GCC is full of ambition and constant growth. Every challenge here has turned into a chance for progress, thanks to people who think differently and act boldly. By focusing on the 10 entrepreneurs who stand out in this journey, we see how ideas can become solutions and how risks can turn into success.
Entrepreneurship in the Gulf is not only about starting businesses. It is about facing uncertainty, adapting to change, and finding ways to create value. The 10 entrepreneurs making an impact today are not afraid of challenges. Instead, they use those challenges as stepping stones to reach higher goals. Their stories show us that innovation often comes from difficult times.
What sets these individuals apart is their ability to look at problems with a fresh perspective. They see potential where others see limits. The 10 entrepreneurs of the Gulf work across many industries, from technology and energy to health, trade, and culture. Each one proves that determination and creativity can drive lasting change.
The Gulf continues to inspire the world with its resilience. At the center of this inspiration are the 10 entrepreneurs who redefine what it means to lead. They show us that opportunities are not given—they are created through vision, courage, and persistence.
Gulf’s 10 Entrepreneurs Transforming Challenges into Opportunities
Below are the 10 entrepreneurs who are reshaping the region’s future. They have turned obstacles into pathways and built ventures that inspire others to dream bigger. Their work highlights the strength of innovation, adaptability, and leadership in the Gulf.
1. Shan Hanif | Innovative IT Consultancy across Industries
A seasoned professional, Shan Hanif is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Neologix, an IT services company. Starting his professional journey as a software engineer, Shan has successfully worked with Fortune 500 companies and large enterprises, delivering complex digital transformation initiatives across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. This global experience has given him unique insight into diverse market dynamics and customer needs, enabling him to design solutions that combine international best practices with local relevance.
As a strong advocate of AI-driven digital transformation, he focuses on nurturing AI to streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Shan has guided Neologix through numerous strategic partnerships and organizational development, and continues to focus on leveraging data, automation, and intelligent platforms to accelerate enterprise growth.
With over two decades of contribution at Neologix, Shan has been instrumental in expanding the company’s presence and establishing it as a trusted global partner in technology consulting and solutions. Under his leadership, Neologix has developed scalable, future-ready digital solutions that help organizations enhance efficiency, unlock actionable insights, and deliver measurable outcomes.
Beyond Neologix, he demonstrated his entrepreneurial spirit by founding an online supermarket in 2012, one of the early ventures of its kind in the region. Shan Hanif has also invested in multiple business ventures across the UAE, reflecting his role as a forward-looking entrepreneur with a keen eye for emerging opportunities, and empowering a positive impact in the region’s business ecosystem.
2. Mark Skladmann | A Trusted Lifestyle Real Estate Insider in Dubai
Mark Skladmann is a lifestyle visionary and real estate strategist who redefines how global investors and professionals experience Dubai. As the Lifestyle Investment Advisor at Luxbridge International Realty, he combines more than a decade of expertise in real estate and entrepreneurship across the US, Germany, the UK, and the UAE with a forward-looking, data-driven perspective on Dubai’s growth.
On LinkedIn, Mark is recognized for his honest and analytical articles that provide clarity on the real estate dynamics of Dubai & other Emirates. His content is transparent, data-backed, and strategically insightful, addressing investor fears and misconceptions while demonstrating how Dubai has consistently passed every global stress test. From macroeconomic resilience to micro-market trends, Mark delivers not just updates but a framework for strategic decision-making.
Mark’s focus extends far beyond property transactions. He works with clients to achieve holistic outcomes: building businesses, securing residency, integrating into Dubai’s ecosystem, and creating a lifestyle aligned with their ambitions. His philosophy is simple: real estate is secondary to trust, connection, and belonging.
Complementing his professional insights, Mark also leverages Instagram reels and storytelling to bring Dubai to life for a global audience. Through engaging content, he showcases not only the city’s architectural brilliance and cultural richness but also its potential as a place of transformation — where peace of mind meets ambition, and innovation blends seamlessly with timeless values.
