UAE-based venture builder eyes Saudi startup market

The venture builder will co-create startups alongside entrepreneurs. (Supplied)
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Updated 09 March 2021
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UAE-based venture builder eyes Saudi startup market

  • Hatch and Boost has launched two tech startups in the UAE, with three more in the pipeline

DUBAI: Hatch & Boost, an Abu Dhabi-based venture builder (VB), was officially launched this week to spur further growth in the region’s hyperactive startup scene, particularly supporting homegrown “impact-driven business models.”

The venture builder will co-create startups alongside entrepreneurs – from concept stage to market introduction – and help to reduce costs by offering a shared pool of resources to participants.

“Our mission at Hatch & Boost is to bridge the gap between ideation and growth through our unique venture building model, which offers hands-on support from a startup’s early-most stages,” Faris Mesmar, the VB’s co-founder and managing partner, said.

Hatch and Boost has launched two tech startups in the UAE, with three more in the pipeline.

“The startup scene in the UAE has evolved considerably in recent years, and today it is a hotspot for startup activity, supported by an excellent entrepreneur-friendly infrastructure,” Mesmar added.

This startup outlook also applies to Saudi Arabia, he told Arab News, adding that they plan to bring the venture builder to the Kingdom to capitalize on its potential.

“KSA is on our radar, predominantly because it is a flourishing market with an ecosystem that’s suitable for startups,” he said.

“The PIF (Public Investment Fund) is a great example of this, as it continues to move the needle on supporting the startup ecosystem and creating a successful SME infrastructure,” Faris explained.

He added: “We have our eyes on the market, as do investors, on the rising talent and wave of entrepreneurship in the Kingdom.”


DP World announces new leadership appointments

Updated 13 February 2026
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DP World announces new leadership appointments

DUBAI: DP World announced the appointment of Essa Kazim as Chairman of its Board of Directors and the appointment of Yuvraj Narayan as Group Chief Executive Officer.

Essa Kazim currently serves as Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre and Chairman of Borse Dubai. He brings extensive experience in financial and economic affairs, having previously held senior leadership positions in several national institutions.

Yuvraj Narayan has extensive professional experience in financial management, corporate finance, supply chains, and global trade. Since joining DP World in 2004, he has led a number of strategic and transformational initiatives that supported the company’s expansion across international markets and strengthened its role as an integrated global provider of end-to-end supply chain solutions.

Narayan has served as Group Chief Financial Officer since 2005, contributing to the company’s financial resilience and operational efficiency.

DP World affirmed that the new appointments support its strategy for sustainable growth and reinforce its role in strengthening global supply chains and supporting Dubai’s position as a leading hub for trade and logistics.