Hussam Zammar is one of those enterprising entrepreneurs who has dabbled in everything — from making exhibition stands and running a paintball company to creating sanitisation gates during Covid-19.
Having landed in Dubai 16 years ago with $200 in his pocket, which he believed to be a “very big amount” as he arrived from his home country of Syria, Mr Zammar started work as a foreman at a construction company before setting up his first venture, an exhibition stands business.
By 2015, the company was reaping millions of dirhams in revenue and Mr Zammar had branched into other ventures with partners, including an electromechanical company and an entertainment entity related to a restaurant and nightclub.
However, in 2017, Mr Zammar realised he was not happy with what he was doing and sold his stakes in all the businesses, despite most of them doing well financially. In Eat, Pray, Love style, he made trips to India and the Vatican searching for answers. Returning to Dubai, he decided he wanted to start something which “has to be about sustainability”.
“[All I was sure of was that] it has to be eco-friendly … It has to serve the people and make their lives better,” he says.
But Covid-19 hit and, stuck at home, Mr Zammar ventured into designing sanitisation booths.
He received orders for 1,000 booths in Dubai, amid strong demand at the time.
After the pandemic, Mr Zammar decided to once again focus on his plan for a sustainable business venture. The idea for a project that would fit the bill came when he was “waiting at a red signal”, the entrepreneur says.
Observing the many delivery motorcycles around him, he decided to launch Terra, which roughly translates from Latin to ‘Mother Earth’.
The B2B micro-mobility start-up has developed what it describes as an energy-efficient electric motorbike, which can be customised to suit different sectors, including aggregators and restaurants as well as the public sector.
The start-up, which raised $1 million in its pre-seed funding round, was set up in the Dubai International Financial Centre in 2021.
“Our bike is done as a prototype and between January and March, the plan is to get it regulated and certified,” Mr Zammar says.
The company, which currently has 11 employees, is also planning to boost its hiring in the first quarter, with a focus on people who have experience in areas such as start-up finance as well mechanical and battery engineers.
“From March to June, we need to try our bike with many aggregators, chain restaurants and the government sector," he says.
“Then, from April, our bikes will be on the road,” he says, with plans to start with 100 bikes.
“Then after that, we are open for huge orders.”
The start-up says its motorbikes will enable companies to decrease their carbon footprint, through reduced emissions.
The bikes are also aimed at offering improved turnaround times, fewer running costs, driver-tracking and overall efficiency.
Terra’s electric motorbike fleet presents a solution to the rising use of petrol motorbikes by "changing one motorbike at a time", according to Mr Zammar.
The company has plans for two-wheelers and three-wheelers, although it is awaiting special permission for the latter, since the testing has to be done locally.
“Customisation” is what the customer wants, he says, adding that the company will be able to tailor the bikes to suit various needs — such as delivery of food and non-food items.
Terra also aims to offer a battery-swap and drive subscription model, with plans to set up stations across the UAE allowing drivers to book and switch bike batteries through the platform’s mobile application.
At present, parts for the bikes are being sourced from Taiwan, Turkey, Poland and India, with assembly taking place in China.
“Hopefully, in the near future, if we have a big order, we need to localise manufacturing. The government also offers a lot of support for manufacturers," Mr Zammar says.
The UAE is focusing heavily on local manufacturing as part of its economic diversification agenda and in 2021 announced its Operation 300bn strategy. The 10-year programme is aimed at increasing the industrial sector’s contribution to gross domestic product to Dh300 billion ($81.68 billion) by 2031, from Dh133 billion in 2021.
The country has also launched the Make It In The Emirates campaign, which encourages local and international investors to manufacture and export products from the UAE.
“We are in communication with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, but we cannot go now and make a big factory … we need to check the market. So, it's like a step by step process,” Mr Zammar says.
The micro-mobility market, which was hit hard during the pandemic, has picked up focus again amid the global push to move towards low-carbon solutions as governments worldwide embark on their net zero targets.
The global electric scooter and motorcycle market is expected to reach $28.9 billion by 2028, up from $7.5 billion at present, according to Mordor Intelligence.
The market’s growth is being driven by the rising need for sustainable transportation, increasing environmental concerns, favourable government initiatives, rising energy costs and competition among emerging energy-efficient technologies, the report said.
The UAE is among the world's top 10 countries as a market that is geared towards electric mobility, consultancy Arthur D Little said in a report in September.
The UAE electric vehicle market, which is currently in its early stages, is projected to grow at an annual rate of 30 per cent between 2022 and 2028, according to the global electric mobility readiness index 2022, compiled by Arthur D Little.
Passenger vehicles constitute about 95 per cent of the EV market in the UAE due to an increase in rental car services, it said. The Emirates ranks eighth on the index.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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By Cop28, which the UAE is set to host in November, Terra aims to be operational on a “big scale”, Mr Zammar says.
While the market for clean mobility solutions is growing, especially in the UAE and the rest of the Middle East, he stresses that he is not worried about competition.
