Our first issue of May is headlined by VentureOne, the venture building arm of the Abu Dhabi government’s @atrcuae! Reda Nidhakou, CEO of VentureOne, explains why #deeptech solutions that will stand the test of time are not necessarily those built on novelty and perfection – but something much simpler. Also in this issue: A round-up of announcements that highlight how regional governments and institutions have responded to regional shifts with resilience and tenacity; and five #Lebanese entrepreneurs share how running a business amid constant uncertainty brings both frustration and a deep sense of pride — hear from Darmmess Social Enterprise, Wootton Creation, Al Mashrek Insurance and Reinsurance, SADER, and Joseph El Khoury Design Studio and Ex Nihilo s.a.r.l. @ANAXCapital founder and Director @TabindaSanpal_ on what it takes to launch a Category A–licensed brokerage firm in the #UAE; and meet the 15 scale-ups shaping UAE’s circular economy future with the support of @dubaiholding. Also read: @StanChart's Jonathan Liang explains why the 1990 Gulf crisis offers a vital roadmap for today’s markets; and @sheraasharjah launches AED5 million Entrepreneurs Resilience Fund. All this and more can be found on @issuu: issuu.com/entmagazineme/docs…

🇦🇪🇫🇷 What will it take to unlock the full potential of the UAE–France partnership in the years ahead? In this conversation with Entrepreneur Middle East Senior Features Editor Aalia Mehreen Ahmed, Louis Margueritte (@l_margueritte), CEO of Business France (@businessfrance)—appointed by French President Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron)—shares his perspective on the next phase of economic cooperation between the two countries. From AI, healthcare, and agri-tech to advanced manufacturing and future industries, Margueritte discusses why stability, certainty, and a strong commitment to execution remain critical for attracting investment and enabling long-term growth. ▶️ Watch the full conversation on YouTube: youtu.be/2T150xeGQ54?si=HNmX… The conversation took place during Margueritte’s recent visit to the UAE, where he met with senior government officials, business leaders, investors, and members of the French business community to reinforce the growing economic relationship between both nations. His visit also came ahead of #VisionGolfe 2026, Business France’s flagship forum dedicated to accelerating investment, strategic dialogue, and business partnerships between France and the GCC. 🗞Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine… h/t @businessfrancemiddleeast [📽: BNC PUBLISHING] #UAE #France #BusinessFrance #VisionGolfe #Investment #Innovation #AI #Healthcare

AHS Properties (@ahs_properties), a #Dubai-based ultra-luxury #realestate developer, has acquired the iconic Shangri-La Hotel (@ShangriLa_Dubai) on Sheikh Zayed Road for AED1.1 billion (US$299.7 million), marking one of the emirate’s largest single-asset hospitality transactions in recent years. The deal represents a strategic play on one of Dubai’s most valuable urban corridors. The 43-story, 200-meter tower—among the first luxury hotels to open on Sheikh Zayed Road in 2003—will become a cornerstone of AHS Properties’ expanding portfolio along the city’s most prominent highway. The acquisition aligns with the company’s broader vision for Sheikh Zayed Road, where it already owns AHS Tower and is developing AHS City, a mixed-use project with a projected gross development value (GDV) of AED25 billion. Together, the assets form what the company describes as a long-term investment strategy centered on commercial, residential, and hospitality integration. “We did not buy a hotel. We bought a position on a corridor where supply is constrained and demand is globally diversified,” said Abbas Sajwani (@Abbas_H_Sajwani), Founder and CEO of AHS Properties. Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine…

Massar Al Ghurair, an AI-powered platform that connects learners, educators, and employers through personalized career journeys, is integrating UAE PASS, the UAE’s national digital identity platform, to make user registration simpler, faster, and more secure. The integration addresses registration challenges faced by users, particularly around manual data entry and eligibility validation. By enabling users to sign up or log in through a trusted national identity system, UAE PASS reduces friction and improves the reliability of user information. The move is set to simplify the registration journey, reduce manual errors during sign-up, improve trust through verified identity information, support smoother onboarding for learners, and strengthen the platform’s credibility with users, employers, and partners. Users will see a “Sign up / Login with UAE PASS” option on Massar. Once selected, they will authenticate through UAE PASS and return to Massar with verified identity information securely linked to their profile. To learn more, head to massaralghurair.org/ [h/t @agfforE] #UAEPASS #MassarAlGhurair #DigitalIdentity #AI #FutureOfWork #EdTech #UAEInnovation

New data from @bayut reveals that buyers who entered #Dubai’s property market during the post-pandemic recovery period have experienced significant growth in advertised sale prices across some of the emirate’s most sought-after communities: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine… The analysis compares the average advertised price per square foot for sale listings on Bayut in May 2021—a time when the market was still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic—with April 2026, using Bayut’s proprietary Price Index. The findings show that advertised prices across key Dubai communities have risen between 41% and 153%, underscoring the value created for buyers who invested during an earlier period of uncertainty.

