The United Arab Emirates has quietly built one of the region’s most formidable launchpads for new businesses, and according to a top investment executive, a reality TV show is proving the point. Mohamed Rabie Moawad, Chairman of Letsia Holding, said the country has successfully woven together investment capital, seasoned business leaders, fresh ideas, and real opportunities for startups to grow into competitive enterprises.
Moawad pointed directly to Shark Tank UAE as a prime example of that progress. He argued the show does more than just hand out checks—it assembles a room full of accomplished investors and business leaders who have actually built, managed, and scaled successful companies. For entrepreneurs, that mix is the real prize.
What makes the program work, Moawad explained, isn’t the money on the table. It’s the caliber of the investors themselves. Their business expertise, strategic guidance, professional networks, and deep understanding of market dynamics can be the difference between a good idea and a sustainable business. He specifically highlighted distinguished Emirati business leaders such as Faisal bin Juma Belhoul, an investor featured on Shark Tank UAE, as the kind of experienced professionals whose participation lifts the entire ecosystem.
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When you bring together investors with established track records and entrepreneurs with innovative concepts, Moawad said, you create an environment where knowledge, capital, and practical experience feed into long-term business development. That synergy, he believes, is the UAE’s secret sauce.
“What distinguishes the UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is that it goes beyond providing an attractive environment for establishing companies,” Moawad said. “The country has successfully developed a system that connects promising ideas with experienced investors who bring both capital and strategic vision. Programs such as Shark Tank UAE demonstrate how this combination can help transform innovative concepts into sustainable businesses.”
He added that the UAE has become a magnet for entrepreneurs and investors from around the world, thanks to its open economic environment, advanced infrastructure, and a steady stream of initiatives designed to encourage innovation and business development.
Moawad also flagged a crucial challenge that many startups overlook: it’s not just about getting funded, but about finding the right investors. “The right investor can be just as important as the investment itself,” he said. “Access to experience, industry knowledge, and professional networks can make a substantial difference in a company’s ability to grow and compete.”
Letsia Holding, for its part, continues to back entrepreneurship through its work in technology, investment, education, and business development. Through Letsia Youth and its entrepreneurship development programs, the group helps aspiring founders sharpen their business models, build practical skills, and prepare their projects for the next stage of growth.
Moawad closed by saying the UAE’s entrepreneurial experience offers a powerful example of how a well-developed investment ecosystem can fuel innovation and economic development. He stressed that stronger collaboration between experienced investors, entrepreneurs, technology companies, and educational institutions will remain essential to shaping the future of entrepreneurship across the Middle East and beyond.
Why it matters: The UAE is proving that a thriving startup scene depends on more than just cash—it requires a network of experienced investors who bring strategy and connections to the table. As other regions look to replicate that success, the lesson is clear: the quality of the investor matters as much as the size of the check.
Reena Malhota
Letsia
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