"An entrepreneur has to understand that if he's thinking about an idea now, there are a thousand others thinking about the same idea at the same time. [For Terra] the good thing is that we are the first mover and we are the first in the Middle East [to develop this concept]," he says.
Mr Zammar is also open to partnering with other start-ups and entrepreneurs. "I believe that joining efforts will give us more; I'm open to any idea," he says.
At present, Terra does not have any immediate plans to raise further funding.
Looking ahead, the strategy for the future is to significantly expand beyond electric motorbike fleets.
The company says it wants to build an "electric ecosystem that will connect communities and empower electric mobility across the UAE".
It is also aiming to expand its presence across the Middle East and globally as part of its growth strategy.
The plan is for Terra to cover Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and, "hopefully, we will go to the West and also to the East and to Africa", Mr Zammar says.
"By 2026, you will see Terra worldwide."
Q&A with Hussam Zammar, founder and chief executive of Terra
Who is your role model?
I don’t have a specific role model. I take different things from different people. And my enemy is me, that’s because sometimes when you're doing your business, you feel like you are unstoppable, and your ego will grow. This is what will make you fall down. You have to stay humble and keep calm. So my role model, in a different way, is me. The better me.
If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?
I thought I was a traditional guy so [in the past], I didn’t like doing any Zoom meetings, I didn't like to write emails. I didn’t like technology. But I found out [about their advantages] later on by force during the coronavirus pandemic.
So if I had to go back, I wouldn't have to think that I am a traditional guy. I have to continue learning.
My code is ‘teachable, undefeatable’, which means that if you are able to teach yourself to learn, you will not be defeated.
If you could start another company, what would it be?
My dream is to start a school or university for girls in Syria.
What is your advice to other entrepreneurs?
Persistence, adaptation and the third one is don't wait for even an hour — do it now.
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PLUS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.1%22%20Super%20Retina%20XDR%20OLED%2C%202778%20x%201284%2C%20458ppi%2C%20HDR%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20P3%2C%201200%20nits%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20A15%20Bionic%2C%206-core%20CPU%2C%205-core%20GPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECapacity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20128%2F256%2F512GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20iOS%2016%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%2012MP%20main%20(f%2F1.5)%20%2B%2012MP%20ultra-wide%20(f%2F2.4)%3B%202x%20optical%2C%205x%20digital%3B%20Photonic%20Engine%2C%20Deep%20Fusion%2C%20Smart%20HDR%204%2C%20Portrait%20Lighting%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%20video%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204K%20%40%2024%2F25%2F3060fps%2C%20full-HD%20%40%2025%2F30%2F60fps%2C%20HD%20%40%2030fps%3B%20HD%20slo-mo%20%40%20120%2F240fps%3B%20night%2C%20time%20lapse%2C%20cinematic%2C%20action%20modes%3B%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%204K%20HDR%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012MP%20TrueDepth%20(f%2F1.9)%2C%20Photonic%20Engine%2C%20Deep%20Fusion%2C%20Smart%20HDR%204%3B%20Animoji%2C%20Memoji%3B%20Portrait%20Lighting%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%20video%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204K%20%40%2024%2F25%2F3060fps%2C%20full-HD%20%40%2025%2F30%2F60fps%2C%20HD%20slo-mo%20%40%20120fps%3B%20night%2C%20time%20lapse%2C%20cinematic%2C%20action%20modes%3B%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%204K%20HDR%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204323%20mAh%2C%20up%20to%2026h%20video%2C%2020h%20streaming%20video%2C%20100h%20audio%3B%20fast%20charge%20to%2050%25%20in%2030m%3B%20MagSafe%2C%20Qi%20wireless%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%20(Apple%20Pay)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBiometrics%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Face%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Lightning%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECards%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20eSIM%20%2F%20eSIM%20%2B%20SIM%20(US%20models%20use%20eSIMs%20only)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Blue%2C%20midnight%2C%20purple%2C%20starlight%2C%20Product%20Red%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20iPhone%2014%2C%20USB-C-to-Lightning%20cable%2C%20one%20Apple%20sticker%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh3%2C799%20%2F%20Dh4%2C199%20%2F%20Dh5%2C049%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sri Lanka Test squad:
Dimuth Karunaratne (stand-in captain), Niroshan Dickwella (vice captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan and Lasith Embuldeniya.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
More on Quran memorisation:
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The%20specs
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra
Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
Rating: 4/5
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qais Aboud
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Almahroosa, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Sumoud, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Adventurous, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
WWE Super ShowDown results
Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin to retain his WWE Universal title
Finn Balor defeated Andrade to stay WWE Intercontinental Championship
Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns
Lars Sullivan won by disqualification against Lucha House Party
Randy Orton beats Triple H
Braun Strowman beats Bobby Lashley
Kofi Kingston wins against Dolph Zigggler to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal
The Undertaker beat Goldberg
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
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