Blanket, a UAE-born estate planning platform built for expats and cross-border lives, has officially launched in the UAE, offering residents a simpler, clearer and more affordable way to put the right protection in place for their families, assets and wishes.

Created by Anton Pirinen, a lawyer and member of the founding team at Wio Bank, Blanket was built to address the realities of modern expat life, where families, finances and responsibilities often span more than one country. Bringing together legal expertise, fintech experience and product-led thinking, the platform gives expats a more accessible route into estate planning, with wills and powers of attorney available through one guided process.

Anton chose to launch Blanket in the UAE after seeing a clear gap in the market. With a large expat population, multiple legal frameworks and many residents holding assets across more than one country, estate planning can quickly become fragmented,expensive and difficult to navigate. Backed by investors and advisors from Wio and Revolut backgrounds, Blanket helps close that gap by giving residents access to more serious, cross-border estate planning support without the cost, complexity or offline experienceof the traditional law firm route.

Alongside UAE wills, Blanket also supports expats with the wider estate planning decisions that come with living internationally. The platform helps customers understand what protection makes sense across the different countries connected to their life, family and assets, before guiding them through the right documents in one coordinated process. Blanket currently supports wills for the UK and India, with plans to expand globally.

For many UAE-based expats, putting a will in place is often delayed because the process feels expensive, complicated or overwhelming. Yet without a registered will, families can face frozen bank accounts, delayed access to assets, court-ledguardianship decisions and lengthy probate processes at an already difficult time. In some cases, the process can take six to eighteen months.

Blanket also offers powers of attorney, helping residents appoint someone they trust to act on their behalf when needed – from banking and government paperwork to healthcare matters and practical UAE admin if they are travelling or no longer in the country. For expats, it adds another much-needed layer of protection.

Anton Pirinen, Founder and CEO of Blanket, comments: “Estate planning is one of those things people know they should do, but usually put off because it feels too complex, too expensive or just not urgent enough. For expats, that problem is even bigger, because life does not always sit neatly in one country.

“You may live in the UAE, own assets somewhere else, have family overseas and be dealing with different legal systems at the same time. I built Blanket to make that process easier to understand, easier to access and more suited to how people actually live today.”

Users can sign up with an email address, complete an online intake in around 15 minutes, and manage the process without in-person meetings. From there, a draft will is created using lawyer-designed templates, reviewed by a qualified human expert, translated into Arabic by a Ministry of Justice-licensed translator, and submitted through the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department’s notarial process. Once registered, the official will is held with ADJD as the government repository, while the user’s personal copy and supporting documents can be stored securely in Blanket’s Vault.

Each customer is assigned a specific expert at Blanket from the start. That means they have someone to manage their case, guide them through the entire process, and be on hand to answer questions along the way. 

Blanket’s service fee starts from AED 799 and includes drafting, changes, translation, Vault and Capsules. The Vault gives customers a secure place to store important estate planning documents, while Capsules allows them to securely share selected information, instructions or documents with the right people when needed. The ADJD government registration fee is AED 950 for a single will, while mirror wills carry an ADJD government registration fee of AED 1,900, paid directly to ADJD.

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Keila Doyle, Founder of Golffily, explains that community is becoming the primary driver of digital platform growth in the Middle East, helping businesses boost trust, engagement, retention and social commerce as digital adoption reaches saturation.

For years, digital platform growth was treated as a numbers game: downloads, clicks, impressions, active users and acquisition costs. The logic was simply to get people onto the platform, keep them moving through the funnel and hope the product was useful enough to bring them back. That model is becoming weaker, particularly in the Middle East.

The region is no longer in the early stage of digital adoption. In the UAE, DataReportal’s Digital 2026 report stated that there were 11.3 million internet users at the end of 2025, with internet penetration standing at 99%. The UAE was also home to 12.5 million social media user identities in October 2025, equivalent to 110% of the population, reflecting the intensity of multi-platform digital behaviour. Saudi Arabia tells a similar story with a report that found 34.4 million internet users in the Kingdom at the end of 2025, with internet penetration also at 99%. It also recorded 38.6 million social media user identities, equivalent to 111% of the population. These numbers matter because they show that the next stage of platform growth in the Middle East will not be driven simply by getting more people online. Most people already are. The real challenge is how do platforms make users return, participate, recommend, transact and stay.

