Young Emiratis are displaying their innovative and award-winning technology solutions at Expand North Star, part of Gitex Global 2024, which concludes on October 16 in Dubai. Spanning healthcare, e-commerce, and F&B sectors, these young entrepreneurs are making significant strides in the market at the world’s largest four-day startup and investment event, which commenced at Dubai Harbour on Sunday.
Ahmed Abdul Jawad, a student at UAE University, is set to launch the app 'Nutrivision', which helps users track their calorie intake by simply pointing their camera at their meal. “Most nutrition tracking apps require manual input, which can be cumbersome. We aim to leverage AI to make this process more seamless. Users just need to point the camera at their food, and the app will provide details on calories, fat, and proteins,” explained Abdul Jawad.
“Extensive market research was conducted. We first analyzed existing apps and identified areas for improvement. We then moved to development, and now we have an MVP. We plan to launch within a year to ensure accuracy,” said the Nutrivision founder in an interview with Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the event.
Numerous UAE startups, supported by the Dubai Chamber and Dubai SME, are participating in the Expand North Star exhibition. Over 2,000 companies from the UAE, GCC, and other countries are showcasing their latest solutions.
Another young Emirati, Fatima Alshaali, is challenging major e-commerce players with her award-winning 'Bareeq' platform, enabling UAE entrepreneurs to sell their products, including homemade items. “UAE residents can sell various products like abayas, clothes, perfumes, and handmade goods. Unlike other platforms, Bareeq focuses on local home-based businesses,” said Alshaali.
With an IT background, Alshaali has developed multiple apps, including Bareeq, which won the most innovative app award from Dubai Chamber. She explained that Bareeq selects sellers with a Dubai-issued license to ensure safety. Sellers pay a transaction fee and can opt for a monthly premium plan. The app partners with a delivery company for order fulfillment. “Initially, we focus on UAE businesses and then expand organically to GCC countries,” Alshaali added.
The app is set for a soft launch in January 2025. “We have the MVP ready and aim to connect with around 120 sellers by the soft launch to ensure a robust seller base,” she concluded.
