Exciting experiences, inspiring ideas and vital projects were presented by several Emirati entrepreneurs who participated in “Shark Tank Dubai”, which is shown on Dubai TV. The program’s episodes reveal the spirit of innovation enjoyed by Emirati small and medium-sized business owners, and their insistence on presenting products that stem from their personal experiences and life choices, and express their ambitious future vision. Emirati entrepreneurs managed to attract the attention of a select group of businessmen and investors, including: Faisal Belhoul, an Emirati entrepreneur and investor who previously founded “Ithmar Capital Partners” and “Amanat Holdings”, one of the largest healthcare and integrated education companies in the GCC; Ameera Sajwani, Managing Director of Sales and Development at Damac Properties, co-founder and CEO of “Bribco”; Elie Khoury, who founded “Vivium Holding” after 30 years of experience in marketing and investment, where he uses his expertise and relationships to invest in talents and ideas and build successful brands; Yousef Hammad, Managing Partner at “Beco Capital”, who leads the company’s strategy and investments in the technology sector; and Nour Sweid, who manages a diverse investment portfolio of startups, most of which are in the technology sector. She founded “Global Ventures”, which invests in companies in local and regional markets, and helps them grow and excel in the regional and global framework. They were able to convince them to support their projects and invest. In return for a certain percentage of it.
Creative ideas
During the episodes of the program that airs every Thursday evening at exactly 10:30 pm, Reem Al Marzouqi and her colleague Hanan Ismail were able to draw the attention of businessmen to their project (Garbaliser), as they invented a device that contributes to converting food waste into natural fertilizer. This came as a result of a group of research and studies that they conducted, and they discovered that natural fertilizer would be a solution to several problems resulting from the use of chemical fertilizer.
Meanwhile, entrepreneur Qadriya Al Awadhi seeks through her project (Bumblebee) to meet the nutritional needs of children, by providing a variety of foods free of preservatives, and providing all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that a child needs in his early years.
While the passion for travel and exploration prompted entrepreneur Mohammed Al Hawari to establish his company “Feel Good Tea”, which specializes in different types of tea from around the world. His idea came after he noticed that the types of tea popular in the Emirates and the Arab region were limited to black tea and its green counterpart, to provide a range of other types of tea through his project. While Yousef Al-Ahmad and Ibrahim Mohammed succeeded in establishing their own brand “Kalma”, through which they offer a range of drinks that are distinguished by their quality taste, as they were inspired by the idea of their products through their own experience.
Developing skills
Through her project “RELAM”, entrepreneur Waqar Al-Hammadi expresses her passion for the world of drip coffee, as she was able to develop her skills and expertise in the basics of roasting specialty coffee of various types and uses and knowing its origin, to employ them in establishing her own project. Through the episodes of “Shark Tank Dubai”, entrepreneur Saleh Hammad appears to provide a glimpse of his digital platform “Kan Kan”, which relies on artificial intelligence technologies to provide different types of traditional dress or kandura, as they can be tailored according to desire.
While the (Cosplay) project reflects the passion of its founder, Mohammed Saeed Al-Ansari, for the arts, as he was able through it to bring together lovers of games, popular culture and Japanese manga arts under one roof, to present various shows to members of society. Entrepreneur Dr. Abdullah Al Shammari distinguished himself with the idea of his project “Rest Hero”, which provides various solutions for those looking to create their own electronic platform to practice e-commerce, and through his project he succeeded in attracting more than 50 brands that benefit from the solutions he provides.
Under the slogan “Change your life today”, entrepreneurs Dr. Nasser Al Riyami and Badr Al Tamimi launched their project (Feva Fit) to provide a set of psychological practices and various plans that enable anyone looking for a healthy life and a fit body to gain mental strength and change their mood.
While the “Join Me” platform appears unique in its idea that bears the fingerprints of Maryam Al Balushi, Raghad and Jeda; as they seek to empower women through it, as the digital platform targets girls aged 16 and above, and works to connect them with each other through the nature of their interests and their various conversations that reveal their ambitions and future dreams. The platform is distinguished by its ease of use and its ability to bring together girls of different nationalities and cultures who work in more than 200 thousand companies and institutions.
Entrepreneur Rashid Al Salmi presented a model of the electric bike (Sulmi) during the program, which was designed and manufactured using advanced technologies and a futuristic design, by his emerging Emirati company “Sulmi”.
• Participants present products stemming from their personal experiences, and expressing their ambitious future vision.
Global Success
The “Shark Tank” program was first shown globally in 2009, and focuses on supporting emerging entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium enterprises. Since its first launch, the program has achieved great success worldwide, thanks to the uniqueness of its idea and goals, which qualified it to win several international awards.