That is where community is becoming the real growth engine. Community is often treated as a soft marketing idea, but for digital platforms, it is increasingly a commercial structure. A strong community turns users from passive consumers into active participants. They create content, share  recommendations, answer each other’s questions, build trust, provide feedback and bring others in. In other words, they help the platform grow from the inside. This is particularly relevant in the Middle East, where trust, relationships and word-of-mouth have always played a powerful role in how people discover products, services and opportunities.

Digital behaviour may have evolved, but the underlying human behaviour has not disappeared. People still want to know what others think, trust recommendations from people they relate to and want to feel that a brand or platform understands their context, culture and needs. The difference now is that this trust is being scaled digitally.

The rise of social commerce is one clear signal. The UAE social commerce market is projected to grow from US$3.21 billion in 2024 to US$6.41 billion by 2030, driven by smartphone usage, e-commerce integration and platform-led purchasing behaviour. Across the wider Middle East, social commerce is also growing strongly, with market reports estimating the sector reached US$9.92 billion in 2025. This points to a broader shift that content, commerce and community are no longer separate lanes. They are increasingly part of the same growth loop. A consumer may discover a product through a creator, validate it through peer comments, ask questions in a group, see user-generated content, and then make a purchase directly through a platform. The transaction is commercial, but the decision is social.

This is why platforms that invest only in acquisition risk building shallow audiences rather than durable ecosystems. Paid ads can bring users in, influencers can create visibility, features can solve a practical problem, but community gives people a reason to stay. That distinction is becoming more important as digital categories become crowded. In fintech, wellness, education, fitness, beauty, travel, food delivery, real estate, gaming and founder-focused platforms, features are often easy to copy. However, trust is harder to replicate. A competitor can build a similar tool, but it cannot instantly recreate the relationships, conversations, identity and behavioural habits that form around a strong community.

The strongest platforms will also be the ones that understand what their users are trying to become, not just what they are trying to buy. A golf app, for example, is not only selling score tracking. It is selling progress, confidence and connection. A financial wellbeing platform is not only offering tools. It is helping people feel more informed and less alone. A founder platform is not only offering networking. It is creating access, visibility and momentum. This is where the community becomes commercially valuable. It creates emotional and practical reasons to return. It gives users status, support, recognition and accountability. It also gives platforms better feedback loops. When users are actively engaged, platforms can understand pain points faster, test ideas more effectively and turn customer behaviour into product intelligence.

However, it is important not to romanticise the community. A WhatsApp group is not automatically a community, nor is a follower count, or a comments section. Many brands use the word because it sounds warm, but real community requires design, moderation, consistency and value exchange. For platforms, the question should not be, “How do we build a community?” It should be, “What value can our users create for each other that makes the platform stronger?” That value could take many forms, from peer advice, product reviews, founder referrals, and local recommendations, to creator-led education, challenge-based engagement, user-generated content, member-only access, accountability groups or even feedback circles. The format matters less than the function but a real community helps users solve a problem, feel part of something relevant, and see value in returning.

This is why a community should now be seen as part of a growth strategy. It can reduce acquisition costs by increasing referrals, improve retention by making users feel invested, strengthen trust by giving customers visible proof from other customers, create content at scale and make platforms more resilient because users are connected to more than the product itself.

The platforms that win the next phase will not necessarily be the ones with the most features or the loudest campaigns. They will be the ones who understand that growth is no longer just about acquiring users but about activating them. In the Middle East, community is not replacing technology. It is making technology feel human, trusted and worth returning to. And in a region where everyone is already online, that may be the difference between a platform people try once and a platform they build into their lives.

