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Dubai announces Nad Zabeel research campus for 30,000 annual participants
Five-year construction timeline targets laboratories, research centres and innovation incubators in Zabeel Park.
Dubai announced Nad Zabeel, a research and innovation campus to be built in Zabeel Park within five years, with capacity for more than 30,000 annual participants in its programmes and events. The announcement was made on 1 November 2026, according to The National and Arabian Business. The campus is described as a research, development and innovation facility designed to bring together universities, technology companies, investors and government departments.
Campus scope and facilities#
The campus will house laboratories, scientific and research centres, and innovation incubators. It will provide space for universities, technology companies, investors and government departments. Leisure facilities and dedicated spaces for scientific and professional events are included in the plan. The site will accommodate entities developing future legislation, start-ups, and local and international investment companies, according to The National. The facility aims to attract scientists, researchers, engineers and specialised talent from the Emirates and internationally.
Programme structure and collaboration model#
Nad Zabeel will operate accelerator and incubator programmes supporting companies in accessing investment required for growth and scaling. The campus aims to strengthen collaboration between government, investors, researchers and start-ups through these programmes. The accelerator and incubator initiatives are designed to support promising companies and help them access the investment required to grow and scale, The National reported. The campus will provide a base for entities developing future legislation, in addition to start-ups and local and international investment companies.
DIFC parallel development in Zabeel District#
DIFC's Dubai AI Campus is targeting more than 1,000 AI companies and 5,000 specialised jobs by 2030, with plans for a 100,000 square foot innovation hub in DIFC Zabeel District, Construction Week Online reported. The DIFC facility is a separate development from the Nad Zabeel campus announced for Zabeel Park. The DIFC Dubai AI Campus aims to accommodate AI companies and create specialised employment by the end of the decade, according to the report.
Sources3 sources across 3 domains
- thenationalnews.comThe NationalNad Zabeel announcement date, five-year timeline, campus facilities, 30,000 annual participants, accelerator programmes
- arabianbusiness.comArabian BusinessZabeel Park location, 30,000 annual participants figure
- constructionweekonline.comConstruction Week OnlineDIFC Dubai AI Campus targets, 100,000 square foot facility, DIFC Zabeel District location, 1,000 companies target, 5,000 jobs target, 2030 timeline
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