DIFC and Innovo partner to scale construction technology across UAE

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Innovo Group signed a strategic partnership on Monday, 24 August to accelerate construction technology across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. The agreement, signed at the DIFC Innovation Hub, connects the Dubai PropTech Hub’s ecosystem with Innovo’s portfolio of live construction projects to test and scale new industry solutions. Live Project Testing for Start-ups Under the agreement, Innovo will provide start-ups from the Dubai PropTech Hub with direct access to active construction sites. This physical testing ground is intended to prove the commercial viability of technologies including artificial intelligence, robotics, digital twins, and sustainable building materials. The partnership specifically targets participants in the Global Landing Pad programme, where 50 per cent of current start-ups are focused on pre-construction and site automation. Mohammad Alblooshi, CEO of DIFC Innovation Hub, and Simon Penney, Deputy CEO of Innovo, signed the memorandum of understanding. The signing was witnessed by Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, and Bishoy Azmy, CEO of Innovo Group. The collaboration follows the 2025 launch of the Dubai PropTech Hub, which aims to support 200 start-ups and attract $300 million in investment by 2030. Economic Impact and Sector Growth The construction sector currently contributes approximately 9.2 per cent to the UAE’s GDP. The PropTech 2033 report identifies digital transformation as a primary…