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SICO Capital today announced the launch of the SICO GCC Dividends Fund. The Fund marks SICO Capital’s third equity fund and the sixth fund within SICO Group’s suite of investment funds. The open-ended equity fund, domiciled in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and managed by SICO Capital, offers investors exposure to dividend-paying equities across the GCC region.

The fund aims to provide investors with quarterly income and long-term capital growth by investing primarily in listed companies with sustainable dividend policies and strong underlying financial fundamentals. The investment strategy combines quantitative screening techniques with in-depth fundamental analysis to identify companies demonstrating resilient business models, sound balance sheets, and disciplined capital allocation practices.

The fund offers two-unit classes to accommodate different investor profiles. Class A is intended for institutional investors with a minimum initial subscription of SAR 10 million, while Class B is designed for investors with a minimum subscription of SAR 10,000. The fund is denominated in Saudi Riyals and offers subscriptions and redemptions twice weekly, subject to the fund’s terms and conditions. Albilad Capital has been appointed as the fund’s custodian, providing independent oversight in line with applicable regulatory requirements.

Wissam Haddad, CEO of SICO Capital, added: “Our investment framework integrates quantitative analysis with active fundamental research to support disciplined portfolio construction and risk management. By focusing on companies with sustainable dividend practices, the fund is structured to serve investors seeking income-oriented equity exposure within a professionally managed framework.”

Commenting on the launch, Ali Marshad, Deputy Group CEO – Buy Side at SICO BSC (C), stated: The launch of the SICO GCC Dividends Fund by SICO Capital reflects our continued commitment as a Group to expanding our investment solutions in line with the evolving needs of investors in Saudi Arabia. Through this new offering, which supports a more balanced portfolio construction approach, the Fund’s strategy is designed to play a dual role by enhancing yield through regular distributions from companies with stable returns, while focusing on reducing the relative impact of market fluctuations compared to growth strategies that invest in high-growth companies. The SICO Capital Equities Asset Management team aims to provide investors with access to dividend-focused equity opportunities across regional markets, enabling them to add an investment category that complements fixed income investments while contributing to building more diversified and balanced portfolios capable of delivering sustainable performance across different market conditions.”

With this third equities fund launch, SICO Capital continues to expand its suite of asset management offerings across the Group, providing clients with professional tools for wealth preservation and growth within the Saudi and wider regional capital markets. Detailed information regarding the fund, including the full prospectus and term sheet, is available on the SICO Capital website.

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Sovra, the fintech platform that provides people with a global dollar account, has raised more than $2 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Pharsalus Capital, with participation from leading regional and global angel investors, including Karim Atiyeh (founder of Ramp), Hisham Al-Falih (founder of Lean Technologies), Hany Rashwan (founder of 21shares), Naguib S. Sawiris (chairman of Orascom Development Holding AG) and other angel investors.

Directly from their mobile phones, Sovra users can hold digital dollars, earn yield, send money globally in seconds, and spend with a card that works anywhere. All from a self-custodial account that can only be accessed by the user, without interference from the platform or any intermediaries. This guarantees financial access to the account and longevity beyond the platform’s.

Sovra’s self-custodial architecture means users can have complete control of their own money, and the platform serves purely as infrastructure, not gatekeepers.

The platform integrates with a robust foundation of world-leading platforms to deliver a comprehensive fintech solution to users. Dollar balances are denominated in USDC, a regulated US dollar-based stablecoin issued by Circle, an NYSE-listed SEC-regulated company, and audited by Deloitte, where one real US dollar in reserve for every digital dollar in circulation, fully verifiable.

The platform also grants users access to a range of functionality for their digital dollars,  including the ability to connect to third-party DeFi protocols that offer yield, and card payments supported across the Visa and Mastercard networks, as well as free transfers across accounts.

Two-thirds of adults across MENA remain unbanked or underbanked. In some countries, even those with bank accounts can risk inflation, currency devaluation, withdrawal limits, and the possibility of losing access to their own money. As well as slow and expensive remittances, with charges of over 6% per transfer and often taking days to arrive.

Sovra is built for everyone who earns, saves, spends, or sends money — with three initial priority segments: young professionals across MENA, university students, and the regional diaspora globally.

