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AstroLabs

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AstroLabs DMCC
Founded2013
FounderLouis Lebbos, Muhammed Mekki
Area served
United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Key people
Roland Daher (CEO)
Websiteastrolabs.com

AstroLabs is a Dubai-based business setup consultant with offices in Riyadh and Dubai.[1][2][3] They specialize in company formation, licensing, and ecosystem integration for international firms entering the Saudi Arabian and United Arab Emirates (UAE) markets. It started as a Google for Startups (GFS) co-working space member of the GFS Tech Hub Network, as of 2024 it is no longer with the program.[4]

Overview

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AstroLabs is the first tech hub that is partnered with Google in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).[5][6][7]AstroLabs was founded in 2012 by Louis Lebbos & Muhammed Mekki, co-founders of Namshi.com.[8][9] The company launched in March 2013.[10]

It operates from Dubai and Riyadh and the coworking space are in Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Riyadh.[11]

In 2018, Astrolabs opened a second co-working space in Dubai in collaboration with IBM and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre.[11]

In the same year, AstroLabs received its incubator license from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), also known as Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) now, becoming the first international incubator to win the license.[12][13][14]

In 2020, Astrolabs launched its first Set-Up in Saudi Platform, on how businesses can set up a 100% foreign-owned entity in the Kingdom.[15]AstroLabs has inspired the formation of technology-based businesses in the area.[16]

In November 2024, AstroLabs partnered with Bahrain's Labour Fund Tamkeen to assist Bahraini businesses in expanding into the Saudi Arabian market.[17][18]

In 2024, AstroLabs marked the expansion of 600 businesses into Saudi Arabia at its "600 Forward" event and launched the AstroLabs Network to support collaboration and industry insight sharing.[19][20]

In May 2024, AstroLabs partnered with PepsiCo, SABIC, and others to launch the Mega Green Accelerator, a six-month program supporting MENA startups focused on sustainability and climate innovation.[21][22]

In November 2024, AstroLabs partnered with Bahrain's Labour Fund Tamkeen to assist Bahraini businesses in expanding into the Saudi Arabian market.[23][18]

In April 2025, Aquivio expanded to Saudi Arabia, partnering with AstroLabs to advance circular economy practices through its hydration technology.[24][25][26]

Company name

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The company's name is based upon the astrolabe, a tool for navigation that was used by mariners in the Middle Ages.[27]

References

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  1. ^ "Developers in the Desert: Google's Oasis for Startups in Dubai". Bloomberg L.P.
  2. ^ Davis, Lakisha (2025-04-08). "Expanding to Saudi? Here are the top 7 Business Expansion Companies". Metapress. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  3. ^ Shamsi, Awais (2025-04-08). "Top 3 Business Setup Consultants in Saudi Arabia". Bm Times. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  4. ^ "Busy times at Google-partnered tech hub AstroLabs - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More". Arabian Business. 2015-12-30. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  5. ^ "Gitex Technology Week to Host Global Start-Up Meet". Khaleej Times. 7 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Smooth sailing for Dubai start-ups with AstroLabs co-working space". The National. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Google Ties Up with AstroLabs to Create Tech Hub in Dubai". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  8. ^ "AstroLabs Dubai sign on 30 startups ahead of Google tech hub launch". Wamda.
  9. ^ "AstroLabs". DMCC.
  10. ^ Hamid, Triska (March 4, 2015). "AstroLabs gives women in tech start-ups a helping hand". The National. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  11. ^ a b Anderson, Robert (2018-04-04). "Dubai's AstroLabs opens second co-working space for start-ups". Gulf Business. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  12. ^ Staff, M. B. (2018-12-13). "UAE's AstroLabs expands to Saudi, launches a coworking space in Riyadh". MENAbytes. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  13. ^ "SAGIA issues foreign investment license to AstroLabs". Arab News. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  14. ^ "SAGIA issues first foreign investment license for business incubator company". Saudigazette. 2018-11-24. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  15. ^ "AstroLabs' New Online Platform Eases Procedures For Setting Up Foreign Companies In Saudi Arabia".
  16. ^ "Omani Entrepreneur Seeks to Replicate Dubai Success with Shopping Website in Sultanate". Times of Oman. 29 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2018-11-15. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Tamkeen Supports Expansion of Bahraini Enterprises into Saudi Market in Collaboration with AstroLabs". Bahrain News Agency. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  18. ^ a b J, J. (2024-11-12). "AstroLabs and Tamkeen Team Up to Put Bahraini Businesses on the Saudi Map". WAYA. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  19. ^ Boswell, Rachel. "AstroLabs Celebrates Expanding 600 High-Growth Businesses to Saudi Arabia at the '600 Forward' Event". Startups Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  20. ^ Hammond, Andrew (2024-02-14). "Hundreds of companies consider Saudi Arabia". AGBI. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  21. ^ Salian, Neesha (2023-12-11). "PepsiCo, SABIC, AstroLabs unveil Mega Green Accelerator". Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  22. ^ Staff, Entrepreneur Middle East (2024-05-16). "PepsiCo, SABIC, AstroLabs, And Partners Come Together To Launch The Mega Green Accelerator With Eight Startups From The MENA Region". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  23. ^ "Tamkeen Supports Expansion of Bahraini Enterprises into Saudi Market in Collaboration with AstroLabs". bna.bh. November 9, 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  24. ^ Founders, Arab (2025-04-27). "Aquivio Enters Saudi Arabia to Champion Smart Hydration and Circular Economy with AstroLabs". ArabFounders. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  25. ^ "Aquivio taps into Saudi Market with smar..." Sharikat Mubasher. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  26. ^ "Aquivio expands to Saudi Arabia with AstroLabs to scale circular economy practices with hydration technology". Zawya. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
  27. ^ Hamid, Triska (September 8, 2014). "DMCC, AstroLabs and Google team up for tech hub launch". The National. Retrieved May 10, 2017.

Further reading

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