Sharjah 24: The UAE and its region appear to be safe due to environmental considerations, with automotive entrepreneurs and transport sector heavyweights investing to keep the planet livable. With this in mind, a panel discussion titled “Revitalization” was held. The “engine of e-mobility” was spotted at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF) 2024, which concluded on Sunday.
Moderated by Abdel Razak Al Sherif, Head of Programs at Sheraa, the panel featured the esteemed Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of Beeah Group. Rashid Alsalmi, Founder of Surmi. Adam Ridgway, Founder of One Moto. And he is Mr. Zach Faizal, the founder of Peec. Interestingly, all are his UAE players who have customized their products and facilities to suit the country’s needs in the wake of COP28 and efforts to transition away from fossil fuels.
Mr. Al Hureimer introduced his company, Beer, as a leader in waste management, founded 15 years ago to address the environmental challenges facing the region, and now operating across the UAE in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. ing. He said that as a company with a fleet of over 2000 vehicles, ION was one of the ventures it launched in 2018 to provide sustainable transportation solutions. The company has a sustainable transport agreement with Sharjah RTA and operates electric vehicles in Masdar City.
He added that in Sharjah, the goal is to reach zero waste, as 60 per cent of emissions come from landfills. By operating waste-to-energy facilities, Beer aims to eliminate waste from landfills, he said. He also revealed plans to operate hydrogen-fueled trucks.
Ridgway opened up about his venture, One Moto, a London-based electric car manufacturer that currently operates in 10 countries. The business was a way to reduce the environmental impact of delivery bikes and vans. “My goal is to decarbonize last mile delivery in the UAE,” he emphasized.
For Al Salmi, the founder of a Dubai-based provider of next-generation mobility solutions, quitting his job to become an entrepreneur was because he “loved inventing and creating things.” was the right step. His Sulmi, a Sheraa company, launched an electric bike last year. “I thought it would only take six months, but it took two and a half years. But I believe in taking such risks and I love what I do,” said the young entrepreneur. Ta. He added that Sharjah was a success story for him and he is now expanding into the Korean and Chinese markets.
Faisal, the founder of Peec, which reuses scrap cars to provide a complementary solution to building new cars, said he found passion and purpose in automotive engineering. He added that he comes from an entrepreneurial family and has spent more time in factories than in school. “Understanding business is all about people,” he said, emphasizing the care he takes for his employees, whether at Peec or his 3,000-employee parent company.
Organized by the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) from February 3-4, SEF 2024 will feature the theme “Our Shared Canvas” and feature over 200 speakers. Participants include entrepreneurs, changemakers, over 100 startups, and over 50 leading investors. Come together on the SEF platform to share, explore, learn, collaborate, and create impact.