Sovra was founded by Ahmad Wehbi, who watched Lebanon’s banking system fail in 2019, when bank deposits were frozen, and the national currency lost more than 98% of its value. The team brings together backgrounds across McKinsey, Revolut, Jumpcloud, decentralized finance, and the lived experience of disrupted access to finances and savings.

Ahmad Wehbi, Founder and CEO of Sovra, said: “There has always been something between people and their money;  a bank, a border, a fee, a policy, a form. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it took everything. The technology to remove the middleman now exists. Sovra is the simplest way in. Your money works for you and answers only to you. If we disappear tomorrow, it’s still there. That’s not a company policy alone, but the architecture we have built for Sovra.”

Anthony Ghosn, Managing Director, Pharsalus Capital, said: “By giving people sovereign, self-custodial alternatives to fragile fiat and banking systems, Sovra is helping restore financial dignity in Lebanon and beyond. For those of us with ties to the region, these issues are deeply familiar — and Ahmad and the Sovra team stand out for having the courage and clarity to build where others have been constrained by the scale of the problem.”

Sovra operates with a distributed team across the Middle East and Europe. The pre-seed round will fund engineering and product expansion as the company prepares for its public launch and continues building a platform. The waitlist is open at sovra.money

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Bahrain’s startup ecosystem has recorded a sharp acceleration in growth, underscoring its emergence as one of the most dynamic innovation hubs in the Middle East, according to the Startup Genome Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026, highlighted by Tamkeen.

The Kingdom’s ecosystem value surged to approximately $1.6 billion, representing a 759% increase over earlier reporting cycles, reflecting strong expansion in startup funding, exits, and overall valuation creation across the innovation landscape. This performance builds on earlier momentum, where Bahrain had already demonstrated sustained 40% annual ecosystem growth, driven by rising venture activity and a supportive policy environment (Startup Genome).

The latest findings position Bahrain among the Top 5 MENA ecosystems in performance, highlighting its growing influence in regional innovation competitiveness. The ecosystem’s strength is particularly evident in fintech, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, which continue to attract both local entrepreneurs and international investors.

Tamkeen, the Labour Fund of Bahrain, continues to play a central role in this growth story. Through targeted programs in workforce development, startup funding support, and enterprise enablement, Tamkeen has helped build a strong pipeline of talent and scalable ventures. Its collaboration with Startup Genome has been instrumental in benchmarking Bahrain’s progress and identifying high-impact growth areas.

Commenting on the ecosystem’s trajectory, Alya Al Aali, Deputy CE of Strategy & Insights at the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), commented: “The Kingdom of Bahrain’s distinctive advantage lies in its agile startup ecosystem, which enables entrepreneurs to develop and test their ideas within a supportive environment that facilitates expansion into regional markets.” She added that Tamkeen continues its efforts to support entrepreneurs and advance the startup ecosystem through initiatives that stimulate innovation, accelerate business growth, and expand access to financing and emerging technologies, thereby supporting their sustainability and competitiveness both locally and regionally.

In addition, Samantha Evans, Managing Director, MENA at Startup Genome, said: “Rather than trying to compete on size, Bahrain has focused on precision, building depth in fintech and adjacent technologies where it can lead. With Tamkeen anchoring this approach, the ecosystem is proving that targeted investment and clear positioning can outperform broader, less focused strategies.”

The ecosystem’s expansion is further supported by institutions such as Bahrain FinTech Bay, StartUp Bahrain, and various incubators that provide mentorship, access to funding, and market-entry support. These enablers, combined with regulatory agility—particularly in fintech—have positioned Bahrain as a testing ground for digital financial innovation in the GCC.

With strong government backing, rising investor interest, and a growing base of skilled talent, Bahrain continues to strengthen its reputation as a high-performance startup ecosystem poised for sustained regional impact.

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Schneider Electric partnered with GIZ Egypt to support the implementation of the global ClimAccelerator programme in Egypt, which is locally operated through Athar Accelerator in collaboration with Climate-KIC.

