Meet Arab Tech

Meet Arab Tech launched during #websummit, bringing tech leaders in #MENA to the global stage and fostering closer connections with other geographies. The event had three panels discussing the Arab world as a high-growth tech market, how to leverage rich talent pools and bridging #innovation ecosystems. Wonderful to meet Dawood Marafie from Kuwait, Neelima Parasker, PMP? of SnapIT Solutions, Aamer Mumtaz of ID-Antigens, Mohmmed El Sonbaty of Educatly Mohamed Soliman of Rawmart and Tiago Franco of Imaginary Cloud. Thanks to His Excellency Ambassador Othmane Bahnini (Morocco/PT), Dean of the Arab Ambassadors in Portugal, for hosting and kicking off the event. It was great to hear Hesham Wahby of Cultiv LLC (Egypt) speak about cross-cultural partnerships and Amal EL FALLAH - SEGHROUCHNI (Minister of Digital Transition in Morocco) talk about the modernization of market entry. I'm interested in making more connections here to help with internationalization and global commercial strategy. Happy to connect with innovators to help scale! Thank you Nuno Barboza for introducing me to the initiative and connecting me with Besma Kraiem, who's leading the charter to bring this engaging group together for future events! And to the locals representing Portugal: Rogério Canhoto, Gil Azevedo, Isabel Neves, Miguel Frasquilho, Francisco Pinheiro Catal?o, Luisa Baltazar and Bernardo Lucas. #MENA #tech #arabtech #riyadh #saudi #UAE #dubai #kuwait #morocco #tunisia #egypt #investment #scaleups #websummit #gtm #commercialstrategy

?? Highlights of Meet Arab Tech, on the first day of #WebSummit 2024 ?? What an incredible journey this has been, from the initial idea to the actual event! Check out this video, capturing the energy, insights, and connections from the first-ever #MeetArabTech. A huge thank you to our #speakers, #panelists, and #moderators who brought invaluable perspectives to the stage; to over 150 enthusiastic attendees whose curiosity and engagement made the day unforgettable; to the #Council_of_Arab_Ambassadors, whose belief in the concept made this possible; to our #sponsors for their support; and to the amazing team of #volunteers who turned a dream into reality. #MAT is a platform to connect the international tech community with the thriving Arab tech ecosystem. So, let’s keep the conversation going! We’re already planning the next #MAT event, where we’ll build on this edition with bigger ideas, deeper connections, and more transformative partnerships ?? #MeetArabTech #MAT2024 #WebSummit #Innovation #ArabTech #GlobalTech #Networking #Collaboration #GCC #MEA

Starting my #WebSummit journey on a high note! Day 1: - I attended an inspiring side event, Meet Arab Tech, thanks to an invitation from his Excellency, the Ambassador of Tunisia in Portugal. It was incredible to hear from inspiring global speakers and connect with fellow Tunisians who are driving change and innovation. - Next, it was the Web Summit opening night, which was absolutely massive. Over 70,000 attendees and an impressive ceremony to kick things off. Overall, a powerful start , with inspiring events and an unforgettable opening night! ??

?? What an incredible day at the first edition of Meet Arab Tech! I am truly grateful to everyone who made this event a success - from our insightful speakers, panelists, and moderators, to the enthusiastic attendees who filled the room with energy and curiosity; the Council of Arab Ambassadors who believed in the concept, our sponsors , and last but not least the team of volunteers who made this dream come true! Thank you all for believing in the vision of #MAT and for helping us lay the foundation of a #platform that connects the #international tech community with the thriving #Arab tech ecosystem. The conversations around our innovation #ecosystems - on both sides - made it clear that there's so much to learn from one another and tremendous potential for #collaboration. #Networking was a key element today, and it was fantastic to see connections forming that will no doubt lead to impactful partnerships in the future. This is just the beginning! Meet Arab Tech is here to stay, evolving as an #annual_platform to bridge tech talent, market opportunities, and innovation across borders. I'm alread looking forward to what we’ll create together at #MAT2025 – more ideas, bigger conversations, and deeper connections. Thank you once again to everyone who joined us today, and let’s keep this momentum going! ?? #MeetArabTech #MAT2024 #WebSummit #Innovation #ArabTech #Networking #GlobalTech #CrossCulturalPartnerships #ThankYou #SeeYouNextYear Othmane Bahnini Naoufel Hdia Amal EL FALLAH - SEGHROUCHNI Dawood Marafie Francisco Pinheiro Catal?o Miguel Frasquilho Rogério Canhoto Bruno Santos Bernardo Lucas Hesham Wahby Hassen Arfaoui Manuela Doutel Haghighi Isabel Neves Gil Azevedo Iwo Szapar Mahmoud Badawi Linda Pereira PhD Mariana Lacerda Besma Kraiem

? Exploring opportunities & innovation at the Meet Arab Tech event in Lisbon ???? organized by Besma Kraiem and her team. As part of Web Summit’s side events, a gathering that highlighted the potential of the Arab world as both a tech market and a talent hub. From discussions on innovation to inspiring connections with industry leaders, how technology can bridge cultures and fuel global growth. ?? Last year I was in Dubai for the first time and I enjoyed it. Here are some of my key ?? takeaways: ?? “Unlocking potential in the Arab Tech market”: the first panel, with leaders from Morocco, Kuwait, and Portugal, emphasized the region’s rapid growth. There’s untapped potential for collaboration and investment, particularly in digital transformation and infrastructure. ?? “Empowering innovation through talent”: the second panel addressed one of my passions—nurturing #talent. With leaders from Capgemini Engineering and Microsoft, we discussed how the Arab world is emerging as a talent hub, investing in digital skills and driving inclusion. I am pleased to see the focus on talent as a key to sustainable growth. ?? “Bridging ecosystems through cross-cultural collaboration”: Finally, the last panel, showcases how partnerships between Arab countries and the world can foster a thriving tech ecosystem. The message was clear: diversity drives innovation, and cross-cultural collaboration is essential for future breakthroughs. Really inspiring to see Luisa Baltazar and Isabel Neves’ partnership on stage. As someone who’s lived and worked in different countries, I’m always inspired by these opportunities to connect across borders and expand my understanding. Special thanks to Begonia Vazquez Merayo from net4tec | 4 WoMen Careers in Technology who invited me and it’s a source from inspiration. If you’re also exploring global tech opportunities, I’d love to hear your thoughts! ?? #WebSummit #MeetArabTech #Innovation #GlobalTech #Networking

