Paragraf's chips. The company's graphene technology could help produce major advances in electronics. Photo: Paragraf
Paragraf's chips. The company's graphene technology could help produce major advances in electronics. Photo: Paragraf
Paragraf's chips. The company's graphene technology could help produce major advances in electronics. Photo: Paragraf
Paragraf's chips. The company's graphene technology could help produce major advances in electronics. Photo: Paragraf

Mubadala's multimillion funding to allow UK electronics firm to expand production of ground-breaking tech


Thomas Harding
  • English
  • Arabic

A worldwide expansion of ground-breaking electronic technology by a British company has taken a major step forward after significant investment from Abu Dhabi.

Paragraf, one of Britain’s most promising private technology businesses, which produces semiconductors made of graphene, has benefited from the Mubadala sovereign wealth fund contributing $35 million.

Graphene’s unique properties enable a host of devices to perform faster, more accurately and with lower energy consumption than silicon-based alternatives.

The input of $55 million in total funding, which includes a 12.8 per cent stake in the company acquired by Mubadala, will enable Paragraf to expand production of “faster, more energy-efficient technologies to the scale required by major commercial opportunities”, said Dr Simon Thomas, the company’s co-founder and chief executive.

Dr Simon Thomas highlighted Paragraf's 'vision for transforming electronics with graphene'. Photo: Paragraf
Dr Simon Thomas highlighted Paragraf's 'vision for transforming electronics with graphene'. Photo: Paragraf

“This investment is a strong signal of confidence in Paragraf. We’ve attracted strong interest and are pleased to have secured the backing of both new and existing partners who share our vision for transforming electronics with graphene.”

The Cambridgeshire company’s graphene molecular system can be used to produce liquid and gas sensors for the early detection of disease.

But they are especially useful in extreme environments, including cryogenic systems in quantum computing and in a range of high-temperature and high-radiation applications across industries.

Paragraf's graphine chips. Photo: Paragraf
Paragraf's graphine chips. Photo: Paragraf

Paragraf will now set up subsidiaries in the Middle East, China and the US. The company said it had a “vision to transform electronics” by being the first global company to use graphene for quantum computing, electric vehicles, energy storage and chemical testing, as well as helping to develop new cancer drugs.

The semiconductor company came within weeks of running out of money after the UK’s six-month national security checks delayed the foreign investment, Dr Thomas said. Paragraf was “pushed to the wire" in obtaining the funding.

Paragraf's Huntingdon site in Cambridgeshire. Photo: Paragraf
Paragraf's Huntingdon site in Cambridgeshire. Photo: Paragraf

Philip Harwood, Middle East regional director for the UK government’s office for investment, said Paragraf exemplified “the best of British innovation, research and technology”.

“This investment demonstrates the UK’s capacity to attract global capital for transformative industries,” he added.

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Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

Five famous companies founded by teens

There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:

  1. Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate. 
  2. Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc. 
  3. Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway. 
  4. Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
  5. Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net

Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.

Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.

A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.

Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.

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French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

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Company name: Yeepeey

Started: Soft launch in November, 2020

Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani

Based: Dubai

Industry: E-grocery

Initial investment: $150,000

Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

500 People from Gaza enter France

115 Special programme for artists

25   Evacuation of injured and sick

Three trading apps to try

Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:

  • For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
  • If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
  • Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

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Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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LIGUE 1 FIXTURES

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Friday
Nice v Angers (9pm)
Lille v Monaco (10.45pm)

Saturday
Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain (7pm)
Bordeaux v Guingamp (10pm)
Caen v Amiens (10pm)
Lyon v Dijon (10pm)
Metz v Troyes (10pm)

Sunday
Saint-Etienne v Rennes (5pm)
Strasbourg v Nantes (7pm)
Marseille v Toulouse (11pm)

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Updated: August 27, 2025, 8:30 AM