As part of this partnership, Schneider Electric will participate as the sustainability and technology partner for the ClimAccelerator programme, providing technical support and specialized mentorship to participating startups based on their needs and alignment with the company’s expertise in sustainability, energy management, and digitalisation.

Through the Private Sector Innovation Project, GIZ Egypt in collaboration with Climate-KIC, will oversee the implementation of the ClimAccelerator programme, which aims to support five climate-tech startups through a climate-focused training programme, technical assistance for climate impact assessment, and milestone-based funding to help develop and scale their innovative climate solutions.

Commenting on the partnership, Asmaa El Shiemy, Sustainability Senior Manager, Africa at Schneider Electric, stated: “Our commitment to creating a positive and lasting impact in Egypt is rooted in our role as a trusted partner in energy technology and sustainability, supporting the climate innovation ecosystem. We firmly believe that empowering climate-tech and clean-energy startups is a fundamental pillar in building a resilient and sustainable economy. Addressing today’s environmental challenges requires integrated efforts and strong strategic partnerships among the private sector, international institutions, and entrepreneurs to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative climate solutions and support the sustainable energy transition.”

She added, “We are pleased to collaborate with a leading international organization such as GIZ to empower climate-tech entrepreneurs, by equipping them with the technical expertise and advanced solutions they need to transform their ideas into projects with tangible environmental and economic impact, directly contributing to Egypt’s sustainability agenda and the achievement of Egypt Vision 2030 goals.”

Svenja Brachmann, Head of Private Sector Innovation Project (PSI II) at GIZ Egypt, commented: “At GIZ, we believe that impactful climate action can go so much farther if the whole ecosystem works together. Through our partnership with Schneider Electric, the ClimAccelerator creates a collaborative space where agile startups and corporates with their capabilities can come together to co-develop and scale innovative climate solutions for Egypt.”

The ClimAccelerator programme aims to accelerate the adoption of innovative climate solutions in the Egyptian market by providing, specialised training programmes, advanced tools for assessing the climate impact of projects and milestone based financial support necessary for startup growth and expansion. This directly contributes to Egypt’s transition toward a green economy and accelerates the adoption of low-emission, resource-efficient solutions as a cornerstone for building a sustainable future.

This agreement reflects Schneider Electric’s comprehensive vision of integrating technological advancement with environmental responsibility, highlighting the critical role of digital solutions and data management in building smart and sustainable green cities and communities. It also underscores the company’s commitment to developing the capabilities of young Egyptian entrepreneurs and startup leaders in energy management and clean technology. Furthermore, this collaboration demonstrates Schneider Electric’s long-term commitment to leveraging its technological expertise to enable various sectors to achieve greater energy efficiency and build more sustainable and resilient business models.

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Zuvees, the Dubai-based premium gifting platform redefining how people celebrate relationships across borders, has announced that it has raised USD 1.6 million from IvyCap Ventures as part of its ongoing Series A round. The latest investment brings the company’s total funding to USD 3.3 million.

The company is targeting a total Series A raise of USD 6–8 million to fuel its next phase of growth, strengthen its technology stack, expand into leading global metropolitan markets, and further its vision of creating the world’s most trusted gifting platform.

Founded by Vijay Ghadge and Abhishek Daiya, Zuvees has rapidly established itself as one of the UAE’s most trusted gifting brands. It offers same-day and 60-minute express delivery of curated flowers, luxury hampers, and personalised gift experiences across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman.

Launched commercially in the UAE in early 2025, Zuvees has quickly emerged as a fast-growing direct-to-consumer gifting brand, achieving an annualised revenue run-rate exceeding USD 3 million while maintaining strong unit economics. The company serves customers in more than 50 countries, with a significant share of orders originating from international senders who are gifting across borders.

The follow-on investment from IvyCap Ventures, an existing investor in Zuvees, reflects continued confidence in the company’s execution capabilities, technology-led differentiation, and ability to build a globally relevant consumer brand.

