Key Takeaways
- • Du, the UAE's leading telecom and digital services provider, launched du Ventures, a $50 million corporate venture capital fund in partnership with Shorooq, targeting early-stage companies across fintech, AI, cybersecurity, cloud, loyalty, gaming, enterprise solutions, and customer experience technologies.
- • Shorooq will manage the fund with a strategic mandate to prioritize investments aligned with du's corporate priorities, with a significant allocation dedicated to UAE-based ventures to support regional digital economy development.
- • The initiative represents du's strategic pivot from traditional telecommunications into a comprehensive digital ecosystem player, leveraging the company's scale, infrastructure, and enterprise customer base to accelerate commercialization of emerging technologies.
- • CEO Fahad Al Hassawi positioned the fund as a commitment to the UAE's digital economy ambitions while creating long-term value for du's customers, shareholders, and the broader regional economy.
- • The partnership combines Shorooq's investment expertise with du's operational infrastructure and market access, positioning startups to scale with both capital and strategic corporate resources unavailable through traditional venture channels.
Summary
Du, the UAE's leading telecom and digital services provider, announced the launch of du Ventures, a $50 million corporate venture capital fund developed in partnership with Shorooq. The fund marks a significant strategic evolution for du beyond traditional telecommunications into a diversified digital ecosystem operator with exposure to early-stage innovation across multiple technology verticals.
The fund will invest in companies developing solutions in fintech, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, loyalty platforms, gaming, enterprise software, and customer experience technologies. Shorooq, a multi-strategy investment firm, will serve as the fund manager and will prioritize investments that align with du's core business strategy. The investment mandate includes a meaningful allocation specifically directed toward UAE-based ventures, reflecting du's commitment to strengthening the regional startup ecosystem and supporting the country's broader digital economy objectives.
Du CEO Fahad Al Hassawi framed the initiative as a cornerstone of the company's contribution to the UAE's goal of building a globally competitive digital economy. By combining du's operational scale, telecommunications infrastructure, and established enterprise customer relationships with startup-driven innovation, the fund aims to accelerate technology commercialization and generate returns for du shareholders while delivering value to customers and the wider economy. Mahmoud Adi, founding partner at Shorooq, characterized the partnership as a natural alignment, noting that regional startups require both capital and strategic infrastructure to compete globally—assets that du's established market position uniquely provides.
This corporate venture structure allows du to gain early access to emerging technologies that could enhance core telecom services and extend the company's competitive positioning in an increasingly digital marketplace, while simultaneously providing participating startups with institutional customer relationships and operational resources beyond typical venture funding.
The fund will invest in companies developing solutions in fintech, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, loyalty platforms, gaming, enterprise software, and customer experience technologies. Shorooq, a multi-strategy investment firm, will serve as the fund manager and will prioritize investments that align with du's core business strategy. The investment mandate includes a meaningful allocation specifically directed toward UAE-based ventures, reflecting du's commitment to strengthening the regional startup ecosystem and supporting the country's broader digital economy objectives.
Du CEO Fahad Al Hassawi framed the initiative as a cornerstone of the company's contribution to the UAE's goal of building a globally competitive digital economy. By combining du's operational scale, telecommunications infrastructure, and established enterprise customer relationships with startup-driven innovation, the fund aims to accelerate technology commercialization and generate returns for du shareholders while delivering value to customers and the wider economy. Mahmoud Adi, founding partner at Shorooq, characterized the partnership as a natural alignment, noting that regional startups require both capital and strategic infrastructure to compete globally—assets that du's established market position uniquely provides.
This corporate venture structure allows du to gain early access to emerging technologies that could enhance core telecom services and extend the company's competitive positioning in an increasingly digital marketplace, while simultaneously providing participating startups with institutional customer relationships and operational resources beyond typical venture funding.
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