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Toothpick Is Aiming To Digitize Dentalcare In The UAE & Beyond

The Dubai-based dental health startup has ambitious plans to revolutionize the way we approach oral health.

Published

4 years ago

January 31, 2023

toothpick is aiming to digitize dentalcare in the uae and beyond

Last year, the global dental market’s value was estimated at nearly $40 billion. Despite being immensely profitable, the sector remains decidedly old-school in its approach to digitization and cloud-based solutions. For that reason, startups have enormous potential to help dentalcare providers streamline their operations and patient journeys while enhancing supply chains.

One of those startups, known as Toothpick, is a homegrown, UAE-based venture that allows dentists to find products and services in their local marketplace and matches them to various financial solutions.

Toothpick is another success story from AREA 2071, the government-funded startup accelerator helping Dubai become a leading player in the world’s interconnected digital economy. The startup is the first healthtech innovator globally to attempt to digitalize the dental industry and has acquired over 50,000 subscribers, 390 local suppliers, and sold nearly 70,000 products.

Although founded and based in Dubai, Toothpick has expanded its services into Egypt, Lebanon, and Qatar while recently signing agreements for the Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti markets. The company’s next target regions are Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and, if successful, the lucrative Asian and American markets.

Also Read: How To Find The Best Remote Work Opportunities In The Middle East

“We were inspired by the leadership and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to aim as high as possible. Being immersed in the spirit of Emirates Towers and seeing the motivational quotes from the UAE’s leadership on a daily basis instilled confidence. We have attempted to integrate the UAE’s approach to problem-solving into our thinking and company structure, which has led us to achieve some significant milestones and will propel us to further success,” says Sary Azakir, Managing Partner of Toothpick.

As part of Toothpick’s pre-seed funding round, the company raised $2.8 million and is set to generate over $15 million during its Series A Round.

Related Topics:HealthTech Toothpick United Arab Emirates

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Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

6 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar’s 5G+ Network Is Built For Machines As Much As People

Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.