BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has built a supportive ecosystem that enables startups to launch, grow, and expand beyond borders, tech entrepreneurs said as they reflected on their own journeys.
At the Abu Dhabi Global Entrepreneurship Festival (ADGEF), which opened on Monday and runs until April 22, success stories are told with recognition of the strong support provided by entities and organisations driving the UAE’s shift towards an innovation-led economy.
Sajid Manzur, CEO of Akwad Technologies, said his company has witnessed firsthand how businesses in Abu Dhabi are able to scale at a pace faster than in other parts of the world.
Operating in the UAE for about 12 years, Akwad develops digital solutions and works closely with public and private sector clients. Based on the volume of applications and tools the company churns out each year, Manzur said it is clear that the UAE’s business landscape is thriving, driven by robust institutional support.
“We build around 30 to 40 products a year, most of them for startups. We have seen that companies here are often able to raise funding faster than startups we work with globally,” he told Aletihad during the ADGEF.
Government programmes and licensing frameworks make it easier for entrepreneurs to establish a company, he added: “From the basic licence level, Abu Dhabi supports entrepreneurs through initiatives like the e-Trader licence.”
Beyond startups, the company’s clients include major organisations such as Mubadala Arena, and it has delivered an AI-based project for ADNOC focused on risk-based inspection. Akwad has also worked with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) to build software that helps monitor companies within its investment portfolio in real time.
Manzur highlighted the importance of networking opportunities that initiatives like ADGEF provides. The event’s structure connects founders with investors, financial institutions and startup hubs under one roof.
“It creates a complete ecosystem where people can come together and explore opportunities,” he said.
He also pointed to the festival as an important source of exposure particularly for startups that carving out their place in the market.
Among those exhibiting at the event was Packman, an e-commerce technology platform designed to help entrepreneurs launch online businesses.
Founder Abdulaziz Almulhem said the company, established in 2020, enables entrepreneurs to quickly build an online presence using its proprietary technology.
Drawing on his own experience, he said the UAE’s business environment has been highly supportive, allowing the company to enter the market and grow.
“When we started, we approached a government office in Dubai and the first thing they did was offer a discount on the licence. Instead of paying the full amount, we paid around 10 per cent of the cost, which was the first sense of support we experienced,” Almulhem told Aletihad.
As the company expanded, more opportunities followed. “Today, we work with government organisations that run their own e-commerce platforms, while we manage the technology,” he said.
Almulhem added that the UAE’s position as a regional hub makes it particularly attractive for entrepreneurs looking to access wider markets.
“The UAE is the hub of the GCC, so any business that wants to access the regional market can start here. Everything needed for a business to succeed has been structured in a way that supports entrepreneurs,” he said.
He noted that events such as ADGEF also give founders a chance to step back from day-to-day operations and reconnect with the wider ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Almulhem said the broader environment in the UAE continues to inspire entrepreneurs to innovate and grow.
“We live in a country that believes in entrepreneurship and supports success. You feel that support everywhere—whether you are at work, at home, or building your business,” he said.