Yesterday AstroLabs, the first Google partnered Tech Hub in the region held their launch event at their new premises in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lake Tower district.
Founded by local entrepreneurs Louis Lebbos and Muhammed Mekki, who spent the last two years training hundreds of startups across MENA, AstroLabs offers scalable tech startups a custom coworking space, mentorship, and business licenses to start operating in the UAE. AstroLabs members join an exclusive Google for Entrepreneurs Passport Program, allowing them to access over twenty Google-partnered hubs across the globe, from Seoul to San Francisco. AstroLabs already has over 40 startups working at its offices. AstroLabs is enabling top startups from around the world to set up in Dubai’s DMCC Free Zone while taking advantage of Google for Entrepreneurs’ global network and resources.
Keynote speakers receiving gifts from AstroLabs team
“Dubai has all the right ingredients to become a leading global destination for tech startups, and we are working toward realizing that goal. Going forward, Louis and I are excited to continue building communities of entrepreneurs who make things happen.”
– Muhammed Mekki, AstroLabs Founding Partner.
AstroLabs’ public launch introduces a purpose-built 6,500 sqft coworking space designed for entrepreneurs, featuring a Google mobile device lab, five meeting and video conferencing rooms, a training and events facility, and artisanal coffee boutique 59 Degrees. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the ground-level space sits parkside in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lakes Towers district.
Prominent guests who appeared at the event included His Eminence, Mohammed Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs, who spoke of how far Dubai and the UAE has come in the past 20 years. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to entrepreneurship and the importance of the AstroLabs Dubai tech hub in this national Year of Innovation.
HE Mohammed Al Gergawi with Muhammed Mekki touring AstroLabs Dubai
Also at the event was Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of the DMCC who spoke about how fast the DMCC grew since its inception.
“Welcoming AstroLabs Dubai, the only Google-partnered tech hub in the MENA region, to the DMCC Free Zone is a proud moment for us. This initiative will provide disruptive tech entrepreneurs with the right environment to further drive technology and expertise in the region, and further support Dubai’s bid of becoming the global center for innovation”
– Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of the DMCC
Representing Google at the event was Mohamed Mourad, Head of Google, MENA and David Grunwald, Senior Manager for Google for Entrepreneurs in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Mohamed Mourad went into detail about how Google aims to help at AstroLabs, one key factor being that local Googlers will have the option to dedicate 20% of their worktime to instead travel down to AstroLabs and mentor entrepreneurs.
“We are delighted to be expanding our international tech hub network by partnering with AstroLabs in Dubai, which has a track record of helping founders grow and thrive in an inclusive community. We look forward to connecting their members to our global partner network and seeing the magic happen.”
– David Grunwald, Senior Manager for Google for Entrepreneurs in Europe, Middle East and Africa