What sets Mark apart is his balance of vision and analysis: he inspires people to see Dubai as a place to elevate their lifestyle, while also providing the hard facts, strategies, and transparency investors need to make confident decisions. To his clients and global following across the US, UK, Germany, and beyond, Mark is more than an advisor — he is a trusted partner in building thriving lives and legacies in Dubai
3. Barbara Pizzi | Revolutionizing the Approach to Architecture and Design
A seasoned architect and professional, Barbara Pizzi’s architecture is more than mere structures — they are a reflection of her vision towards serving a holistic approach for a better future. Being a passionate traveler, she traveled across the world and learnt to listen to the environment while exploring different places, demonstrating a multicultural approach in her work. With mindful designs that consider the environment and the well-being of people alike, influential figures like Barbara are playing an instrumental role in contributing to a better tomorrow.
Currently, as the owner of Barbara Pizzi Architecture, she offers a specialized range of services in the field of design and architecture, with each design serving as the bridge between people and the environment. With work experience across Europe, India, Pakistan, and the Middle East, Barbara’s designs align technology with nature. She reflects, “Architecture must attune itself to that breath, not dominate it. I believe in a radical, poetic, and visionary beauty — one that can transform not just spaces, but the very way people live, work, heal, and connect.” With innovation as the key instrument in her approach, Barbara’s work reflects a form of care for the environment and for the people inhabiting it.
Barbara’s designs bring her vision and philosophy to life — her high-rise tower design with an organic twisting form that rises against the urban skyline is the best reflection of her approach. With public spaces at its base, corporate offices, and serene residential areas above, the building creates a vertical ecosystem. With facilities including a gym, rooftop gardens, and a swimming pool, her design enhances the well-being of the people, while maintaining the harmony of urban structure with nature.
As a firm believer in collaboration and teamwork, Barbara believes in enriching her ideas and gathering insights by discussing her professional goals with experts in her field. Moreover, by leading a diversified team of experts, her team comprises not only technical diversity but cultural diversity as well. She strongly supports a collaborative culture, fostering free expression of ideas among peers, helping to leverage the untapped potential.
Envisioning the future, she plans to keep designing spaces that respect the environment while creating awareness of everyone’s well-being on this planet. For Barbara Pizzi, every space has a story to share, and architecture is more than structure, but has a deep meaning to it. With her work, she is reshaping how people inhabit the world — proposing designs that are sustainable, systematic, and poetic at the same time.
LinkedIn | Instagram | Website
4. Alberto Boato | Transforming Property Transactions
A visionary leader in the real estate landscape, Alberto Boato began his professional career in the construction industry, working as a Site Manager for a leading metalworking company. Later, he led as a Project Manager for a firm specializing in the construction of waste treatment plants for governmental clients.
With significant experience in large-scale infrastructure projects, Alberto transitioned into entrepreneurship as a self-employed consultant in the international telecommunications sector. Since relocating to Dubai in 2018, he has served as CEO of multiple companies, contributing significantly to their growth across diverse industries, including international telecommunications consulting, marketing, software and application development, and real estate.
Currently, Alberto leads as the founder of Property Change, a pioneering PropTech platform often described as “Tinder for real estate.” The app introduces a unique property-exchange model, enabling homeowners to connect, match, and swap properties directly, simplifying transactions and reducing reliance on traditional brokerage systems. Property Change is designed to redefine the way people exchange properties. With an innovative approach, the app allows users to browse, connect, and swap properties through an easy-to-use interface, similar to popular social media platforms.
By combining social networking dynamics with real estate at Property Change, Alberto Boato has fueled its potential to disrupt the global housing market, making property transactions more accessible, efficient, and cost-effective.
LinkedIn | Property Change Website
5. Hala Al-Masri | Empowering Palestinian Women Farmers
A passionate founder, Hala Al-Masri is the creator of BOGJA, a brand born from heritage, passion, and a mission to empower Palestinian women farmers. Born and raised in Palestine, Hala carries with her the nostalgic memories of her grandmother in Beit Wazan–Nablus during harvest season, when she would carry the traditional “bogja,” a basket overflowing with olive oil, cheese, olives, and grains—a symbol of abundance and community.