??? This post is all about women. Women supporting women! Big shoutout today to a lady who did exactly that: Isabel Neves ! ?? On stage today at Meet Arab Tech masterfully organized by Besma Kraiem , Isabel shared the spotlight with Luisa Baltazar, calling her up to talk about her experiences in #Dubai and #saudiarabia, including last year’s Female Founders trade mission to GITEX GLOBAL Largest Tech & Startup Show in the World , our HER adventure UAE. When women step up to the stage, it’s not just about taking the spotligh, it’s about widening it for others. When one woman rises, we all do. ?? This is what real empowerment looks like. It’s about lifting each other up in boardrooms, on panels, and in every moment that matters. It’s about not just taking your place but making space. In a world still catching up to what women can do, those of us who find ourselves in the light have a unique opportunity, and responsibility, to pull others in, to share that stage, that mic, and that moment. And today, in the midst of rich panel discussions, the wave of support turned a valuable event into an inspiring one. ????#TogetHER, let’s keep amplifying each other’s voices. ???? #strongwomen Begonia Vazquez Merayo Linda Pereira PhD Manuela Doutel Haghighi Roberta Avelino (she/her) Rute Frade

Thank you Gil Azevedo for joining us on the first edition of Meet Arab Tech!

Today I had the opportunity to share my views about the tech talent pools in MENA at Meet Arab Tech, a Web Summit side event. Thank you Besma Kraiem for the invitation and thank you to all that joined #MeetArabTech #TechTalent

English version: As part of the #WebSummit, which kicked off today in Lisbon, I had the pleasure of speaking at the inaugural Meet Arab Tech panel, a side event at the leading tech conference. We delved into the opportunities and challenges of the Arab tech market, government initiatives that drive tech growth in the region, and the vital role of cultural understanding in successful business expansion. Drawing on my role as Vice-President of the Arab-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also as former Chairman and CEO of aicep Portugal Global, and my experience in international business expansion, I shared examples of Portuguese tech companies I know that are having success in the region. Thank you, Amal EL FALLAH - SEGHROUCHNI (Moroccan Minister of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform), Francisco Pinheiro Catal?o (Executive Board Member and CFO - AICEP Portugal), Dawood Marafie (Kuwait Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Minister of State for Communication) and Rogério Canhoto (Senior Executive in TMT and University Professor), for the enriching exchange of ideas and views. And, of course, thank you Besma Kraiem for the invitation! Portuguese Version: No ambito do #WebSummit, que arrancou hoje em Lisboa, tive o prazer de participar no painel inaugural do Meet Arab Tech, um side event desta conferência de referência no setor tecnológico. Explorámos as oportunidades e desafios do mercado tecnológico árabe, as iniciativas governamentais que impulsionam o crescimento do setor na regi?o, e o papel fundamental da compreens?o cultural para o sucesso das empresas. Com base na minha fun??o de Vice-Presidente da Camara de Comércio e Indústria árabe-Portuguesa, no meu passado com Presidente da aicep Portugal Global, e na minha experiência em expans?o internacional, partilhei exemplos de empresas tecnológicas portuguesas que conhe?o e que têm tido sucesso na regi?o. Agrade?o a Amal EL FALLAH - SEGHROUCHNI (Ministra da Transi??o Digital e Reforma Administrativa de Marrocos), Francisco Pinheiro Catal?o (Membro do Conselho Executivo e CFO - AICEP Portugal), Dawood Marafie (Ministro de Estado para a Juventude e Ministro de Estado para a Comunica??o do Kuwait) e Rogério Canhoto (Executivo Sénior em TMT e Professor Universitário) pela enriquecedora troca de ideias e perspetivas. E, claro, muito obrigado Besma Kraiem pelo convite para ser orador nesta conferência! #MeetArabTech #MAT2024 #Lisbon #Tech #WS2024 #innovation #business?

WebSummit 2024? WebSummit is more than just a conference or a technology show. It’s a movement that brings together innovative minds, entrepreneurs, and the most promising startups from around the world. This is where technology, creativity, and innovation meet, making it the perfect place to discover new opportunities, trends, and inspiration. Alongside WebSummit, exclusive side events are taking place, focusing on facilitating connections and exploring strategic partnerships. From meetups, pitching sessions, happy hours and parties, these events are where conversations flow and ideas come to life.? Each conversation, every idea shared, and every partnership has the power to make an impact! And it’s also where friendships are born ???? This morning at Unicorn Factory Lisboa, I had the chance to attend two side events. The first was a speed dating event with startups from Taiwan looking to build partnerships and learn more about the Portuguese and European markets . Then, I joined the @meetarabtech hosted by Besma Kraiem. It was so wonderful to see familiar faces and meet friends: Luisa Baltazar, Manuela Doutel Haghighi, Begonia Vazquez Merayo, Besma Kraiem, Blanca Elena Avenda?o Silva, Linda Pereira PhD. #websummit2024 #meetarabtech #unicornfactory #startups #clubebusinessangelslisboa #investorsportugal