Venture Capital and startups in the UAE's thriving economy
Junaid's expertise in startup financing has supported numerous young entrepreneurs across Pakistan, the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia. He is particularly optimistic about the UAE's economic environment, praising its business-friendly policies and forward-thinking leadership.
"With its world-class infrastructure and ability to anticipate the future, the UAE has firmly established itself on the global economic stage. The country's prosperity has grown exponentially, driven by the vision of its rulers, who continuously integrate new ideas, technology, and cultural advancements," he said.
A Key Player in Venture Capital and Media
Recently, Junaid gained regional recognition as an investor panellist on Shark Tank Pakistan, a widely acclaimed business reality show. The programme, televised across the region, provided a groundbreaking platform for Pakistani entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas. Junaid described the experience as 'incredible,' as it was Pakistan's first major initiative of its kind. 'Many participants presented innovative ideas, and beyond being an educational experience, the show helped young entrepreneurs secure crucial funding to bring their visions to life,' he added.
He firmly believes in the potential of young entrepreneurs, observing a global trend of individuals eager to launch their own startups. As an entrepreneur himself, Junaid understands the challenges that come with building a business and is committed to supporting emerging founders.
Currently, Junaid is leading two major ventures:
Salt Ventures: A startup investment firm that focuses on sectors such as fintech, agritech, and healthtech.
Caravan Media: A digital media company specialising in business and economic content, catering to an audience seeking expert insights on regional industries.
Through Caravan Media, Junaid aims to highlight the vast opportunities in emerging sectors like mergers and acquisitions, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and finance. His goal is to create functional media products that inform and empower professionals across industries.
With a deep understanding of venture capital and media, Junaid continues to contribute to the region's startup ecosystem, helping businesses scale and thrive in an ever-evolving economic landscape.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
23 minutes ago
- The National
Dubai heritage mosques to be preserved under new deal
Religious infrastructure will be upgraded in Dubai as part of a new strategy announced on Wednesday. An agreement was signed between Dubai Municipality and the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, under which heritage mosques were being preserved, and management of funeral and cemetery services will be improved. The agreement seeks to create a unified vision for the design and construction of mosques, while safeguarding cultural, religious and architectural heritage, Dubai Government Media Office said. "It strengthens our joint efforts to provide high-quality services that benefit the entire community while preserving the authentic character of historic mosques and prayer sites," said Ahmad Bin Ghalita, director general of Dubai Municipality. "The partnership also reflects our commitment to enhancing quality of life by developing public facilities that embody Dubai's cultural and religious identity, blending urban progress with heritage conservation.' Dubai Municipality will restore and maintain heritage mosques, ensuring the preservation of their traditional character and authentic architectural features. Eid prayer grounds will be enhanced "to meet the emirate's urban and demographic growth", said the media office.
Khaleej Times
23 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Students receive A-level results; schools see record improvements
Schools in the UAE began receiving A-level results on Wednesday evening, with students set to access their results tomorrow. This year, 1,999 students sat 5,379 A-level exams across 22 GEMS schools in the UAE and Qatar. The results show sustained strong performance, with 32 per cent of grades at A*-A and 58 per cent at A*-B. The GEMS-wide results also reflect significant year-on-year grade improvements, with the number of A* grades awarded rising by two percentage points to 11 per cent, A*-A performance improving from 26 per cent in 2024 to 32% this year, as well as A*-B performance rising six percentage points to 58 per cent. Lisa Crausby OBE, Group Chief Education Officer at GEMS Education, said, 'Our students' A-level success is in many ways just the beginning — what truly excites us is where they'll go next. Whether they pursue further academic study in top universities across the globe, technical and vocational pathways, or alternative routes to success, they do so equipped not only with excellent results but also with the values, resilience, and ambition that truly distinguish GEMS learners. 'As we have throughout our history, we prepare students not just for exams, but for life — and the outcomes we celebrate today are proof of what's possible when purpose and passion align, fully supported by our passionate educators in school and our students' dedicated parents and families at home.' Notable achievements across the GEMS network include GEMS Wellington Academy – Silicon Oasis, which saw a 15 percentage point year-on-year growth in students achieving an A*. The school also saw the number of students achieving an A*-A rise by 18 percentage points compared to last year, as well as the number of A*-B grades increase by 15 percentage points year on year. Sarah O'Regan, Principal/CEO, GEMS Wellington Academy – Silicon Oasis, said, 'We are incredibly proud of our results this year. The dedication and effort shown by the largest A-level cohort in our history – and by their teachers – has led to a set of achievements that deserves real celebration. Alongside our equally impressive BTEC outcomes, the Class of 2025 has truly set a new benchmark.' Meanwhile at GEMS Founders School – Al Mizhar, the number of students achieving an A* rose by 10 percentage points over 2024 results, while A*-A grades rose by 20 percentage points and A*-B grades by a remarkable 27 percentage points. Akram Tarik, Principal, GEMS Founders School – Al Mizhar, said, 'This year's A-level and BTEC results are the highest in our school's history, and I could not be prouder of our students and staff. Such exceptional achievements are never the result of chance; they reflect hundreds of hours of dedication, meticulous preparation, and the unwavering support of our families, staff, and, most importantly, our students.' Additional highlights include GEMS Cambridge International Private School – Sharjah, whose A-level students achieved a nine percentage point growth in A* grades awarded, as well as GEMS Wesgreen International School – Sharjah, where the number of students achieving an A*-A grade rose by 16 percentage points year-on-year. Across the GEMS network a total of 412 students took BTEC Level 3s — double the cohort of last year, demonstrating the increasing popularity of this vocational pathway. Nearly a third (32 per cent) of entries achieved the highest possible grade of Distinction Star, while nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of entries were awarded a Distinction Star or Distinction.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
UAE ranked second most preferred destination for FDI globally
The UAE has been ranked as the second most preferred destination for foreign direct investments globally, as the country continues efforts to further diversify its economy. The Emirates was second to the US, but outranked the UK (at third), India (fourth) and Germany (fifth) in the rankings, state news agency Wam cited an FDI Intelligence report as saying. The Emirates, which received Dh167 billion ($45.5 billion) in FDI last year, aims to increase that figure to Dh1.3 trillion by 2031. The UAE was also ranked as the world's top FDI performer last year relative to the size of its economy, followed by Namibia and Costa Rica, according to FDIIntelligence's Greenfield FDI Performance Index released this week. 'Investor confidence in the Gulf's business hub remained strong last year,' the report said. The country received 'more than 14 times the volume of FDI projects that one might expect given the size of its economy', it added. To boost FDI, the UAE has unveiled several initiatives including 100 per cent foreign ownership of companies, reduced visa restrictions and incentives for small and medium enterprises. It also unveiled the NextGen FDI programme, which seeks to speed up licensing, increase the issuance of bulk or golden visas, improve banking services and provide commercial and residential lease incentives for technology companies seeking to relocate to the country. The UAE's push to sign a series of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with its partners around the globe has also helped to boost FDI. Launched in 2021, Cepa deals reduce tariffs and remove trade bottlenecks and boost bilateral investment in priority areas.
