Luwai Technologies Launches AI Platform to Cut Costs for Abu Dhabi Retailers

Luwai Technologies released its Aether AI platform on July 5, 2026, giving Abu Dhabi retailers and logistics firms an automated tool that predicts inventory needs and routes deliveries across the emirate.

Global shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz have pushed local operators to seek faster internal efficiencies, and Aether targets that pressure by processing live port data from Khalifa Port alongside sales records from stores on Al Maryah Island. The platform runs on models trained with six months of anonymised transaction data from 180 UAE firms, allowing it to flag stock shortages two days earlier than manual methods.

Hub71 and ADGM ties shape the rollout

Luwai maintains its development office inside Hub71 at Masdar City, where it receives direct access to Khalifa University computing resources and mentoring from the accelerator's logistics cohort. Early pilot users include a grocery chain with outlets near Saadiyat Island and a courier service operating out of the Abu Dhabi Industrial City. Both reported a 22 percent drop in excess stock after four weeks on the system.

A Hub71 survey released last month showed AI tool adoption among member companies reached 61 percent in the second quarter of 2026, up from 34 percent a year earlier. Luwai priced Aether at 2,800 AED per month for the basic tier covering up to five users, with an enterprise option at 9,500 AED that includes custom route optimisation for fleets.

Next steps for interested firms

Businesses can book a 30-minute walkthrough at Luwai's temporary demo space on the ground floor of the ADGM Authority building through the end of July. The company also plans to hold open sessions at the next Hub71 founders' meetup scheduled for July 22.