Entrepreneurs | Page 2

Mike Champion and Annabelle Mander on building LEAP into a global stage for AI, investment and innovation

Budoor sees an opportunity for organizations to rethink and reengineer how they operate around data and AI. That could mean redesigning processes, identifying opportunities differently and ultimately creating new forms of business value.

For the first time in the 11 years since Emirati Women’s Day was first celebrated, the annual event will span an entire month in 2026. This year’s theme —“Together, We Rise Stronger and Better”— puts the spotlight on the lasting partnerships and workplace policies that support and empower women in both their personal and professional lives. Four Emirati business leaders unpack how these elements go beyond the annual event to create a gender equity blueprint that has bolstered the UAE’s growth and innovation.

Selected creators will receive support over six months to establish and grow their online businesses.

The events and dialogue sessions provided a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase projects to potential investors and support organizations.

Consider all these stories your reminder that motivation isn't something you wait for; it’s something you build, tired or not.

Bamboo offered a renewable alternative that didn't require consumers to compromise on quality, making it the perfect place to start. 

For Meraki Group Founder and Chairman Ajay Rajendran, the relationship between real estate and education offers a window into a much bigger question: what makes people put down roots in a city?

The story of how this entrepreneur ventured into a new country at eighteen and progressed from operating one gas station to overseeing numerous locations and multimillion-dollar development projects.

Without chasing headlines, venture capital, or conventional wisdom – how Augustus Media’s founder turned an idea born in Dubai into one of the region’s fastest-growing independent media companies.

Since its formation a few weeks ago, the Council has brought several initiatives to life, including a Youth Day activation at Amazon's Dubai office that connected Emirati entrepreneurs and homegrown brands directly with employees.

A lean operating model built around small, cross-functional teams has enabled the Dubai-based SaaS studio to scale to US$18 million in annual recurring revenue in just 26 months without raising outside capital.

The initiative gives participants practical experience across different stages of entrepreneurship, including product development, brand building, product presentation and customer engagement.

Artificial intelligence is moving beyond productivity tools to become the infrastructure connecting businesses, governments, financial systems, and people across borders. Yahia Alhami explores how AI agents, satellite connectivity, digital identity, fintech, and integrated public services will shape the Borderless Age—and why trust, leadership, and responsible governance will determine who succeeds.

Honey Deylami has spent more than two decades shaping Dubai's ultra-luxury residential market, advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and global investors on landmark transactions worth over AED26 billion while building one of the strongest track records in the emirate's luxury real estate sector.

Ben Bandari is the founder and CEO of BenCo. Real Estate in Dubai, with more than 20 years of experience in the market, career sales exceeding AED25 billion, and leadership on landmark developments including Palazzo Versace and D1 Tower.

Conor McKay, Director at Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty, is known as the “Billionaire’s Broker” for closing some of Dubai’s highest-profile ultra-prime property deals and advising global investors on luxury real estate opportunities.

Lewis Allsopp is the British-born entrepreneur and co-founder and chairman of Allsopp & Allsopp, one of Dubai’s most prominent independent brokerages.

Abdullah Al Ajaji is the Founder and CEO of Driven | Forbes Global Properties, leading the growth of the company from nine members into a firm of over 650 professionals.

Zeina Khalil Khoury is the founder and CEO of Zed Capital Real Estate, a Dubai-based real estate advisory and development company supporting developers, investors, and property owners across the UAE.

Firas Al Msaddi is the Founder and CEO of fäm Properties, Dubai’s largest real estate brokerage, which he transformed into a leading technology-driven company with more than 900 professionals across 23 branches.

Riad Gohar is the Co-Founder and CEO of BlackOak Real Estate, bringing more than 20 years of experience and around US$2 billion in real estate transactions across Dubai’s property market.

Steven Leckie is a UK-born Dubai real estate professional with more than two decades of market experience, specialising in overseas and expat buyers with a focus on knowledge, integrity, and service.

Bardia Eshghi, Founder and Managing Director of Grand Lux Properties, is a trusted advisor in Dubai’s prime and ultra-prime real estate market, known for landmark transactions and a reputation built on discretion and integrity.

With a global footprint spanning 58 cities and 27 markets, and a diverse team of more than 3,000 professionals supporting 65,000 client entities, the Ascentium network offers businesses a valuable opportunity to scale operations internationally, with specialized cross-border compliance, offshore banking, fiduciary and trust services ensuring full adherence to the regulations of individual countries or jurisdictions.

The new founder finance solution provides eligible businesses with more than AED10,000 in first-year value.