As a Palestinian brand deeply rooted in heritage, culture, and the spirit of community, through BOGJA, Hala empowers Palestinian women farmers by shopping for their locally sourced products. More than just an e-commerce store, BOGJA is a bridge between the untold stories of local farmers, particularly strong women who are determined to navigate the challenges of nurturing the land and cultivating its bounties for offering the best harvest.
Hala’s vision extends beyond commerce; she is committed to empowering and uplifting the women farmers of the region who are playing an instrumental role in ensuring the essential ingredients of the Palestinian cuisine thrive and reach every household. The product range at the brand, including high-quality olive oil, herbs, and grains, is a testament to the farmers’ dedication and relentless efforts to share the ingredients that reflect Palestine’s rich tradition and flavors.
With BOGJA, Hala fosters a transformative movement that values sustainability, community, and the preservation of rich cultural heritage. Currently, based in Dubai, Hala Al-Masri transforms her initial memories of Palestine into BOGJA, connecting the world to the authentic flavors and untold stories of the region.
6. Teresa Rose Quinn | Redefining Health as a Way of Life
A healthcare leader with more than two decades of experience in reshaping the sector, Teresa Rose Quinn is the Co-Founder of Axia, a prevention-first wellbeing company pioneering a new model of health in the GCC. Formerly known as Mind & Movement, Axia blends science, lifestyle medicine, and human care into solutions that empower people and organisations to thrive.
A Registered General Nurse and Public Health Nurse with an MSc in Chronic Disease Management and an MBA in International Healthcare Leadership, Teresa’s career spans clinical practice, service design, and executive leadership. From her early days in acute hospital and community health in Ireland to her current role in the UAE, she has remained focused on moving healthcare beyond crisis response and into a new era of prevention and performance.
Axia is built on lifestyle medicine, using evidence-based approaches to optimise nutrition, movement, rest, mindset, stress management, and connection. Its mission is simple: to help people live longer, healthier, more connected lives. Through programs for individuals, employers, and healthcare organisations, Axia makes prevention practical, measurable, and personal. Services range from wellness consulting and healthcare partnerships to corporate wellbeing initiatives and community learning, delivered in-person, online, or hybrid.
Within this broad offering, workplace wellness stands out as one of Axia’s most transformative contributions. Axia has created a model that proves optimising lifestyle is the key to optimising performance. Unlike traditional corporate wellness programs, Axia combines technology and data-driven insights—tracking engagement, measuring outcomes, and tailoring support—with the human connection that ensures change is sustainable. This dual emphasis makes Axia’s approach both accountable and compassionate, helping people thrive at work and in life, while enabling organisations to foster cultures of resilience, safety, and performance.
Teresa has also built a multidisciplinary team of clinically grounded coaches, personal trainers, and specialists who deliver this philosophy in action. Together, they ensure every program is anchored in science yet flexible enough to meet people where they are.
Beyond program delivery, Axia is challenging how well-being is understood in organisations. Teresa has reimagined workplace health as culture change—embedding self-care into daily routines, training leaders to create psychologically safe environments, and extending recovery and survivorship beyond healthcare delivery into everyday living. The Axia Mission is clear: to make prevention-first, lifestyle-medicine-based wellbeing practical, personal, and possible.
As a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, Teresa also founded Elevate, a community for women navigating life transitions, providing mentorship, coaching, and leadership development. Elevate complements Axia’s broader commitment to education, inclusion, and advocacy—creating opportunities for women and emerging leaders to grow without burnout.
Rooted in service and culture, Teresa is also an active contributor to Irish community initiatives in the UAE and a sought-after speaker on integrated care, prevention at scale, and psychologically safe performance. Through Axia, she is proving that lifestyle optimisation is not only the foundation of individual health—it is also the unlock for organisational performance and long-term wellbeing.
LinkedIn | Teresa Quinn, Founder Axia – Redefining Health as a Way of Life
7. Seif El Hakim, “The Alpha,” Expands Alpha Global Enterprise Across the Region
A leading voice in entrepreneurship and leadership—and widely recognised as “The Alpha”—Seif El Hakim is a trailblazing figure shaping the Middle East. As the driving force behind Alpha Global Enterprise, he has built it into a multi-industry leader with ventures spanning diverse sectors.
