Feb 19-20, 2025
Dubai Internet City

Step Dubai | The Heartbeat of Tech in MENA

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I work at The Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, where I oversee strategic partnerships with international tech companies, startups, and venture capital funds. Through collaboration with global tech hubs, founders, and innovation parks, I actively explore opportunities in AI, IoT, spacetech, sustainable tech, and other transformative technologies that can be implemented in Dubai. My work inspires me, as it offers a unique perspective on the groundbreaking innovations shaping the future and changing the world today. Previously, I represented Qatari investors in Eurasia at Qatar Investment and Trade Advisory (under the Embassy of Qatar in Russia), where I worked with QIA, QDB, and QFC, focusing on investments in Eurasian technology companies. My professional journey has fueled my passion for understanding how innovation transforms societies and human life. I am particularly fascinated by the emergence of megatrends that define the future of entire states and nations.

Sabine El Najjar is the VP of Commercial and MD KSA for Silkhaus, a leading short-term property management company based in the UAE. Prior to Silkhaus, she was MD KSA for Kitopi. Prior to joining the startup ecosystem, Sabine was a management consultant for almost 8 years, with both Mckinsey & Co and Booz & Co

Nizar Almaree, Beehive Fintech’s Group Chief Development Officer and KSA Country Manager, spearheads operational growth and leads KSA expansion. He previously introduced embedded finance at Nymcard and led Beehive’s initial KSA expansion. His background includes key roles at the Ministry of Media and PWC, contributing to national transformation initiatives.

I am the General Partner and Founder of Aurelia Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that supports early-stage B2B SaaS startups to scale from ideation to seed. We are focusing on applications for national security, enterprise infrastructure, cybersecurity, fintech, and AI.

Dr. Aseel Addawood is the Head ofAI in Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Oracle. She is an experienced data scientist with a remarkable track record in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence/machine learning. She has made valuable contributions to research, training, coaching, and mentoring. She has also established many tech startups and is an advocate for women entrepreneurs. Aseel has a Doctorate in Informatics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s degree in Engineering from Cornell University in the USA. She was an Assistant Professor before joining the public sector.

Mohamad ElAnsari is the CEO of Trendyol Gulf, one of the world’s leading e-commerce platforms. Founded initially as a fashion e-commerce business in Istanbul in 2010, Trendyol has since grown into a multi-category online marketplace connecting sellers and brands with customers in Türkiye, Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, Azerbaijan, and the Gulf States. Prior to joining Trendyol, Mohamad held leadership positions at some of the region’s most renowned organizations including Cenomi, Careem and Strategy&. At Careem, Mohamad developed valuable partnerships with financial institutions and government agencies to unlock access to financing for captains. He also created supply related platforms in key markets such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan. While at Strategy&, he co-led post-merger integrations in telco distribution and joint ventures for contact centers in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, at STC Channels, he led the corporate turnaround of a $500 million B2B telco business in Oman. Mohamad holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the American University in Beirut and an MBA from IMD in Lausanne.

Romain is a Partner at Antler, the world’s leading early-stage venture capital firm with a portfolio of over 1,300 investments worldwide. He heads a $60M fund focused on supporting 120+ tech-enabled startups across MENAP. Before joining Antler, Romain served as an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, where he played a pivotal role in developing startup and tech ecosystems for governments throughout the MENAP region.

Mohammad AlRazaz is a seasoned entrepreneur and the visionary Co-founder & CEO of OTO, the leading shipping gateway for online businesses and omnichannel brands across the MENA region. At just 22, he launched Jeeny (formerly EasyTaxi) in Saudi Arabia under Rocket Internet, becoming the youngest Country Manager in the global EasyTaxi network. A graduate of MIT’s prestigious Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, where he was selected from over 800 applicants, AlRazaz has since founded multiple successful ventures in transportation, e-commerce, logistics, and technology, demonstrating his passion for innovation and transformative leadership.

Amal Dokhan is a Managing Partner at 500 Global, a seasoned professional with experience in startup investments, corporate innovation, and consulting in the MENA region. Previous to joining 500 Global, Ms. Dokhan was the Managing Director of Babson Global for Entrepreneurial Leadership. Previously, she was the Manager of Learning and Design at the Entrepreneurship Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology where she led the New Ventures Acceleration and Corporate Innovation programs. Prior to that engagement she worked in the KAUST Seed Fund developing marketing and events, while also providing a range of services to startup clients. Ms. Dokhan sits on the board of several organizations such as Wayakit Company, Cranfield University UK, King Abdulaziz University. She contributes to a monthly column at Leaders Magazine on Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and has been a speaker at Davos World Economic Forum, TEDx at Kaust, the Annual Conference of the Islamic Development Bank, among others. Ms. Dokhan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, English Language & Literature from the King AbdulAziz University, and a Masters of Strategic Marketing and Marketing Management from the University of Wollongong.

Naif AbuSaida is a seasoned Senior Executive with over a decade of experience in Strategy, Communications, Marketing, and Business Development. He has successfully led Corporate Communications, Public Relations, and Brand Management across various industries, including Energy, Telecom, Aviation, and Healthcare. Naif’s notable achievements include executing GE’s $1 billion investment plan in Saudi Arabia, launching the first National Breast Cancer Screening Program in partnership with the Ministry of Health, and managing GO Telecom’s IPO. He also brings 11 years of media experience as a journalist, reporter, and TV anchor for major outlets. Known for his results-driven approach, Naif has a proven track record of driving growth and innovation, contributing to both start-up and established organizations across the Middle East.