The newly raised capital will be deployed to expand Zuvees’ operational footprint, scale its AI-powered personalisation and recommendation engine, strengthen its proprietary supply chain infrastructure, and deepen its customer intelligence and CRM capabilities.

Zuvees is now pioneering what it calls ‘Gifting 3.0 ‘—a new category that combines expert curation, artificial intelligence, and rapid fulfilment to transform gifting into a highly personalised, transparent, and reliable experience.

While e-commerce has transformed nearly every consumer category over the past decade, gifting remains surprisingly broken. Customers often purchase gifts based on images and promises, only to discover that what gets delivered does not match their expectations. This challenge becomes even more pronounced in cross-border gifting, where trust is paramount and the sender rarely gets visibility into the final delivered experience.

At the same time, consumer behaviour is rapidly evolving. Gifting is transitioning from a ‘gift later’ category, where purchases were planned days or weeks in advance, to a ‘gift today’ and increasingly ‘gift now’ category, driven by modern lifestyles, instant communication, and the desire to celebrate moments in real time.

Zuvees has built its platform around solving these challenges through a combination of curated premium products, AI-driven personalisation, operational excellence, and customer-first innovations such as Video Approval before dispatch and a 100% customer satisfaction commitment policy.

Vijay Ghadge, Co-Founder & CEO of Zuvees, said: “When someone sends a gift, they are not purchasing flowers, chocolates, or a hamper. They are purchasing an emotion.

The biggest challenge in gifting today is expectation mismatch. What the sender imagines, what the platform promises, and what the recipient ultimately receives are often three very different things. This trust gap has existed for decades and becomes even more significant in cross-border gifting, where customers are relying entirely on the platform to represent their emotions.

At Zuvees, we have built the company around eliminating that gap. Every innovation we introduce, from Video Approval before dispatch to our quality assurance systems and customer-first guarantees, is designed to ensure that what customers expect is exactly what gets delivered.

We are also witnessing a structural shift in consumer behaviour. Gifting is moving from a planned activity to an on-demand experience. People no longer want to celebrate tomorrow. They want to celebrate now. The future belongs to platforms that can combine trust, personalisation, and speed, and that’s precisely what we’re building.

While we started in the UAE, our ambition has always been global. The UAE is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan markets, bringing together people from over 130 nationalities with strong gifting traditions and high cross-border engagement. It has proven to be an ideal testing ground for building a brand designed for globally connected consumers. The playbooks, technology, and customer insights we are developing here are intended to scale across major international cities around the world.”

Abhishek Daiya, Co-Founder & CPO/CFO of Zuvees, added: “We believe the next generation of gifting companies will be powered by intelligence rather than catalogues.

The challenge isn’t helping customers buy a gift. The challenge is helping them discover the right gift for the right person at the right moment. Relationships are nuanced, occasions are personal, and customer expectations continue to evolve.

We are building a proprietary AI layer that understands gifting intent, recipient preferences, purchase behavior, cultural context, and occasion-specific signals to deliver hyper-personalised recommendations at scale.

This investment allows us to accelerate that vision by expanding our technology capabilities, automating our operations, and building the data infrastructure necessary to power a truly intelligent gifting platform. Our goal is to become the trusted layer between human emotions and meaningful gifting experiences.”

Vikram Gupta, Founder & Managing Partner, IvyCap Ventures, said: “What attracted us to Zuvees is its ability to address a global consumer need through a technology-led platform. As gifting becomes increasingly cross-border, the company is uniquely positioned to deliver trusted, personalised experiences at scale. We have been impressed by the team’s execution and are excited to support their journey in building a category-defining global gifting brand.”

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du, a leading UAE telecom and digital services provider, today launched du Launchpad, an AI-powered all-in-one super platform to support entrepreneurs and micro- and small-business owners across the UAE in scaling their businesses.

The UAE’s first super platform supporting the nation’s ambition to become the startup capital of the world,  ‘du Launchpad’, operates under the ‘du Business’ services portfolio and has been developed in partnership with Peko. The super-app integrates critical business services into a single platform to streamline operations by removing complexity, improving execution speed, and enabling SMEs to focus on their business growth.

du Launchpad brings essential capabilities together, such as accounting solutions, HRMS and payroll management, and corporate tax filing, as well as WhatsApp Business integration and professional invoicing systems.

