Six Companies Under “Thara” Ecosystem to Enhance Investment and Accelerate Business Growth in Ajman

Thara Connect Forum Discusses Investment Criteria and Experiences of Building and Expanding Businesses in Ajman

Ajman Chamber has launched the Thara Investment and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, comprising six integrated companies that support business establishment, attract investment and accelerate start-up growth through an economic model that connects investors, entrepreneurs, government entities and market opportunities.

The ecosystem aims to prepare more than 220 companies to become investment-ready and help start-ups attract AED 69 million in external funding.

Over five years, it also seeks to generate cumulative added value of no less than AED 700 million for Ajman’s economy; enable 100 companies to establish, relocate or expand their operations in the emirate; and create 3,135 direct jobs.

Thara also aspires to employ more than 150 Emirati men and women, develop the skills of more than 300 national talents, support more than 75 women entrepreneurs, empower more than 15 entrepreneurs of determination, and assist more than 100 home-based businesses.

Her Excellency Maryam Khalifa Al Nuaimi, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Thara Investment and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, affirmed that the ecosystem represents an economic model that brings together the different components of the business environment under one umbrella and provides integrated pathways for empowerment, investment and growth.

She said: “Through Thara, we seek to transform innovative ideas into promising economic ventures and provide integrated pathways for empowerment, investment and growth, thereby strengthening Ajman’s position as an attractive destination for business and innovation.”

Marwan Harib Al Aryani, Group Chief Executive Officer, explained that the six companies provide specialised solutions meeting businesses’ needs at every stage of their development—from workspaces and incubation and acceleration programmes to financing, operational services and expansion opportunities.

He said: “We are working to provide an environment that combines workspaces, business acceleration programmes, financing and operational services, helping founders overcome challenges, focus on developing their businesses and expand into markets.”

For his part, Ahmed Khabeer, Chief Executive Officer for Investment and Growth, affirmed that the launch of the ecosystem represents a qualitative step towards developing an economic model that brings investment, innovation and entrepreneurship together within a unified institutional framework.

He added: “Thara’s strategic vision is founded on building an interconnected economic ecosystem that brings together government entities, investors, entrepreneurs and companies, and transforms support and empowerment into implementable economic and investment opportunities. This enhances businesses’ ability to grow and creates sustainable economic value.”

The six companies comprise:

• Thara Holding, responsible for strategic direction and governance.

• Thara Hub, providing workspaces, facilities and professional services.

• Thara X, specialising in business incubation and accelerating company growth.

• Thara Capital, focused on developing investment opportunities.

• Thara Experience, providing operational solutions and shared services.

• Thara Foundation, supporting inclusive entrepreneurship and community development.

Thara X aims to attract 120 start-ups annually, for a total of 600 companies over five years, with a target of direct investment in 71 companies.

Thara Capital aspires to establish its first investment fund with a target size of USD 50 million, subject to the necessary approvals.

These objectives reflect Thara’s vision to develop an integrated economic environment that supports business growth, attracts investment and advances sustainable economic development in Ajman.

In parallel, Ajman Chamber organised the first Thara Connect Forum at the Thara Centre for Entrepreneurship, coinciding with the launch of the Thara Investment and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem.

The Forum featured specialised panel discussions involving a distinguished group of investors, venture capital fund leaders and entrepreneurs. The discussions addressed investment criteria for start-ups, funding-readiness requirements, and the challenges founders face in building their businesses, reaching customers and expanding into markets.

During her address at the Forum, Her Excellency Najla Ahmed Al Midfa, Vice Chairperson of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) and Vice Chairperson of the UAE Growth Fund, stressed the importance of building entrepreneurship ecosystems that place founders at the forefront of their priorities.

She referred to her professional journey, which began in Ajman in 2011, and to Sheraa’s role in supporting more than 700 start-ups that have attracted investments exceeding AED 1 billion.

She emphasised that the success of entrepreneurship ecosystems does not depend on funding alone, but also on connecting founders with customers and markets and building supportive communities around them.

The Forum also presented the success story of Her Excellency Maryam Khalifa Al Nuaimi, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Thara Investment and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem. Her journey began with the Tafaseel project, which has grown into a group employing more than 2,000 people. Her experience demonstrated that successful entrepreneurs’ transition towards supporting new generations represents the true impact of such ecosystems.

The Forum’s first panel discussed start-up valuation criteria, investment readiness, the importance of founders’ capabilities, robust business models, and clear growth and expansion strategies.

The discussion featured Sonia Gokhale, Co-Founding Partner at VentureSouq; Waleed Mansour, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner at Middle East Venture Partners; Ghadir Mahjoob, Investment Manager at Alchemist Doha; and Hussain Abdullah, Founding Partner for the Middle East and North Africa at Golden Gate Ventures.

The session was moderated by Wissam Younane, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BNC Publishing and Publisher of Entrepreneur Middle East magazine.

The panel was followed by pitches from three start-up ventures to investors, enabling founders to present their ideas in one minute per project and discuss their investment potential.

Another Forum session explored experiences in founding companies, developing businesses and reaching customers, alongside challenges related to growth, expansion and strategic decision-making.

The session featured Kashif Ahmed Khan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Peko; Hassan Haider, Founder of +VC; Omar Zabit, Partner at Shorooq Partners; and Othman Tareen, Chief Financial Officer of BEEAH Group.

Moderated by journalist Paola Nofal of CNN Business Arabic, the discussion addressed the importance of understanding market needs, developing products and services, building work teams, and leveraging partnerships and investment opportunities to support growth.

The sessions affirmed the importance of integration among investors, founders and economic institutions, and of providing an environment that supports innovation, financing and expertise exchange, thereby enhancing start-ups’ ability to access growth and expansion opportunities.

The Forum saw the participation of six media entities: Abu Dhabi Media, the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Ajman Government Media Office, Al Bayan newspaper, the Wamda platform and Entrepreneur Middle East magazine. Their participation aimed to expand media coverage of investment initiatives and reach the business community across the UAE and beyond.

The Forum also witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements aimed at expanding institutional partnerships, developing specialised programmes, exchanging expertise and connecting start-ups with funding and support entities.

These agreements align with the ecosystem’s direction towards building an integrated network of partnerships that facilitates business growth and transforms institutional cooperation into economic and investment opportunities.

The Forum further featured a start-up exhibition that enabled participants to explore investment, financing and operational services, incubation and acceleration programmes, innovative ventures and cooperation opportunities with start-up founders.

The event included direct meetings among investors, entrepreneurs and representatives of economic institutions, enabling founders to present their ventures and discuss their financing needs, market-entry opportunities and expansion prospects.

These meetings extended the Forum’s panel discussions in practical terms by creating a space for direct engagement, relationship-building and the exploration of investment partnerships.

Together, the panel discussions, start-up pitches and direct meetings with investors formed a platform for strengthening business relations and exploring opportunities for cooperation, supporting Ajman’s position as an attractive destination for investment, innovation and entrepreneurship.