ArabNet Digital Summit 2016 In Dubai To Focus On MENA's Digital Future At a time when businesses across sectors are feeling the need to reinvent traditional models, the summit will see participants from technology companies, publishers and media agencies discuss challenges and opportunities of the digital era for the MENA region.

By Sindhu Hariharan

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

ArabNet
Souq.com founder and CEO Ronaldo Mouchawar speaking at ArabNet 2015 in Dubai, UAE.

A platform for digital entrepreneurs to meet investors and industry leaders, an exhibition where 70+ technology companies display their latest technologies, insights from over 90 regional and international speakers on everything digital, and networking opportunities with 1,000 + attendees from the regional and international ecosystem- all of this will be happening under one roof at the ArabNet Digital Summit 2016 from May 30-31, 2016 in Dubai.

Hasan Zainal, Henri Asseily, Khalid Suleimani, and Nina Curley speaking at ArabNet 2015 in Dubai, UAE. Image credit: ArabNet.

At a time when businesses across sectors are feeling the need to reinvent traditional models, the summit will see participants from technology companies, publishers and media agencies discuss challenges and opportunities of the digital era for the MENA region. Besides 35 panels/talks and workshops on the future of digital in the region, the summit is also hosting the fourth Digital Showcase, which will connect startups with a working product to investors and potential clients through one-on-one MatchUp meetings. Speakers for the talks include Ed Spiegel, Entrepreneur in Residence / Mentor, 500Startups, Alessandro Piol, co-founder & Partner, Alpha Prime Ventures, Alfonso de Gaetano, Head - Publisher Business Solutions for Emerging Markets, Google, and Kareem Abdel Aziz, Head - Telecom, Media and Technology Investments MENA, IFC, among others.

Running in parallel with the summit will be the ArabNet TechFair, an exhibition featuring over 70 tech companies worldwide displaying their latest products and services. Investors –hailing from the MENA to Silicon Valley- are expected to be part of the summit that promises potential investment opportunities for tech startups. Additionally, Uber will be making things easy for select startups by sponsoring them to the Digital Summit through the UberPITCH 2016 initiative. Under this campaign, one entrepreneur each will be selected from 12 cities in the region by way of a pitching competition sponsored by Uber.

Related: Arabnet Beirut Reveals A Bright Future For Lebanese 'Treps

Sindhu Hariharan

Former Features Editor, Entrepreneur Middle East

Sindhu Hariharan is the Features Editor at Entrepreneur Middle East.  She is a financial consultant turned business journalist with a FOMO when it comes to everything technology.

Business News

How to Write a Business Plan

Learn the essential elements of writing a business plan, including advice and resources for how to write and conduct each section of your business plan.

Marketing

April 21 Is Your Last Chance for Mobile Optimization Before 'Mobilegeddon'

The search giant is currently working on a major algorithm change that will revolutionize the way mobile friendliness is determined.

Leadership

Revolutionizing Proptech: Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Bayut and dubizzle, and CEO of Dubizzle Group MENA

Born from a mission to redefine real estate through technology, Bayut sparked a movement that evolved into the global proptech and classifieds leader, Dubizzle group — and today, we go back to understanding the homegrown powerhouse that started it all.

Marketing

The Quickest Way to Deliver Your Message? Make It Visual.

Infographics, dashboards and mobile apps provide a direct avenue to our brains. Use them to your advantage.

Starting a Business

College Startup Offers a Creative Approach to Banish Boring Presentations

Instead of boring slides with bullet points and clip art, Big Fish creates presentations that tell stories and resonate emotionally with viewers.

News and Trends

International Fashion Brand Maison D'AngelAnn Secures US$2 Million Investment From A Private Family Office In The UAE

The newest round of funds follows Maison D'AngelAnn's $7 million investment in November 2020 from The Gate Business Services, a UAE-based investment and real estate consultancy, which also saw it also acquire a majority stake in the business.