Starting a Business

Launched at the end of May by co-founders Federica Bonometti and Malahat Peyvandi, REVYN is the UAE's first zero-commission resale marketplace, designed to make buying and selling pre-loved fashion and everyday items as seamless as purchasing something brand new.

Think develops AI infrastructure designed to reduce the cost and complexity of deploying artificial intelligence systems.

The banking solution also includes access to personal and business accounts, point-of-sale (POS) services, and trade finance and foreign exchange solutions.

Ahmed Al-Enazi, Operations Director at QSTP and Director of the Tech Venture Fund, shares how Qatar is creating a launchpad for deep-tech innovation by connecting startups with capital, research capabilities, and global networks.

As we keep building machines, we must remember that being smart, without being responsible is not enough.

Through initiatives such as Innovation City, Arnous says the focus is on creating an environment where future-focused companies can establish, scale, and collaborate.

Kanoo says that the technologies capable of creating the world's next trillion-dollar companies will be those with the ability to generate value across multiple industries.

Hassan also reflects on how communication has evolved in the digital era and why success is ultimately defined by genuine effort rather than outcomes alone.

Rather than concentrating on a single business vertical, AlAli explains why his company has chosen to support multiple areas of the sports sector as part of a broader vision for long-term development.

The conversation explores how businesses can embrace AI without losing sight of the creativity and judgement that continue to drive meaningful progress.

Binhumaid believes emerging sports such as baseball have an important role to play in creating new opportunities for athletes and communities.

Reflections on Webook.com's journey from a grassroots football platform to a regional "super app for fun."

How the founder of SIX Concept Store is proving that in today's retail landscape, experience—not inventory—is the ultimate competitive advantage.

“SME in a Box is designed as a working product that removes friction from the system: fewer steps, fewer delays, and clearer costs from the outset. Founders can see what they are getting, how long it will take, and what it will cost before they begin," Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, CEO of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), part of DET, said.

The startups will participate in Hub71's 12-month Access Program, which provides up to AED250,000 in in-kind support and AED250,000 in cash through a SAFE note.

The winner will receive a complimentary pass to FHS World scheduled for Dubai in September, along with meetings with investors and venture capital firms.

“While e& will remain a meaningful shareholder and close strategic partner, this move brings Careem and Uber back into a closer, deeply familiar alignment,” Mudassir Sheikha, co-founder and CEO of Careem, said.

SBWC also introduced the “Haseelah” initiative during the gathering — an interactive platform connecting women entrepreneurs and business owners with experts, entrepreneurs, and influential figures from the UAE and internationally.

In 1994, Oasis scrapped a perfect album because it was too polished to connect. Thirty years later, founders are making the exact same mistake with their MVPs.

When BEYOND Developments unveiled SIORA, its first beachfront masterplan on Dubai Islands, the announcement marked more than the launch of a coastal destination. It introduced a philosophy-led approach to masterplanning, one that reframes waterfront living around purpose, wellbeing, and long-term urban value.

As businesses across the Middle East navigate the economic aftershocks of regional uncertainties, the stories of these UAE-based small business founders reflect a quiet shift within the nation: resilience is no longer a reactive measure, but built into the core of how businesses are designed and scaled.

Beyond lean operational models that protect margins, RAKEZ has been able to unlock another core fact: reducing operational risk has become equally central to the equation.

The new funding will support Comfi’s next stage of growth, including scaling its underwriting and risk capabilities, expanding its product offering, and accelerating growth across key regional markets.

The funding will support its next growth phase as it expands beyond e-signatures into AI-powered contract lifecycle management, including tools for drafting, negotiation, tracking, and compliance

Startups are invited to apply for the opportunity to pitch live on stage at the 10th Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII10), gaining exposure to a global community of leading investors, policymakers, and changemakers.

Voice AI is rapidly reshaping contact centers, but building systems that work across Arabic dialects remains a challenge. Tunisian-born and UAE-headquartered startup Clusterlab, through its product Callab.ai, is tackling that gap, and its entry to Y Combinator, a seed-stage startup accelerator, marks a key milestone in scaling its vision.