Business Breakfast - Start-up Forward: Building and Scaling Businesses in the UAE

Creative Zone, in partnership with WIO Bank, cordially invites you to our upcoming Start-up Forward initiative – Building and Scaling Businesses in the UAE. Join us for an enlightening morning as we delve into the fundamentals of establishing and expanding a successful business in the UAE. Our business breakfast session will explore fintech innovations, market opportunities, UAE advantages and the latest trends shaping the business ecosystem.

Engage with industry leaders, including H.E. Ismail Al Naqi, Director General of the Free Zones Authority of Ajman, Lorenzo Jooris, CEO of Creative Zone; Jigar Sagar, UAE-based Serial Entrepreneur; and Prateek Vahie, Chief Commercial Officer of Wio Bank PJSC.

This event is designed to provide insights into regulatory frameworks, financing strategies, and practical advice for navigating the dynamic entrepreneurial environment of the UAE. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur, a budding startup founder, or an established business looking to diversify and expand, our experts are here to equip you with the knowledge and connections needed to thrive in today’s competitive market.

Don’t miss this opportunity to accelerate your entrepreneurial aspirations with insights from leaders at the forefront of innovation and business excellence.

Speakers

H.E. Ismail Al Naqi

Director General, Free Zones Authority of Ajman

H.E. Ismail Al Naqi is the Director General of the Free Zones Authority of Ajman. He possesses a wealth of expertise amassed over 25 years in the industry, and has left a lasting mark on prestigious organizations including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Outsource City, TECOM Group, and the Ajman Executive Council. His unwavering dedication is centered on crafting economic strategies, driving diversification of the economy, and propelling GDP growth, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement and prosperity of UAE.

Jigar Sagar

UAE-based Serial Entrepreneur | Founder & Managing Partner Board-Level Advisor

Jigar Sagar is a seasoned founder, investor, and mentor with over 15 years of experience shaping the UAE's business landscape. With a strategic vision and finance background, he has created over 15 ventures collectively valued at more than $350 million. Since 2020, Sagar has been the Managing Partner of Creative Zone, the largest business setup advisory firm in Dubai. Leading a team of 160 professionals, he has elevated the company to unparalleled heights, earning accolades and facilitating expansion into new territories. From Finance Manager to Founder, Partner, and Investor, Sagar's journey reflects resilience, strategic vision, and commitment to the UAE's entrepreneurial ecosystem. His ventures have transformed lives and brought talented individuals to C-suite positions. As a distinguished alumnus of the University of Melbourne, his academic journey demonstrates mastery in finance and positions him as a thought leader in the field.

Lorenzo Jooris

CEO, Creative Zone

Lorenzo Jooris is the CEO of Creative Zone, Dubai’s leading business advisory firm. Jooris holds extensive and diverse experience in the Middle Eastern and South Asian business markets and retains an expert opinion on the regions’ SMEs and startup culture. He was the founder of One World Communications, a full-fledged multi-media powerhouse advising governments around the world in branding and communication strategies. He, later on, started LEADERS Middle East Magazine in the UAE and formulated ‘Leaders without Borders’ an initiative that promotes young social entrepreneurs’ development and Power Women of Arabia Debate. In 2018, he joined Arton Capital as the Vice President of global growth and strategy where he oversaw the international expansion of the company and was in charge of sales, marketing and events worldwide. Lorenzo is a firm believer in giving back to the community, and within Creative Zone he has spearheaded significant initiatives to help and support promising startups and entrepreneurs. He is also the author of “Recipes for a Better World” and serves as an advisor to the James Michel Foundation.

Prateek Vahie

Chief Commercial Officer, Wio Bank PJSC

Prateek Vahie is the Chief Commercial Officer of Wio Bank PJSC, the region’s first platform bank created to reboot banking for all. He is responsible for driving the commercial strategy of Wio. A creative thinker and customer-oriented retail banker, Prateek is developing and executing a scalable, customer-centric digital acquisition strategy for Wio to increase its market share, generate revenue, and build the organizational profile of the company. He brings over 20 years of demonstrated success and proven innovative business-building capabilities to Wio. In his most recent role, Prateek was Senior Vice President – Head of Retail Assets at Emirates NBD, where he served in various leadership capacities with a primary focus on building robust year-on-year revenue growth through analytically-driven and innovative acquisition and retention strategies. Prateek is on a journey with Wio to build an intelligent, integrated platform that offers unique, transparent, and convenient financial functions and solutions to customers. An Abu Dhabi-headquartered platform, Wio offers customers a truly digital banking experience tailored to their lifestyle and business needs, enabling them to shape a resilient financial future for themselves.