Seif is also the visionary behind The Alpha Talks Show, one of the Top 3 podcasts in the Middle East. By hosting some of the region’s most powerful CEOs, experts, celebrities, and thought leaders, the show has achieved millions of views and established Seif as a defining name in the GCC’s media landscape.
A powerful umbrella company, Alpha Global Enterprises, unites four high-impact divisions, specialized to empower individuals and businesses, amidst the current dynamic digital economy. From digital marketing, full-scale media production and coverage, to consultancy and training solutions, the venture covers it all.
As a multi-award winning international keynote speaker, a published author, and former Samsung Electronics CMO, Seif has become a prominent thought leader for entrepreneurship, wealth creation, success mindset, and leadership. Honouring his contributions to the business landscape, Seif has been named “Man of Influence” in 2023 in New York, alongside gaining recognitions from the UAE and Russian governments.
Under his capable leadership and expertise, he envisions strategic expansion of the venture across Egypt and the Saudi Arabian region, leading a new wave of transformation in the region’s market. With a mission to empower individuals and businesses, Seif El Hakim is pioneering not just innovative solutions — he is leading a movement in the business ecosystem of the GCC and the MENA region overall.
LinkedIn | Instagram | Website | The Alpha Talks Show
8. Karine Lackner | Guiding Minds Toward Wholeness
Karine Lackner, lifestyle and mental wellness coach, has had different career paths, but the one that defines her today is her dedication to mental wellness. Once immersed in creative industries such as fashion and interior design, she eventually discovered that her true calling was helping people heal. She now works with clients who come to her weighed down by anxiety, fears, or self-doubt, and she helps them find peace, clarity, and a fresh way forward. For Karine, mental wellness is not an afterthought—it is the first step to living with joy and freedom.
Her philosophy is simple yet profound: the mind often holds onto beliefs formed in childhood, and those beliefs can quietly shape a person’s future for decades. Some lead to confidence and strength, while others trap people in cycles of fear or insecurity. Karine’s work focuses on breaking those cycles. “When people free themselves from those old patterns,” she explains, “they begin to see what they’re truly capable of, often for the very first time.”
Hypnotherapy, in particular, is central to her practice. Karine is careful to explain that it is not stage tricks or mind control, but a safe, proven way of reaching the subconscious and reshaping old habits. Many of her clients are surprised at how quickly they feel the difference. One person who had suffered years of panic attacks found calm and restful sleep after only a few sessions. Another client, who carried crippling self-doubt, finally gained the confidence to step into a leadership role. Each story adds to her conviction that mental wellness can transform lives in tangible, lasting ways.
Every session continues beyond the consultation itself. Karine creates a short, personalized recording for her clients—something they can listen to daily for three weeks or more. These recordings are never repeated or stored, making them completely unique to each individual. The repetition helps the subconscious absorb new beliefs, giving clients the tools to sustain their growth long after the session is over. For those unable to visit in person, she conducts sessions online with equal impact, making her work accessible no matter where someone lives.
For clients who want a deeper reset, Karine offers a 24-hour wellness retreat in Abu Dhabi. The retreat combines hypnotherapy, Reiki, sound healing, and PEMF therapy with quiet rest, light meals, and complete disconnection from digital distractions. Guests can step into a private sauna, spend time by the Arabian Sea, or unwind in a WiFi-free guesthouse designed for true rest. It is not a luxury escape, but a full reset of body and mind—a way to step back, breathe, and return to life renewed.
At the heart of her practice is a belief that people, regardless of background or circumstance, share the same human needs. As babies, we needed love, attention, and the reassurance that we mattered. As adults, those needs remain, even if buried beneath layers of stress, conditioning, or self-criticism. Karine’s gift is helping people reconnect with those truths, to find within themselves the love and worth they may have forgotten.
What distinguishes her work is not just the methods she uses but the presence she brings to each session. Clients describe her warmth, her ability to listen without judgment, and the safety they feel in her care. She treats each story with confidentiality and respect, ensuring that trust is never broken. For many, the experience is life-changing—not because she “fixes” them, but because she shows them that they had the strength all along.
