New video series puts the spotlight on Expo 2020 Dubai’s innovative business offering
A new video series, launched by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Dubai Chamber), showcases the impactful ways in which it will connect local and global business communities at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The next World Expo will bring together more than 200 participants, including 190-plus nations, as well as businesses, multilateral organisations and educational institutions, to form innovative partnerships that can access exciting new markets and help deliver meaningful and measurable global change.
Dubai Chamber, the Official Business Integrator of Expo 2020 Dubai, will play an essential role in catalysing partnerships for the global business community throughout the six-month mega-event.
The “En Route To The Expo” series focuses on business leaders from the UAE, sharing their thoughts on what they are expecting from the mega-event, as well as their own contribution to the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.
The video series – developed in collaboration with Entrepreneur Middle East– reflects the dynamism and resilience of Dubai and its business community, as well as the unprecedented opportunities presented by Expo 2020 Dubai.
The first instalment featured an in-depth interview with Expo 2020 Dubai’s Chief Experience Officer Marjan Faraidooni, who highlighted the vital role that Dubai Chamber is playing as a strategic partner supporting the event.
“Expo 2020 Dubai and Dubai Chamber are rallying the local and international business community to connect, network and together find cutting-edge solutions to encourage global partnerships and FDI flows in a post-pandemic world,” said Ms. Faraidooni.
“The Chamber is also playing a very important role in the development and delivery of an unmissable schedule of world-class business programming. For example, together with participating countries and partners, we are designing and curating a series of thematic business forums across the six-month event, most of which are related to specific sectors posing challenges and opportunities for both the local and global business community. The Chamber is also bringing on board three of its flagship global business forums – the Global Business Forum Africa, Global Business Forum ASEAN and Global Business Forum Latin America,” she added.
Commenting on the video series, Hassan Al Hashemi, Vice President of International Relations at Dubai Chamber, said that business in Dubai is set to undergo a quantum leap with the city hosting Expo 2020, adding that the mega-event will highlight the economic potential of the UAE and other markets of opportunity.
“Expo 2020 Dubai will be a hugely significant mega-event that will showcase innovations from around the world that address new challenges created by Covid-19, and help businesses prepare for the post-pandemic era. It will be the first major global event that uses technology and a hybrid format to navigate the obstacles presented by a situation that is unprecedented in modern times,” Al Hashemi said.
“Dubai Chamber is fully committed to ensuring that business functions run smoothly at Expo 2020 Dubai, which will serve as a prime example of how major international forums can be held safely and successfully in the post-pandemic era. We are looking forward to finalising our preparations for Expo 2020 and ensuring an ideal platform for local and international businesses to network, connect and collaborate,” he added.
As a new project presented under the banner of Dubai Chamber’s “Business Connect” initiative, the “En Route To The Expo” series can be watched on the websites and social-media channels of Dubai Chamber and Entrepreneur Middle East.
Running from October 1, 2021 until March 31, 2022, and coinciding with the 50-year anniversary of the founding of the UAE, Expo 2020 will bring the world together, creating an open, global dialogue that looks to the future. Millions of visitors from across the globe will be invited join the making of a new world, as they discover life-changing innovations that will have a meaningful, positive impact on both people and planet.
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Office space reimagined: Everything you need to know about Dubai’s newest incubator
WrkBay by Ayana Holding is a new incubator and collaborative workspace that offers startups a chance to pitch their innovative business ideas to UAE-based real estate ecosystem – Ayana Holding. Ideally situated in the centre of Dubai, this hidden gem is the place-to-be for aspiring entrepreneurs, freelancers, and corporate employees alike. Beyond its beautifully designed offices, freshly brewed coffee, and delicious healthy snacks, WrkBay specialise in providing collaborative workspace for startups and entrepreneurs to connect with industry leaders and grow with the support from Ayana Holding’s network.
“Startups help solve complex problems, of course we want to support our community by connecting them with the best resources, classes, connections, and anything else they need to survive and thrive,” said Abdulla Lahej,co-founder, Ayana Holding.
New companies require new capabilities to face the evolving digital and environmental future, such as workshops, development strategies, and business support. Ayana Holding has recently partnered with California-based proprietary intelligence platform, ‘Apsy’, which will allow members the access to develop and design mobile apps without complex technical requirements. The UAE continues to support small and medium enterprises (SME’s) in the region through initiatives and programmes, including the recently launched crowdfunding platform, Dubai Next, as well as the new Commercial Companies Law, coming into effect June 1st 2021, that will allow 100% foreign ownership of onshore companies in the UAE.
“In alignment with the UAE’s initiatives, our WrkBay Startup Scheme offers a vibrant atmosphere with collaboration and networking at the core, and the very best of Ayana Holding’s resources,” shared Hamid Kerayechian, co-founder, Ayana Holding.
