Technology leaders speaking at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2026 underscored the UAE’s critical role in fostering startup growth, citing its advanced digital infrastructure and progressive regulatory environment as key enablers for scaling both regionally and globally. The panel featured insights from Hamad Al Khayyal Al Harthi, Vice President of IT Solutions at ENOC, and Aaqib Gadit, Co-Founder of Disrupt.com.
Culture Over Code in AI Adoption
The experts emphasized that successful technology integration, particularly with AI, goes far beyond technical implementation. According to the speakers, 80% of AI success hinges on adapting business culture and transforming working methods.
Al Harthi advised that AI should be viewed as a comprehensive business transformation initiative rather than a siloed technical project. He stressed that leadership and business units must drive this change, with IT serving an enabling role. He added that AI ultimately empowers human talent by automating repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on higher-value functions.
The Digital Maturity Gap
A common pitfall for entrepreneurs, the panelists noted, is underestimating the vast differences in digital maturity across global markets. While the UAE offers a sophisticated and integrated “digital highway,” many other regions lack the foundational infrastructure required to support similar high-tech business models. This reality requires startups to adapt their strategies when expanding beyond the Emirates.
The Startup Advantage
Aaqib Gadit highlighted the innate advantages that startups possess, namely a nimble culture and operational speed. He pointed to the success of Disrupt.com as a testament to the region’s potential, having built four global companies from the MENA region with revenues exceeding $100 million each. The firm has also overseen two major exits, including one to a US-listed company.
A Collaborative Blueprint for Growth
Both experts praised the UAE’s effective partnership between government bodies and the private sector. This collaboration has been instrumental in shaping forward-looking policies that create a fertile ground for innovation. The result is an ecosystem where startups can access essential capital, attract top-tier talent, and tap into global markets from their first day of operation.
About Disrupt.com
Disrupt.com is a venture builder that builds, operates, and scales breakout technology businesses from the MENA region. The company is known for creating globally successful companies by leveraging regional talent and strategic opportunities.
Source: meatechwatch
