Emirates NBD and Techstars Partner to Accelerate AI and FinTech Innovation Across MENAT

Technology

Emirates NBD and Techstars Partner to Accelerate AI and FinTech Innovation Across MENAT

Emirates NBD has partnered with global startup accelerator Techstars to accelerate the development and commercial adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and FinTech solutions across the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye (MENAT) region.

Announced on July 6, the strategic collaboration introduces an "Acceleration-to-Enterprise" model that aims to move beyond traditional startup mentorship by integrating high-growth AI and FinTech innovations directly into Emirates NBD's banking ecosystem across multiple markets.

The partnership follows Emirates NBD's recent recognition as the top-ranked bank in the inaugural Evident AI Index for Banks – Middle East and Africa, where it was the only institution to rank among the top three in Talent, Innovation, and Leadership, highlighting its maturity in artificial intelligence.

The collaboration combines Techstars' global network of more than 11,000 founders with Emirates NBD's innovation ecosystem, which includes FinTech engagement programmes, AI-driven transformation initiatives and strategic technology partnerships.

Emirates NBD currently operates more than 50 active AI use cases, and the new alliance will focus on helping agentic AI and FinTech startups develop scalable commercial solutions in areas including regulatory compliance, wealth management, SME banking, and capital markets.

The initiative also supports the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to position Dubai among the world's top four global financial centres by 2033.

Miguel Rio Tinto, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at Emirates NBD, said Dubai is now home to nearly 60 per cent of GCC FinTech companies, making it an ideal environment to foster the next generation of innovation in agentic finance.

He said the partnership will provide selected AI and FinTech startups with direct access to enterprise banking, enabling them to develop solutions capable of transforming services for the bank's nine million active customers.

Neeraj Makin, Group Head of Strategy, Analytics and Venture Capital at Emirates NBD, said the collaboration strengthens the bank's innovation ecosystem by connecting it with global technology and startup communities.

He noted that access to emerging founders, new technologies and market intelligence will help accelerate innovation aligned with the bank's long-term digital and AI strategy across the region.

Unlike traditional accelerator programmes, the initiative is designed to enhance customer experiences through secure, personalised and AI-powered banking services. Startups that demonstrate practical commercial value will gain access to Emirates NBD's cloud-native infrastructure to pilot solutions addressing growing demand for AI-enabled financial services and investor intelligence throughout the MENAT region.

David Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of Techstars, said the partnership offers startups an opportunity to work directly with one of the region's most technologically advanced financial institutions.

He added that the UAE's ambition to become a global centre for intelligent, data-driven innovation makes it an ideal launchpad for enterprise-grade financial technologies.

During 2025, Emirates NBD expanded its AI capabilities, modernised customer journeys and strengthened its cloud-native technology infrastructure through significant investment in generative AI and digital transformation.

The bank said these capabilities will now be made available to startups participating in the Techstars ecosystem, supporting the next phase of financial inclusion, digital banking innovation and economic growth.

The partnership also complements Emirates NBD's wider innovation initiatives, including the National Digital Talent Incubator (NDTI), which focuses on developing the next generation of regional FinTech entrepreneurs.