From her beginnings in creative industries to her role today as a healer and guide, Karine Lackner represents resilience, empathy, and clarity. She reminds people that mental wellness is not a luxury to be postponed, but the foundation of a happier, fuller life. Her work continues to touch lives in Abu Dhabi and beyond, offering people the chance to step away from fear and step into freedom.
LinkedIn | Silent Mind Journeys | WhatsApp
9. Philip Gahler | Reshaping the Digital Finance Landscape
“Dubai lets me connect EU’s compliance rigor with Asia’s engineering velocity—so we can deliver secure, regulated crypto products globally,” Philip Gahler comments.
A seasoned entrepreneur and an experienced product leader of the Web3 space, Philip Gahler currently leads as the Head of Product for KuCoin EU, based in Dubai and responsible for tailoring one of the world’s leading crypto platforms to European standards. Sitting between KuCoin’s EU hub in Vienna and engineering and operations teams in Asia, he turns time-zone and regulatory complexity into speed—using Dubai as the perfect bridge to align stakeholders and ship compliant, high-impact products.
A product leader across traditional and digital finance, Philip specializes in building market-ready trading and fintech infrastructure under demanding regulatory frameworks. He has hands-on experience with MiCAR, MiFID, EMIR, and e-money requirements, and is currently focused on EU-grade wallet architecture, user fund safeguarding, and launch playbooks that meet the expectations of European regulators and institutional partners.
Before KuCoin, Philip led products at Fasset and Glassnode and helped scale Bitpanda’s ecosystem, combining analytics, trading, and tokenization initiatives. He also draws on an early career in finance and management consulting at BCG—bringing rigorous commercial modeling and execution discipline. As a founder, he learned to turn constraints—capital, compliance, or market cycles—into product advantages, a mindset he brings to every launch and cross-functional program.
Philip’s approach is metrics-led and principle-driven: ship value in controlled stages, enforce quality gates, and build trust through transparency. Passionate about responsible innovation, Philip Gahler mentors diverse teams across Europe, Asia, and the Gulf, helping bridge TradFi discipline with Web3 speed for users and institutions alike.
10. Saeed Zarei: Leading with Innovation
In business, some leaders stand out for their ability to blend entrepreneurial drive with a vision for change. Saeed Zarei is one of those leaders. As the CEO and owner of TIZ Group, and the CEO of DermAi Tech, Saeed has carved a reputation for creating ventures that are not just commercially successful, but also meaningful in the value they deliver to clients and communities.
Saeed’s path has been shaped by experience across different sectors, from technology to real estate development, and strengthened by his academic foundation—an Executive Doctorate of Business Management and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Management from Business School Lausanne. This combination of hands-on practice and academic rigor allows him to bring sharp insights into each of his ventures. At TIZ Group, he provides consultancy services that guide businesses in the international trade industry, offering support in areas such as marketing, logistics, and exports.
At the same time, Saeed leads DermAi Tech, a platform that addresses an important gap between advanced medical research and day-to-day healthcare. Focused on skin-related autoimmune diseases, the platform supports both doctors and patients. By allowing patients to upload personal health updates and track treatment progress, DermAi Tech encourages collaboration in care. Its AI-powered system also helps healthcare providers make faster and more accurate diagnoses, while alerting patients to possible drug interactions and safe treatment options.
What sets Saeed apart is how he connects technology with a client-first mindset. Whether it is through DermAi Tech’s innovative use of AI in healthcare, or TIZ Group’s expertise in helping clients adapt to global trade markets, Saeed ensures that the focus remains on delivering real outcomes. He believes that technology should not complicate but simplify, and that business should ultimately serve people.
Through his leadership, Saeed Zarei continues to inspire as an entrepreneur who sees opportunities where others see barriers. His ventures—DermAi Tech and TIZ Group—reflect his core philosophy: growth comes from innovation, but lasting success comes from trust, service, and people-first leadership.
LinkedIn | DermAi Tech | TIZ Group
Conclusion
The Gulf’s growth story is deeply linked to its entrepreneurs. By highlighting these 10 entrepreneurs, we celebrate their ability to turn challenges into progress and vision into reality. Their journeys remind us that every setback can become a starting point for success. They stand as examples for future generations who wish to build, innovate, and lead.
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