#Dubai Chamber of Commerce (@DxbChamberComm) has established a new business group dedicated to the contracting industry as part of efforts to support the sector’s development and strengthen its role in the emirate’s economy. The newly formed Dubai Contractors Business Group will provide a unified platform to represent the sector’s interests, and will work to enhance coordination between contracting companies, government entities, and private sector stakeholders. It will also develop proposals and recommendations to help improve the regulatory environment and support the sector’s long-term growth. “The launch of this group underlines the importance of the contracting sector as a key driver of infrastructure and urban development projects that contribute to sustainable economic growth and enhance quality of life in Dubai,” Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of @DubaiChambers, said. Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine…

Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) (@myrakez) has partnered with the Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund (@MBRIFund), a federal initiative launched by the Ministry of Finance (@MOFUAE), to provide startups, innovators, and growth-stage companies with #funding and #business support. The agreement was signed at the Compass Coworking Center by MBRIF Head Shaker Zainal and RAKEZ Chief Government and Corporate Relations Officer Yaser Abdulla Al Ahmed. Under the partnership, businesses operating within the #RAKEZ ecosystem will be able to access financing pathways and funding through MBRIF, as well as mentorship and expert advisory services aimed at supporting business growth and expansion. The funding and #innovation support will be complemented with RAKEZ’s business setup, licensing, and operational services, including a network of partners and investors. Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine…

The #Dubai Future Foundation (@DubaiFuture) has opened applications for the third cohort of FEEL: A Disruptive Futures Program, a global initiative designed to help leaders anticipate and navigate future change. Organized by the Dubai Future Academy, the three-week program combines expert-led sessions, workshops, #technology showcases, and foresight exercises. Applications are open until July 10, 2026. "Through FEEL, we aim to equip a select group of leaders and innovators with the tools to understand the shifts ahead, engage with emerging technologies, and translate future knowledge into decisions and untraditional solutions. This will make a difference in the future by proposing creative ideas that deploy the latest technologies to be ready for current and future opportunities," Abdulaziz AlJaziri, Deputy CEO and COO, Dubai Future Foundation, said. The program is open to executives, #entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, strategists, and #innovators. Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine…

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) (@DubaiDET) and @Google have launched Map Your Dubai: Insider Edition, a new initiative designed to support Dubai’s local food and beverage sector. Part of DET’s "From Dubai, For Dubai" campaign, the initiative brings together Google Maps Local Guides to create curated lists of their favorite restaurants, cafés, and hidden culinary gems across the city. The campaign was launched at the Etihad Museum and aims to encourage residents and visitors to discover and support local businesses through recommendations and community engagement. A total of 11 Local Guide-curated lists are now available on the campaign portal, inviting the public to explore featured venues via Google Maps and vote for their favorite collections. Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine…

In the inaugural edition of 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬, a new interview series featuring ambassadors to the #UAE, Entrepreneur Middle East spotlights H.E. Lucie Berger, Ambassador of the European Union to the United Arab Emirates (@EUintheUAE). In a conversation with Sarah Saddouk (@sarahsaddouk), Director of Innovation, Entrepreneur Middle East | Entrepreneur IMPACT. – BNC Media Group, H.E. Berger discusses the growing EU-UAE trade and investment ties, particularly following the launch of EU-UAE Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Alongside broader Strategic Partnership Agreement negotiations, these efforts can serve as a catalyst for stronger relations between the #EU, the UAE, and the wider #GCC. H.E. Berger, who took on the role of European Union Ambassador to the UAE in September 2023, highlights that recent geopolitical shifts have accelerated rather than delayed trade negotiations between the UAE and the EU. “The free trade agreement is even more important today than it was before,” she says. “Since the launch of the negotiations, both sides have demonstrated a strong commitment to concluding the agreement in record time." “Why is it so important now? We are living in turbulent times. A free trade agreement with the EU gives the UAE enhanced access to the world’s largest single market, comprising 450 million people. Through provisions such as investment facilitation, greater trade liberalization, and enhanced customs cooperation, it helps build economic resilience. Greater resilience means being better prepared for future challenges while creating a more attractive environment for investors," H.E. Berger adds. Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine… [✍: @tashapupic]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a common part of the online shopping experience in the UAE, with 85% of consumers using AI-powered tools to assist with purchases, according to Visa’s (@VisaCEMEA) latest "Stay Secure" study. The 2026 edition conducted by Wakefield Research found that consumers are using AI for tasks such as checking reviews and product ratings (60%), comparing prices (59%), and finding gift ideas (55%). Overall, 93% of respondents said new technologies, including AI-powered tools, are making online shopping faster and easier. However, despite the widespread adoption of AI-assisted shopping, consumers remain cautious about allowing AI to complete transactions on their behalf. Only 32% said they would trust AI agents to handle checkout independently. Meanwhile, 57% said AI has made scams easier to recognize, while 85% believe AI will play an important role in protecting consumers from fraud in the future. Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine…

