Why the GCC Needs Entrepreneurs More Than Ever
Faysal K. Abueljebain, Founder & Storylistener at Nine Six Connect
November 2025
Pearls: Our First Entrepreneurship Story
Before oil transformed the Gulf, it was pearls that sustained our economies. Pearl diving was dangerous, demanding, and deeply collaborative. Divers (ghawās) risked their lives, captains (nakhuda) charted the course, assistants supported the divers, and singers (nahaam) lifted spirits with chants and drums.
Pearling wasn’t just an industry, it was a metaphor for entrepreneurship. It required courage, skill, teamwork, and resilience in the face of uncertainty. Pearls once told the story of our entrepreneurial past. Today, the “pearls” of our future economy will be created by founders diving into new industries, solving pressing challenges, and building companies that scale globally.
In this reflection, I focus on three markets I know closely: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Each offers unique lessons, while our neighbors in the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman are also charting bold entrepreneurial futures.
Kuwait: Entrepreneurship in the DNA
Kuwait’s history is filled with reinvention - from pearl diving to oil discovery. Today, it continues to be a testing ground for bold ideas. Our market is small but discerning, with high disposable income. Entrepreneurs who prove their concept in Kuwait often expand across the wider GCC, where the stakes and competition rise.
Through my project Nine Six Connect, I’ve had the privilege of spotlighting Kuwaiti innovators who are shaping our future:
Yousef Al Husaini and Bader Al Rasheed – scaling one of the fastest-growing EdTech platforms in the region.
Jassim Al Awadhi – leading a transformation in public transportation.
Nadia Al Hamad - building a beauty platform with a purpose.
The message is clear: Kuwaiti founders start small but think big, and their solutions often scale across borders.
Saudi Arabia: A Kingdom of Scale and Specialization
Saudi Arabia is vast, and every region carries a unique legacy, from Jeddah’s trading routes to AlUla’s cultural heritage. With 35 million people, it is the largest market in the GCC, serving as both a cultural and economic bridge to the wider MENA region.
The data tells the story: in H1 2025, Saudi Arabia attracted $860 million in venture capital, accounting for 56% of all capital deployed across MENA (MAGNiTT, H1 2025). Vision 2030 has opened doors to experimentation, funding, and new industries.
This ambition is attracting entrepreneurs worldwide. In fact, the number of foreign startups obtaining an Entrepreneur License in Saudi Arabia has surged 118% this year (Monsha’at, 2025). With capital flowing, platforms emerging, and national priorities clear, Saudi founders, and those who join them, are building at scale.
Qatar: Local Roots, Global Reach
Qatar’s entrepreneurship scene feels deeply interconnected, everyone knows one another, and collaboration comes naturally. The question entrepreneurs ask isn’t if they should test new ideas in Qatar, but how quickly they can.
Anchored by strong universities, quality of life, and a clear mandate for innovation, Qatar is fertile ground for startups. During my recent visit, I saw firsthand how accelerators like Scale7 are nurturing creativity in fashion and design alongside tech.
As Michael Lints of Golden Gate Ventures put it:
“Qatar has the potential to become a hub for developing technologies across the GCC and even globally. Entrepreneurs are integral to this robust business environment and will drive innovation within traditional industries as they prepare for the next growth phase.”
The Future Pearls of the Gulf
Across Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, one truth is undeniable: entrepreneurship isn’t imported, it’s part of our DNA. Just as pearl divers once risked everything to build prosperity, today’s entrepreneurs are reshaping our economies with courage and creativity.
For this spirit to thrive, entrepreneurs need three essentials:
Capital that is patient and risk-tolerant.
Communities of talent, mentors, and supportive institutions.
Sandboxes where experimentation is welcomed and failure is seen as learning.
The Gulf is one of the youngest regions in the world, with over half of its population under 25 (World Economic Forum, 2025). National visions are charting priorities and unlocking opportunities. The resources are here, the support is growing, and entrepreneurship today is not just possible, it’s a privilege.
A Call to Action
So why do we need entrepreneurs more than ever? Because our youth have the ideas, talent, and ambition to build the future. To waste that energy would be the greatest loss of all.
If you’re reading this from abroad, my invitation is simple: come visit us. Join our conferences. Meet our founders. Share Arabic coffee with us. Discover firsthand why the GCC is more than a market, it’s a community.
With courage, creativity, and collaboration, the Gulf will uncover the next pearls of our future economy. And I, for one, am all in.
References
“H1 2025 Saudi Arabia Venture Capital Report.” MAGNiTT. 2025.
“Foreign Startup Licenses in Saudi Arabia Surge by 118% in 2025.” Monsha’at. 2025.
“How the GCC is giving young people a central role in their future.” World Economic Forum, 11 Aug. 2025.
“Gulf’s Lost Treasure: The Ancient Art of Pearl Diving.” Gulf Magazine.
Stephan, C. “The War Story Behind Rocket Internet’s Acquisition of Kuwait’s Talabat.” Wamda, Feb. 2015.
MAGNiTT. Qatar Venture Investment Report. 2023.