.jpg)
The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Dubai, a pivotal regional chapter, has unveiled its new board for the 2025–2026 term. Comprising business leaders and seasoned professionals, the new board is unified by a common vision: to bolster entrepreneurship across the UAE and the broader MENA region.
Taking the helm as President is Bashar Kilani, who is joined by an experienced team that includes Rohit Dev (Past President), PK Gulati (President Emeritus), Bianca Gracias (Event Director), Deepak Padmanabhan (Director of Finance), Sanjay Babur (Membership Director), Ramit Harisinghani (Director of Marketing), Romit Dasgupta (Mentorship Director), and Anastasiya Golovatenko (Director of Partnerships & Sponsorship).
Since its inception in 2003 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, TiE Dubai has been instrumental in nurturing the entrepreneurial landscape of the region. Supported by Dubai Internet City and linked to a global TiE network that extends over 14 countries and 64 chapters, the Dubai chapter has successfully constructed a robust ecosystem filled with mentors, innovators, and investors—all dedicated to facilitating startup growth.
According to Bashar Kilani, the new board’s mission revolves around scaling existing programs, forging impactful partnerships, and ensuring that entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds have access to essential resources. “We envision a community where driven entrepreneurs are supported with mentorship and the tools to grow faster and smarter,” he emphasized. He also identified alignment with national goals surrounding youth empowerment, digital transformation, and economic diversification as key areas of focus.
Spotlight on Flagship Programs
TiE Dubai’s programs are at the heart of its mission, designed to serve entrepreneurs at various stages—from students to early-stage founders and growth-focused women-led startups.
TiE Women MENA
In its sixth year, the TiE Women program champions women entrepreneurs throughout the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and beyond. This initiative provides mentorship, funding opportunities, and access to international networks, targeting a critical gap in harnessing underrepresented female talent. As noted by PwC, achieving gender parity in MENA could potentially add up to US$2 trillion to the region’s GDP. Applications for the 2025 cohort are currently open, ending on June 25, with global finals scheduled for December in Jaipur, India. Over 400 startups and more than 6,500 business owners have already engaged with this transformative program.
Mentorship Program
Mentorship stands as one of the pillars of TiE Dubai’s offerings. The structured mentorship program connects early-stage entrepreneurs with seasoned professionals across various sectors. SMEs represent more than 94% of businesses in the UAE, employing over 86% of the private workforce. Recognizing this, the program addresses a growing need for tailored, practical support. PK Gulati, President Emeritus of TiE Dubai, expressed his commitment to this initiative: “As an entrepreneur and mentor, it’s a privilege to support the next generation of founders,” he stated. The new board is resolute in fostering a strong, inclusive ecosystem that empowers startups to establish significant, long-lasting businesses.
TiE University (TiE U)
With increasing numbers of young people venturing into entrepreneurship, TiE Dubai’s university program provides a fertile ground for student founders to develop their ideas. This initiative offers coaching, mentorship, and access to investors, targeting university students and recent graduates. Applications for the 2025 edition will close on June 30, with finalists expected to pitch at the Global Summit in December. The program has already nurtured over 5,000 students from more than 70 nationalities, resulting in over 200 startup ideas. Notable previous participants include high school innovators such as Amer and Mohamad Yaghi (Chillax and AidMaid) and Yehia Nabil from Egypt, who founded Junior Labs at just 16.
Collaborating to Build a Stronger Startup Landscape
TiE Dubai collaborates closely with accelerators, incubators, universities, and government entities to support entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. Notable partnerships include collaborations with Dubai Internet City, in5, the US Mission to the UAE, e&, Sandooq Al Watan, C3, Wamda, and others. Its charter members represent some of the region’s most prominent organizations—including Microsoft MEA, Amazon MENA, BCG, Google, Accenture, and Citibank—who actively contribute to TiE’s mission through mentorship and knowledge exchange.
As TiE Dubai embraces a new era under this refreshed leadership team, its commitment remains steadfast: to cultivate a supportive, resource-rich environment for founders and innovators across the region. Whether you are a student with a burgeoning idea, a woman-led startup eager to scale, or an SME in search of direction, TiE’s network and services are crafted to meet you where you are on your entrepreneurial journey.