Members have the opportunity to prepare a pitch for the directors of Ayana Holding, who will then carefully select a startup to support, invest in, and welcome on board. Members professionally benefit from expert speakers, networking events, meeting rooms, cloud computing packages, and mentoring from industry leaders. Home to many successful startups including XPLOR; a PropTech, virtual mapping and master planning software genius. The WrkBay-founded tech-startup received US$3 million in funding to accelerate real estate digitisation using revolutionary, cutting-edge technology. M2L Concepts, an interactive leisure and entertainment company, is yet another success story to come from the Holding group. With the extensive network and support M2L have been able to gain access to new technologies, crafting immersive experiences that traverse the digital and physical world. M2L were crowned winners of ‘Ingenuity in Design & Entertainment’ at the Design Middle East Awards 2020.
The beautiful space is well-equipped to make your working life easier; sit and enjoy a coffee and (healthy) snack in the stylish café or sanctuary garden, attend a networking event or art exhibition with a new-found connection, make your start-up come to life from one of the premium offices, or just chill with Rio (the pet Macaw parrot) – perfect for decompressing after a busy day. “We are moving toward a future model of working that is not just about work, but wellness, nature, and socialising. A productive mind is a well-balanced mind, and we are here to make your working life easier,” said Ravi Subbiah, managing director, WrkBay.
With the rise of remote working, co-working spaces have also gained a lot of traction, with people craving a flexible, socially-distanced, working atmosphere in a non-competitive environment. It’s highly likely that co-working spaces are here to stay.
WrkBay by Ayana Holding, Za’abeel Road, Dubai, UAE. Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 9am – 7pm. [email protected]
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Dubai’s Khurram Shroff to chair Miami Mixed Arts Foundation
Khurram Shroff, Chairman of Dubai’s IBC group, one of the Middle East’s largest cryptocurrency hodlers and Blockchain advocates, has announced that he will be chairing the Miami Mixed Arts Foundation, which will include the biggest digital art collectors in the world. The foundation will launch the first-ever exhibition to include a mix of digital and physical art, in Miami.
A city that boasts one of the most flourishing art scenes in the world, Miami has long attracted tourists for its Art Deco Historical District, located in the South Beach neighbourhood of Miami Beach. Reflecting a movement that enjoyed its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s, the Art Deco district was the first 20th-century location to be recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.
Shroff has fond memories of Miami’s Art Deco Historical District. “Art deco is a very quaint district, a short distance from South Beach”, said Shroff,. “I remember going there in 2001 as a student and remember feeling a cool energy and vibe there. I had the best omelette and café con leche coffee then. It was one of the best omelettes I have had, second only to my favourites Raju Omelette and Filli Tea, in Dubai”.
Following in the footsteps of this tradition for being a hub for modern and post-modernist art, Miami has been hosting one of the annual editions of the famed Art Basel fair, in recent years. The event draws artists and art buffs from all over the world, and features exhibits showcasing some of the most exciting contemporary talents, as well as the works of some of the biggest names in 20th-century art.
Apart from establishing itself as one of the most awaited events in the city’s hectic art calendar, Art Basel Miami has also emerged as a global platform for electronic music. And this is no small feat, in a city that hosts the Ultra Music Festival, one of the world’s biggest electronic-music events. Miami’s tech-friendly character is also reflected by innovations such as NBA Top Shots, which is bringing digital assets to the world of collectibles, using NFTs (Non Fungible Tokens). Created by Dapper Labs, the NBA licensed NFTs facilitate the collection and trading of digital assets which represent physical collectible items.
“Miami Beach is now home to one of the most cutting edge art scenes in the world, as well as being one of the most digital-savvy ecosystems in the world,” Shroff said. “And the Miami Mixed Arts Foundation will introduce the next generation of digital artists to this iconic contemporary art scene, as part of exhibits that will also feature physical art”.
“This will be done by including leading artists, educators, influencers, and content creators, among the Miami Mixed Arts Foundation’s Board of Directors, which is to be announced soon. The foundation will also include some of the world’s leading digital art collectors. Once considered a fringe movement, these collections are now attracting mainstream attention, as seen by the recent sale of an early CryptoPunk collectible, for $762K in Ether”, Shroff, continued.
The Miami Mixed Arts Foundation will also drive the use of digital artwork in buildings, by partnering with Miami’s prominent real estate leaders. Anyone will be able to buy digital creations in (NFTs), allowing them to create digital displays or physical twins of the art which can be displayed virtually, across many platforms, also known as metaverses. The foundation’s motivation is to bring the next generation of digital art to fans, while increasing the value of the NFTs, for the benefit of the artists.
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