UAE’s AstroLabs expands to Saudi, launches a coworking space in Riyadh

AstroLabs, a Dubai-based company that runs and manages two coworking spaces in the city is expanding to Saudi Arabia with the public launch of their coworking space in Riyadh. The launch ceremony was held yesterday at AstroLabs space and coincided with ArabNet Riyadh, a leading digital conference that place in the city every year.

The launch ceremony of AstroLabs, yesterday, was attended by many local and regional entrepreneurs, and Saudi government professionals including Dr. Mazin Al Zaidi, Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Sector at SAGIA, and Esam Al Thukair, Vice Governor of Entrepreneurship with SME General Authority.

The company that also runs a learning specializing in courses about digital marketing, big data, UX design, business development, and software development, has been delivering different learning programs all across Saudi for the last few years but has now formally expanded to Saudi Arabia.

AstroLabs last month received its incubator license from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), becoming the first international incubator to win the license. The license allows AstroLabs to act as a SAGIA partner and help technology startups from the region and beyond expand to Saudi with expedited licensing procedures and no capital requirements.

Muhammed Mekki, Founding Partner of AstroLabs, speaking to MENAbytes, said, “Yesterday’s public launch of the AstroLabs Riyadh coworking space comes after five years of training entrepreneurs throughout the Kingdom. We are incredibly excited to now have a flagship location to host the best startups from Saudi Arabia and beyond in a unique collaborative community.”

AstroLabs Riyadh will host a mix of international/regional startups and local entrepreneurs. All Riyadh members will have access to both AstroLabs spaces in Dubai that host some very cool startups.

Saad Aljabr, Director of KSA Operations, AstroLabs, in a conversation with MENAbytes, commented, “We’re very glad to see the startup ecosystem in Saudi Arabia maturing, now attracting both local and international startups. We’re looking forward to playing a central role in building the ecosystem providing the space, training, and mentorship.”

Riyadh already has some very cool coworking spaces including these but community of founders and startups AstroLabs has built over last five year, their partnership with SAGIA, spaces in Dubai, and being a partner of Google for Startups initiative, puts them in a unique position.