Six Middle East internet start-up companies have demonstrated their wares to a large audience of Web enthusiasts and investors in Dubai.
This week's event was the 7th DemoCamp Dubai, the UAE's longest-running industry show for internet entrepreneurs.
Hosted by Dubai Internet City, the night took on a more corporate feel than the previous events, with theatre-style seating, a front-row VIP area and internet companies demonstrating highly commercial new products.
At previous events, casual dress ruled the day and shrugged shoulders were a common reply to questions about business models or revenue sources. But on Monday, presenters showed off sites aimed at well-defined markets. Their pitches may have lacked the experimental optimism or raw technical ambition of previous events but they made up for it with serious commercial focus.
"People complained that it felt more corporate. I agree that there was a more professional crowd and a different environment," said Tariq al Asiri, the general manager of the Arabic financial news website Argaam and an organiser of the event.
"But I think it is partly that there is a different type of person interested in this type of event today. We still have the geeks but there is also a wider audience."
Hyzonia, an online gaming company, allows advertisers to build "adver-games" customised for their brands and marketing campaigns. The simple, Web-based games can be embedded in outside websites, or added to the company's games network. Since its launch late last year, the site has attracted more than 20,000 regular gamers and is growing by 16 per cent a week, said Hyzonia's co-founder, Reza Ayati.
Its games have found particular popularity among female users in Saudi Arabia, a valuable group for marketers and advertisers.
Murshed Ahmed, an Emirati serial entrepreneur, demonstrated his new Web service, Yebab. The site is an electronic wedding planner, helping brides to arrange their weddings and connecting suppliers of wedding services with customers.
Mr Ahmed, who pitched Darrb, a Web-based market for delivery services, at a previous DemoCamp Dubai, said Yebab aimed to disrupt the lucrative weddings market in the UAE, which is worth an estimated Dh2 billion (US$544.5 million) a year. The GCC market, fives times larger, is the next step.
@Email:tgara@thenational.ae
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Teaching in coronavirus times
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Stage result
1. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 3:29.09
2. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto-Soudal
3. Rudy Barbier (FRA) Israel Start-Up Nation
4. Dylan Groenewegen (NED) Jumbo-Visma
5. Luka Mezgec (SLO) Mitchelton-Scott
6. Alberto Dainese (ITA) Sunweb
7. Jakub Mareczko (ITA) CCC
8. Max Walscheid (GER) NTT
9. José Rojas (ESP) Movistar
10. Andrea Vendrame (ITA) Ag2r La Mondiale, all at same time
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP
Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan
Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri
