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Mid East Info
19-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
BCCD spotlights digital innovators as Dubai emerges as safe haven for start-up investors - Middle East Business News and Information
Home-grown tech companies bringing new solutions to regional business challenges In the midst of global uncertainty, Dubai is emerging as a safe haven for innovators and start-up investors in the tech industry, according to experts at a recent business briefing hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai (BCCCD) at the DIFC Innovation Hub. Sharing their own experiences of establishing and scaling a start-up, UAE-based entrepreneurs, Khawar Mann OBE and Omair Ansari, joined in a panel discussion alongside funding experts and Youcef Oudjidane, to explore 'The Tech Shift: Transforming Finance, Credit, and Mobility Services'. CEO and Co-founder of Auxilium, an award-winning, tech-enabled employment and business expansion consultancy, Mann is at the forefront of promoting the region's position as a global mobility hotspot. Auxilium specialises in Employer of Record services, company formation, residency services, compliance, and market entry, to enable businesses to scale efficiently while navigating complex regulatory landscapes. Mann explained, 'The outstanding quality of life, economic prospects, long-term residency opportunities and ambitious national visions are attracting businesses to the region in volume. We combine regional knowledge and technology-driven solutions to meet the growing demand for seamless, support services to manage talent internationally.' Omair Ansari, CEO and Co-founder of ABHI, is another disruptor in the field, with his transformative embedded fintech business delivering financing and payroll solutions to provide employees with easy access to their earned salary at any time of the month. ABHI has gained recognition from Hub71 and Endeavor UAE and was the first to be awarded the Technology Pioneer 2023 Award by the World Economic Forum, making fintech history in the MENAP region. Explaining his motivation, Ansari said, 'We wanted to bring tech in to disrupt the market where it wouldn't be expected. Focussing on the credit side of financing in emerging markets, ABHI aims to be at the forefront of creating a revolution in this field.' As tech founders gravitate to the region, the funding landscape is also evolving rapidly, with the UAE being viewed as a safe haven for investing in new businesses against a backdrop of global disruption. Oudjidane, Managing Partner and Co-founder of venture capital firm, BYLD, said, 'Ten years ago, most UAE startups were funded locally. Today, they're increasingly attracting international capital – a testament to the ecosystem's global rise. Similarly, while startups in the region once focused primarily on local problems, many of today's founders in the UAE are building for global markets. The startup I co-founded, Elevate, is a good example of both: we have raised millions of dollars from US-based investors, generated all of our revenue from outside of the UAE, and yet chose to headquarter the company here simply because we want to live here.' As more British businesses look to establish a foothold in the region, BCCD CEO, Katy Holmes, says the rapid acceleration of Dubai's tech sector holds a wealth of opportunity. 'Technology is one of the most promising and fast-moving sectors in Dubai today, and we see great potential for UK companies to contribute and thrive here.' she said, 'This was the Chamber's first BCCD Tech Business Briefing, following the launch of our dedicated BCCD Tech working group, which brings together leading voices and innovators from within our membership. We look forward to welcoming even more UK tech businesses into our network, enriching cross-market dialogue and creating new synergies within this dynamic and diverse sector.' The panel discussion, hosted by DIFC Innovation Hub, was part of the ongoing BCCD business briefing series, to keep members and guests up-to-date with the latest industry trends.
Khaleej Times
09-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Women hold just 11% of UAE board seats: Why gender gap remains in leadership roles
Female representation in tech leadership remains low in the UAE, with women holding only 11 per cent of board positions. Despite a 900 per cent increase in GenAI course enrollments, a significant gender gap persists in tech leadership, according to a new study. That's according to Coursera's 'Closing the Gender Gap in GenAI Skills' playbook, a new resource aimed at addressing the gender gap in Generative AI (GenAI) skills. The study also revealed that women account for 23.8 per cent of GenAI learners in the UAE. While this reflects ongoing efforts to boost female participation in STEM, it also underscores the continued gender gap in the field. Experts further emphasise that limited workplace flexibility makes maintaining a healthy work-life balance difficult. Female founders get less funding Katy Holmes, CEO of the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai (BCCD), said, 'It is widely known that there is a huge disparity in investment in female-led businesses, which in itself will be a dissuade. Only 2-3 per cent of total venture capital goes to female founders. Even when female founders do secure funding, it is significantly lower—as much as 30-50 pe cent lower than their male counterparts and yet research shows female-led companies perform as well if not better than male-led businesses." Professionals highlight that female STEM teachers will naturally appeal and attract more engaged female students who go on to tech careers. 'Outside of school, e-sports is having a positive impact and encouraging more women into tech as early interest and adoption will build confidence, critical thinking and interest programming and therefore open up the idea of a career in technology.' They explained that this will organically attract a younger female audience and generate curious students. 'This is not a standalone solution but will probably have great influence." 'Traditionally, CTOs and CIOs are very male-dominated; studies estimate that women hold about 10-12 per cent of these positions. Companies should focus on their pipeline from as early as the graduate programs, and it will probably take a slight correction and hiring strategy that is biased toward women with coaching from great mentors in the field to spark an interest and sponsor them through the company,' added Holmes. Lack of flexibility in work environments Professionals also explained that the barriers to women's advancement in STEM are multifaceted from an academic perspective. Prof Swarnalatha Rajaguru, Associate Dean for Admissions and Marketing, BITS Pilani Dubai, said, 'Historically, women have been underrepresented in these fields, and this underrepresentation has, unfortunately, been normalised over time.' She highlighted that, as a result, men often hold leadership positions by default. 'Women face the additional challenge of balancing both competence and likability, a pressure not typically placed on their male counterparts. Moreover, the lack of flexibility in work environments makes it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Women are frequently judged based on their caregiving responsibilities, such as raising children, which can further hinder career progression,' added Rajaguru. Teach modern leadership principles They suggest researching gender disparities can drive informed policy changes, ensuring a more equitable future in STEM. Dr Rita Zgheib, Assistant Professor Computer Science, School of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology, Canadian University Dubai said, 'Perceptions like certain leadership traits are inherently male can result in fewer women being considered for executive roles. Despite recognising that women can often perform better and exhibit higher levels of professionalism, some still hold the belief that leadership should be male-dominated due to men's ability to work long hours or their assertive nature and assuming that women's family responsibilities prevent them from excelling in executive positions.' Educators stressed that varsities should teach modern leadership principles, focusing on empathy, adaptability, innovation, and inclusive decision-making rather than the outdated notion that ruling with authority equates to leadership success. Therefore, increasing female enrolment in STEM programs through outreach initiatives, scholarships, and mentorship opportunities becomes imperative. 'Universities play a pivotal role in shaping future tech leaders by prioritising expertise, professionalism, and quality over outdated notions that leadership belongs to those who can work long hours or simply command authority. True leadership is about vision, strategic thinking, and empowering others,' added Zgheib. Therefore, a diverse and inclusive tech workforce is essential for driving innovation, especially in traditionally male-dominated fields like AI. Dr Alexandra Urban, Learning Science Research Lead at Coursera, said, 'While progress is evident, expanding opportunities for women in GenAI, equipping them with critical skills, and empowering them to lead in the digital economy remains an urgent priority.'
