Inovia recently led a six-day Canadian Innovation Delegation to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a pivotal step in strengthening ties between Canada’s tech ecosystem and two of the world’s fastest-growing innovation hubs.
Beyond showcasing our strengths in AI, quantum, and deep tech, this mission set out to forge enduring partnerships and position Canada as a trusted global innovation partner. Yet what happens next will matter even more: the relationships built on this trip are just the beginning, and nurturing them over time will determine their lasting impact and economic importance.
Although we began planning this almost a year ago, the timing could not have been more relevant. With the unfolding and rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, it is more important than ever for Canadians to broaden their horizons, build bridges to new markets, and establish long-term partnerships. Furthermore, the topic of sovereign AI and digital infrastructure is now part of our countries’ mutual priorities.
To guide our efforts, we focused on three clear priorities:
- Position Canada’s leadership by showcasing the country’s strength in AI, quantum, and innovation to senior decision-makers across the Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai ecosystems by establishing strong commercial relationships.
- Catalyze investments and partnerships by engaging government, corporate, and investment leaders to explore practical collaboration opportunities and unique co-investment opportunities.
- Ensure strategic alignment by reinforcing Canada’s role as a trusted partner in the region’s ambitious transformation agendas, from Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia to We the UAE 2031.
A True Team Canada Effort
This delegation was crafted in close collaboration with the Embassy of Canada to Saudi Arabia, the Embassy of Canada to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai, alongside the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Canada, the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Canada, and both the Canada–Saudi Business Council (CSBC) and the Canada–UAE Business Council (CUBC), all of whom were instrumental in shaping the program and ensuring its success.
Over the past several months, we assembled a delegation that truly reflected the full stack of Canada’s innovation ecosystem, from research to capital to commercialization. It included some of our country’s most ambitious tech champions, such as AppDirect, Cohere, Flare, Kepler Communications, Lumeto, Miovision, Novisto, Photonic, RodeoFX, Theory+Practice, Vital Bio, and WorkJam, several of which are part of the Inovia portfolio.
Alongside them were Amii and Mila, two of Canada’s leading AI research institutes; NorthGuide, Augur, Garage Capital, Intrepid Growth Partners, and BMO Capital Markets. Joining me from Inovia were Patrick Pichette, Steve Woods, Claire Glossop Irani, and Marc Ghobriel. Together, we embodied a true Team Canada spirit, uniting government, research, capital, and innovation under a shared mission to elevate our country’s presence on the global stage.
On the Ground in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Over six days, we met with senior stakeholders in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. In Saudi Arabia, we engaged with the Ministries of Communications and IT, Energy, and Investment, the Research, Development, and Innovation Authority, as well as Aramco Ventures, HUMAIN, Sanabil, SDAIA, and The Garage. We were also welcomed by The Althari Group, Khwarizmi Holding, and Outliers VC, whose hospitality added real depth to our experience. In the UAE, our meetings spanned ADIA, ADQ, Dubai Chambers, Dubai Future Foundation, Global Ventures, Hub71, ICD, MBZUAI, Mubadala, Mubadala Capital, and VentureOne/AI71.
Our discussions reflected genuine interest and strong alignment, a clear signal that the appetite for partnership with Canada is real and growing. We made sure to conclude each meeting with a clear sense of how to collaborate, whether through commercial agreements, pilots, or co-investment opportunities, and the regulatory clarity needed to make things happen on both sides.
By the end of the week, the delegation had already sparked ten new commercial opportunities, two invitations to speak at major upcoming events, and a proposed investment opportunity, an unprecedented outcome for a first visit. We’ll let participating organizations share more about those developments in the months ahead, but it’s safe to say that momentum was definitely created, and we were well supported.
What stood out most to me was the region’s energy and clarity of vision, particularly around artificial intelligence. Conversations with both public and private leaders revealed not only ambition but a deep understanding of what AI can enable. As Cohere co-founder Nick Frosst told Arab News, it’s “a dynamic and exciting time for the region,” with a clear vision of what AI can achieve, and a belief echoed across every meeting we held.
What Can Canada Learn?
Over early commercial wins, our journey also taught us powerful lessons about the region, lessons Canada must take to heart if it hopes to deepen ties with KSA and the UAE, and perhaps even draw inspiration from in its own journey.
- Speed and ambition: From day one, it was clear that both Saudi Arabia and the UAE operate at a pace that many Western systems struggle to match. Bold, fast-moving execution is the norm, not the exception.
- Government-led innovation: In both countries, public institutions don’t just regulate or invest, they architect the tech ecosystem. They are active players, shaping strategy, building infrastructure, and convening stakeholders.
- Dual-mandate capital: Investment in the region is rarely purely financial. Many funds balance economic returns with national development goals, weaving in ambition, sovereignty, and social impact.
- Talent, demographics & openness: The workforce is not only young and vibrant, but remarkably well educated and globally connected. In Saudi Arabia, roughly 71% of the population is under 35, whereas in the UAE, youth already make up over half of the workforce, a demographic advantage that many delegates remarked on. This dynamism is further reinforced by strong government programs focused on digital skills, entrepreneurship, and youth employment.
Across the board, delegates noted the region’s openness, drive, and willingness to take risks, qualities that are powerful enablers of collaboration.
Building on the Momentum
The Canadian Innovation Delegation was a foundational step toward deeper collaboration between Canada, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Already, its impact is tangible: new commercial discussions, follow-up visits, and a growing sense of shared purpose.
For Inovia, this was more than a milestone; it was our fourth visit to the GCC region in an ongoing journey that began a year ago. And it continues: our colleague Claire Glossop Irani recently joined Minister of AI Evan Solomon at GITEX 2025 in Dubai, where she took part in a roundtable on advancing Canada–UAE cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital innovation. Later this month, I’ll also return to Riyadh for a roundtable with global investors at the FII’s 9th edition.
Looking Ahead
Earlier this week, the Canadian Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Invest UAE by the Ministry of Investment to explore collaboration in digital infrastructure, with a particular focus on AI and data centre development. The agreement aims to foster joint innovation by exchanging expertise and technical knowledge, supporting new investment projects in advanced technology sectors, and facilitating the flow of information in line with international best practices.
We’re very excited about this milestone, which highlights the growing alignment between Canada and the region in advancing innovation, sustainable development, and the digital economy. It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening partnerships and driving investment in emerging technologies. We expect this to be the first of several announcements in the coming months as both countries continue to deepen their collaboration.
On the Inovia front, our team remains committed to connecting Canadian tech champions with partners across the region, continuing the Team Canada spirit that defined this first delegation from the start. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are showing what’s possible when ambition, capital, and vision align. The opportunity for Canada is now!
At Inovia, our goal was to connect ecosystems and forge lasting partnerships, and on that front, we can confidently call this first step a success. But it’s only the beginning. Canada’s next chapter on the global stage will depend on all of us (founders, investors, and policymakers alike) continuing to think boldly, act collectively, and show the world what Canadian innovation can achieve when it reaches beyond its borders.
While this first delegation was about building bridges and proving that Canada belongs at the table of global innovation leaders, the next step is to build mutual wealth together!