Powered by automation and AI workflows, the platform reduces manual effort, supports compliance readiness, and keeps day-to-day operations seamless. Du is also offering a cost-effective premium bundle that provides subscribers with access to the top five essential services, specifically designed to support entrepreneurs and business owners in enhancing their operational efficiency and driving cost optimisation.

Karim Benkirane, CCO at du, said: “With du Launchpad, we are moving beyond standalone tools to deliver an AI-powered all-in-one platform that helps SMEs scale their businesses by saving time, reducing complexity, and strengthening compliance. The cost-effective packages as well as a roster of free-of-charge services will ease the burden on entrepreneurs. By bringing essential services into one place and automating key workflows, du Launchpad enables business owners to focus more on their core work rather than the operational nitty-gritty. Our collaboration with Peko represents our ongoing commitment to being the telecom champion for entrepreneurs, supporting the UAE’s focus on promoting SMEs and start-up ventures.”

Many SMEs in the UAE face mounting pressure from complex compliance requirements, government obligations, and workforce management challenges that divert time, talent, and capital away from growth. Industries such as professional services, retail and e-commerce, F&B outlets, healthcare clinics, construction and contracting, and logistics trading SMEs are particularly impacted. du Launchpad directly addresses these challenges, consolidating the services SMEs need the most into one AI-enabled platform that cuts through administrative complexity and frees entrepreneurs to focus on building resilient businesses.

Kashif Khan, Founder and CEO of Peko, added: “Our partnership with du on Launchpad empowers SMEs by simplifying complex administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on growth. By integrating smart compliance and automation, we’re helping businesses stay agile and resilient in a competitive market.”

The du Launchpad delivers clear, measurable outcomes: significant time savings through streamlined administrative processes; reduced regulatory and financial risk through dedicated compliance support; and lower operating costs through bundled pricing. With the full operational spectrum from government filings and PRO services to compliance management, workforce administration, and AI-powered workflow automation, it gives entrepreneurs the headspace to focus on customers, develop their teams, and grow with confidence.

du Launchpad is available for du business customers through the MyAccount portal and the dedicated du Launchpad platform.

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CNTXT AI, a UAE-based data and AI company that enables companies and institutions to develop AI solutions while maintaining full sovereignty over their data, announced the successful closing of a $60 million Series A funding round.

The round was co-led by two of the region’s most active AI investors: AI71, Abu Dhabi’s applied AI company focused on sovereign, domain‑specialized AI, and BlueFive Capital, a global asset manager originating out of the GCC. The funding will support continued product development, expansion into new markets, and global deployment of secure AI infrastructure for enterprise and public-sector environments.

CNTXT AI was founded by Mohammad Abu Sheikh, a tech entrepreneur with a track record of successful exits and deep experience across AI infrastructure, applied AI platforms, and ecosystem development. Abu Sheikh’s previous venture LocAI was successfully acquired by AI71, who now returns as co-lead investor in this round. He is also the founder of SMPL AI, a $25 million fund supporting early-stage AI startups, reinforcing his role in building a global AI ecosystem focused on real-world impact.

The company works with global technology leaders including Oracle, NVIDIA, and AWS, and has supported several major global AI developers on large language model initiatives, deploying enterprise and government AI projects across multiple markets. Its proprietary products include Munsit, the most accurate Arabic voice AI, which has processed over one million minutes of speech and serves more than 250 enterprises and 150,000 users.

Mohammad Abu Sheikh, Founder and CEO of CNTXT AI: “The era of AI experimentation is over; the era of execution has begun. This funding strengthens our ability to build the sovereign infrastructure and talent needed to deploy AI at scale. Our focus has always been on making AI work in the real world, under the most demanding conditions.”

