Why Hong Kong’s Cyberport AI hub matters for the UAE’s tech ambitions

As the global race for leadership in artificial intelligence (AI), fintech and digital infrastructure intensifies, innovation hubs are increasingly defined by their ability to connect talent, capital and markets across borders. One such platform gaining attention from Middle Eastern innovators is Cyberport, a major digital technology ecosystem in Hong Kong that is positioning itself as a launch pad for global AI development and cross-regional collaboration.

Wholly owned by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Cyberport has evolved from a technology park into a strategic digital innovation hub supporting artificial intelligence, fintech, blockchain, cybersecurity and smart-city technologies. Today, the ecosystem hosts more than 2,300 companies, including several listed firms and unicorn start-ups.

For the United Arab Emirates, where national policies increasingly prioritise AI leadership and digital transformation, Cyberport offers a platform that connects the Middle East with fast-growing Asian markets.

Connecting Middle East innovators with Asian markets

Cyberport has positioned itself as a “super-connector” that links global startups and investors to opportunities across Asia, particularly in the Chinese Mainland and the ASEAN region.

According to Simon Chan, the ecosystem provides Middle Eastern innovators and investors with direct access to Asian markets through a network of more than 500 global partners.

Over the past year alone, more than 480 companies joined Cyberport, including over 150 firms from overseas and mainland China, highlighting the hub’s growing role as an international technology platform.

Cyberport’s diverse ecosystem includes more than 500 AI and data science companies, over 400 fintech firms, and hundreds of startups in blockchain, cybersecurity and digital entertainment. Many of these companies have gone on to secure listings on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), with a combined market capitalisation exceeding HK$336 billion.

Strengthening UAE–Hong Kong innovation ties

The Middle East has become an increasingly important region for Cyberport’s global strategy.

The organisation has formed partnerships with key regional innovation platforms such as Dubai Future Foundation and Hub71 in Abu Dhabi. These collaborations aim to support cross-border expansion of startups between Asia and the Gulf.

One of the key agreements involves a memorandum of understanding between Cyberport and Dubai Future Foundation to facilitate the mutual landing of high-potential startups in both ecosystems.

The initiative was signed in the presence of John Lee and Omar Sultan Al Olama, highlighting the growing alignment between Hong Kong’s innovation agenda and the UAE’s digital economy ambitions.

Cyberport has also organised delegations of fintech startups to the UAE, visiting institutions such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Office to explore partnerships and investment opportunities.

AI infrastructure powering the next phase

At the centre of Cyberport’s strategy is the development of large-scale AI infrastructure.

The hub recently launched the AI Supercomputing Centre, designed to support high-performance computing for large language models, generative AI and data-intensive applications.

According to Rocky Cheng, the facility will deliver 3,000 petaflops of computing power, supported by around HK$3 billion in government subsidies aimed at accelerating AI research and commercialisation.

The centre will also support initiatives around AI governance, risk management and ethics — areas that are increasingly important for regulated industries such as finance, healthcare and smart-city infrastructure in the Gulf.

Building a launch pad for global digital growth

Cyberport is also expanding its physical innovation infrastructure through Cyberport 5, a new campus designed to host international startups, technology firms and investors.

The expansion reflects a belief that while digital innovation is borderless, physical ecosystems that concentrate talent, capital and computing resources remain essential for collaboration and growth.

For UAE entrepreneurs and investors seeking access to Asia’s fast-growing technology markets, Cyberport is positioning itself as a scalable gateway — combining financial connectivity, advanced computing infrastructure and cross-border startup support.

As the UAE deepens its engagement with Asian markets and accelerates its own AI-driven transformation, platforms like Cyberport could play a critical role in shaping the next phase of global digital collaboration.