News

Foundster Is Dubai’s New AI-Driven Company Setup Service

The AI-powered platform revolutionizes business formation using conversational AI while offering personalized guidance on visas and more.

Published

2 years ago

December 16, 2024

Nour Nasir

foundster is dubai's new ai-driven company setup service

Foundster is a new AI-powered platform designed to simplify the often convoluted process of starting a business in Dubai. Using conversation-based artificial intelligence, the service streamlines company formation, making the process far more efficient for aspiring entrepreneurs.

At its core, Foundster employs advanced AI technology trained on over 980,000 words of specialized content related to UAE corporate law and Freezone regulations. This gives the chatbots the expertise needed to act like knowledgeable business consultants. Entrepreneurs can share their business ideas with AI Assistants through the Foundster website or even via WhatsApp. After evaluating the business concept, AI then ensures compliance with legal requirements and offers tailored solutions to create an optimal company structure.

The process is straightforward and conversational: Founders describe their project, and the AI responds with relevant questions to guide them, helping with everything from selecting the right business activities to choosing a company name and configuring the shareholder structure. The entire experience feels more like chatting with a seasoned consultant than dealing with the traditional complexities of setting up a business.

Even after a company is established, the Foundster Assistant remains a reliable guide. It supports visa applications by sending reminders, providing directions to government offices, and offering quick answers to questions about processes like medical checks and biometric scans. This 24/7 assistance ensures a smooth journey through every stage of the business setup.

Also Read: The Most AI-Proof Career Opportunities In The Middle East

Tobias Hieb, a successful German internet entrepreneur and the driving force behind Foundster, shared his vision in a press release: “At Foundster, we use AI in a very focused way: It handles tasks where it provides founders with the greatest added value. Our experience from supporting hundreds of companies has shown us where the most common challenges lie. We address exactly these pain points with our AI Assistant, making the formation process significantly more efficient”.

The platform’s current focus is on formations in the IFZA Freezone, but the team has ambitious plans for growth. “The successful launch […] is just the beginning,” Hieb stated. “We’re expanding Foundster to include additional Freezones and Mainland formations. Our ultimate goal is to make Foundster the central digital hub for company setups in the UAE. Founders will be able to compare all available options and identify the best solution for their business model”.

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.