

“The construction industry is at a critical innovation juncture,” said Azmy. “By joining Dubai PropTech Hub, Innovo is reinforcing its commitment to reimagining construction and providing startups with the live project environments and engineering expertise needed to prove and scale their solutions.”

The partnership will establish a framework for developing and deploying technologies designed to improve productivity, safety, quality, and sustainability in construction, while supporting Dubai’s ambition to strengthen its position as a global hub for PropTech and real estate innovation.