Business Breakfast – Start-up Forward: Building and Scaling Businesses in the UAE

Business Breakfast – Start-up Forward: Building and Scaling Businesses in the UAE

Speakers

H.E. Ismail Al Naqi

Jigar Sagar

Lorenzo Jooris

Prateek Vahie

RSVP Now

	H.E. Ismail Al Naqi Director General, Free Zones Authority of Ajman H.E. Ismail Al Naqi is the Director General of the Free Zones Authority of Ajman. He possesses a wealth of expertise amassed over 25 years in the industry, and has left a lasting mark on prestigious organizations including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Outsource City, TECOM Group, and the Ajman Executive Council. His unwavering dedication is centered on crafting economic strategies, driving diversification of the economy, and propelling GDP growth, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement and prosperity of UAE.
	Jigar Sagar UAE-based Serial Entrepreneur \| Founder & Managing Partner Board-Level Advisor Jigar Sagar is a seasoned founder, investor, and mentor with over 15 years of experience shaping the UAE's business landscape. With a strategic vision and finance background, he has created over 15 ventures collectively valued at more than $350 million. Since 2020, Sagar has been the Managing Partner of Creative Zone, the largest business setup advisory firm in Dubai. Leading a team of 160 professionals, he has elevated the company to unparalleled heights, earning accolades and facilitating expansion into new territories. From Finance Manager to Founder, Partner, and Investor, Sagar's journey reflects resilience, strategic vision, and commitment to the UAE's entrepreneurial ecosystem. His ventures have transformed lives and brought talented individuals to C-suite positions. As a distinguished alumnus of the University of Melbourne, his academic journey demonstrates mastery in finance and positions him as a thought leader in the field.
	Lorenzo Jooris CEO, Creative Zone Lorenzo Jooris is the CEO of Creative Zone, Dubai’s leading business advisory firm. Jooris holds extensive and diverse experience in the Middle Eastern and South Asian business markets and retains an expert opinion on the regions’ SMEs and startup culture. He was the founder of One World Communications, a full-fledged multi-media powerhouse advising governments around the world in branding and communication strategies. He, later on, started LEADERS Middle East Magazine in the UAE and formulated ‘Leaders without Borders’ an initiative that promotes young social entrepreneurs’ development and Power Women of Arabia Debate. In 2018, he joined Arton Capital as the Vice President of global growth and strategy where he oversaw the international expansion of the company and was in charge of sales, marketing and events worldwide. Lorenzo is a firm believer in giving back to the community, and within Creative Zone he has spearheaded significant initiatives to help and support promising startups and entrepreneurs. He is also the author of “Recipes for a Better World” and serves as an advisor to the James Michel Foundation.
	Prateek Vahie Chief Commercial Officer, Wio Bank PJSC Prateek Vahie is the Chief Commercial Officer of Wio Bank PJSC, the region’s first platform bank created to reboot banking for all. He is responsible for driving the commercial strategy of Wio. A creative thinker and customer-oriented retail banker, Prateek is developing and executing a scalable, customer-centric digital acquisition strategy for Wio to increase its market share, generate revenue, and build the organizational profile of the company. He brings over 20 years of demonstrated success and proven innovative business-building capabilities to Wio. In his most recent role, Prateek was Senior Vice President – Head of Retail Assets at Emirates NBD, where he served in various leadership capacities with a primary focus on building robust year-on-year revenue growth through analytically-driven and innovative acquisition and retention strategies. Prateek is on a journey with Wio to build an intelligent, integrated platform that offers unique, transparent, and convenient financial functions and solutions to customers. An Abu Dhabi-headquartered platform, Wio offers customers a truly digital banking experience tailored to their lifestyle and business needs, enabling them to shape a resilient financial future for themselves.

Business Breakfast – Start-up Forward: Building and Scaling Businesses in the UAE

Business Breakfast – Start-up Forward: Building and Scaling Businesses in the UAE

Speakers

H.E. Ismail Al Naqi

Jigar Sagar

Lorenzo Jooris

Prateek Vahie

RSVP Now

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