Reda Nidhakou, member of AI71 board of Directors, and CEO of VentureOne: “CNTXT AI capabilities and speed of execution stand out in this fast moving AI world. An impressive venture born in the UAE but addressing global AI deployment needs. This investment strengthens our ability to build the environment needed to deploy AI at scale and to address our clients data sovereignty requirements.”

Hazem Ben-Gacem, Founder and CEO of BlueFive Capital: “We backed CNTXT AI because they are building exactly the kind of technology-driven platform the region needs, one that turns raw data into real AI outcomes. This is the type of globally competitive business we want to build alongside.”

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The Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) has announced a series of senior appointments and promotions within its case management leadership team today. The appointments include the promotion of Katy Hacking and the appointment of Markel Eguiluz Parte to the role of deputy registrar, following the departure of Christoffer Coello Hedberg, who has returned to Sweden and private practice after three years as the Center’s first deputy registrar. 

Further appointments include the promotion of Laura Roberts and the appointment of Anna Boer to the role of senior counsel. 

Dr Tariq Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said: “DIAC’s continued progress is built on institutional trust, experienced people and a clear commitment to serving the needs of parties, counsel and tribunals. These recent appointments strengthen the case management team at an important stage of its development and reinforce the Centre’s role in supporting Dubai’s position as a global hub for dispute resolution”. 

Michael Pryles AO PBM, President of the Arbitration Court, said: “Christoffer’s departure was a great loss to the Centre and particularly to our case management team. As deputy registrar, he carefully discussed challenging questions which arose from time to time and provided helpful oversight and support to the Arbitration Court. He did so as a person who has considerable knowledge of arbitration and sound judgment. Whilst sad to bid farewell to Christoffer, I am delighted to welcome Markel Eguiluz Parte and Anna Boer and to celebrate the promotion of Katy Hacking and Laura Roberts at a time when the Centre is going from strength to strength. Markel and Katy will be excellent additions to the leadership of the case management team, with their broad experience of international arbitration, having worked in private practice and at other leading institutions. I look forward to working closely with them. The recruitment of Anna demonstrates the Centre’s commitment to its Russian speaking users and the promotion of Laura is a testament to her careful work and dedication over the past two years. I wish them all the best”. 

Robert Stephen, Registrar, said: “The case management team is central to the quality and reliability of institutional arbitration. Katy, Markel, Laura and Anna all bring strong experience across institutional practice, private practice, international arbitration and complex disputes. Together, they further strengthen our ability to administer cases with the professionalism, responsiveness and procedural rigour expected by the international arbitration community. It was a career pleasure working with Christoffer, and a personal disappointment to see him leave the Centre and Dubai. We have all benefitted from his thoughtful leadership, and careful, considered approach. We wish him all success in his return to Sweden and private practice.” 

Katy Hacking, who has been promoted to Deputy Registrar, joined DIAC as Senior Counsel in August 2023. She is qualified in England and Wales and has over 11 years’ experience in the UAE, with prior experience at the former DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Centre and in private practice with Simmons & Simmons and Pinsent Masons in London and Dubai. 

Markel Eguiluz Parte, joining DIAC as Deputy Registrar, is qualified in Spain and brings extensive institutional experience from The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, where he served for almost seven years as Legal Counsel. His experience includes investor-State and State-related disputes, as well as procedural issues concerning the constitution of tribunals and the appointment and challenge of arbitrators. 

Laura Roberts, who has been promoted to Senior Counsel, joined DIAC as Counsel in 2024. She has 14 years of private practice experience with Magic Circle and US law firms in London and Dubai, with specialist expertise in advanced technologies in arbitration and experience representing clients before international tribunals and courts under major institutional rules. 

Anna Boer, joining DIAC as Senior Counsel, is qualified in England and Wales and New York and has extensive experience in commercial and investment arbitration. Before joining DIAC, she practised at White & Case in Moscow and Dubai, advising governments, financial institutions and multinational corporations on complex cross-border matters. 

The case management team is responsible for the day-to-day administration of all disputes referred to the Centre. These appointments reinforce the Centre’s capacity to manage a growing and increasingly complex international caseload.

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