The Industrialists Career Exhibition has surpassed its employment target for #UAE nationals in the industrial and advanced technology sectors, providing more than 5,200 job opportunities in less than three years, a senior official said. Speaking to WAM on the sidelines of the exhibition’s 2026 edition, Hassan Al Nowais, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (@MoIATUAE), said the target was reached a year ahead of schedule, after the goal was announced during the “Make it in the Emirates” (@MIITEUAE) in 2023. The two-day event offered more than 1,000 job openings from over 70 companies in fields including artificial intelligence, engineering, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and #industrial services. More than 800 #Emirati candidates were preliminarily qualified for #employment opportunities. Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine…

Business expansion in the UAE requires long-term relationship building and a deep commitment to the region’s innovation ecosystem, Stephan Muller, Director of GCC at @WHOOP, said at The Impact Event 2026 hosted by Hub71 (@hub71ad). Joining Chris Rogers, Partner at Knollwood and Board Member of Hub71, for a session titled “Why Global Brands Scale Here”, Muller said the US-based wearable health tech company approach in the UAE goes beyond commercial entry and focuses on sustained partnerships. “I know that a lot of startups may use Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the GCC as the launch pad,” Muller said. “What we have done is build commitments to the GCC. We’re here for the long haul, we’re opening offices.” Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine…

“In this business, there’s a 99% chance the money will be lost, and 1% chance you will make it, but I think the biggest thing for @careem is our purpose, which is our reason for existence. It has been the same since day one, and that’s to simplify the lives of people and to build an awesome organization that inspires." Speaking during a session titled “Beyond the Blueprint” at The Impact Event by @hub71ad, Magnus Olsson, co-founder and Managing Director of Careem, joined Chris Rogers, partner at Knollwood and board member of Hub71, to reflect on Careem’s journey from a startup to one of the region’s most influential technology companies. Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine…

“It’s the million of hours that we hand back to you every year. And here’s what I want everyone to know: we built this for you. A founder’s scarcest resource isn’t capital, it’s time. Every hour lost to bureaucracy, to renting, to trying to figure it out is an hour lost, not building something new, not hiring, not pitching to investors." Speaking at The Impact Event by @hub71ad, held at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, H.E. Ruba Al Hassan (@Ruba_UAE_, Director General of Strategic Affairs and Future Foresight at the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi (@DGEabudhabi), outlined the emirate’s strategy for building an AI-driven economy: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine…

“This year, we are gathered here around a simple but important theme, ‘Impact Defined’. It is a theme that feels particularly relevant today, because we are living through a period where determination and resilience are more important than ever. Moments like these have a way of clarifying what matters. They remind us that lasting success is built through patience, trust, and the determination to keep moving forward.” While delivering a keynote address at @hub71ad's Impact Event 2026, CEO Ahmad Ali Alwan shed light on the characteristics that help build resilient economies through periods of uncertainty: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine… #abudhabi #uae #investments

Dr. Bakheet Al Katheeri, CEO of the UAE Investments Platform at @Mubadala, has highlighted the role of long-term investing and ecosystem building in the capital city’s innovation strategy at the @hub71ad Impact Event 2026. “Mubadala was founded in 2002 with a clear mandate: to diversify our economy, to build national capabilities, and to invest with conviction across generations,” Dr. Al Katheeri said. “The vision, set in motion by our founding father H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and carried forward under H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, was unquestioned.” Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine… #abudhai #uae #leadership #tech

Welcome to 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬, a new interview series by 𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 spotlighting the ambassadors shaping the UAE’s global partnerships across trade, investment, innovation, and culture. In our inaugural episode, Sarah Saddouk (@sarahsaddouk), Director of Innovation at Entrepreneur Middle East | Entrepreneur IMPACT, sits down with H.E. Lucie Berger (@BergerLucie), EU Ambassador to the UAE (@euintheuae), to discuss a pivotal moment in EU-UAE relations following the launch of EU-UAE Free Trade Agreement negotiations. From economic cooperation and innovation to investment, AI, and the broader Strategic Partnership Agreement discussions, the conversation explores how these developments could strengthen ties between the European Union, the UAE, and the wider GCC region. [📽️: BNC Publishing] #BuildingBridges #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology #AI #EntrepreneurMiddleEast #UAE #EuropeanUnion

Ruder Finn Atteline (@Atteline), a global integrated marketing and communications consultancy dually headquartered in Riyadh and Dubai and the MENA arm of the Ruder Finn Group, has launched two new offerings for the region amid its expansion. According to the agency, the newly launched “Culture & Education practice” and “RF Publicity” are designed to address growing demand for talent-led storytelling, live visibility, and audience connection. The Culture & Education practice will support cultural commissions, museums, universities, edtech platforms and knowledge institutions across MENA. Meanwhile, RF Publicity is a specialist service covering talent publicity, project communications, and live event coverage. Read more HERE: mena.entrepreneur.com/busine…