RAK Icon: Paul Dawalibi

Interview Highlights

From Unicorns to Oasis: Paul went from building startups (and even taking one public!) to helping entire governments shape tech ecosystems. Now, he’s calling the shots in RAK to build something bold and new from the ground up.

Wait, Did He Say Esports? Yup. Paul once played Apex Legends professionally against players half his age. He even earned a collector’s knife for it. Talk about leveling up, literally.

Problem Solver-in-Chief: Whether it’s customer woes or internal puzzles, Paul swears by the holy trinity of problem-solving: listening, gathering people in a room, and leaving finger-pointing at the door.

A Bookworm With Bite: He keeps two books in his office at all times — one about the metaverse and one by Dr. Seuss. (Spoiler: He thinks Oh, The Places You’ll Go! is the best leadership book ever written.)

Visionary Vibes Only: Paul isn’t just building a free zone; he’s crafting a movement. His mission? Attract the world’s brightest minds to RAK and create a tech ecosystem with soul.

Been There, Broke That: Paul’s been through the startup wringer — the near-payroll misses, the long grind, the emotional rollercoaster. That’s why he “gets” entrepreneurs better than most.

RAK > Random Desk Rental: Forget the usual free zone package — Paul’s team speaks fluent startup, throws in mentorship, and actually cares if your business survives. Revolutionary, right?

Pull Out Quotes

“If I as a CEO don’t care about the success of the companies that choose to come here, the free zone itself will never be successful.”

“It doesn’t matter what age you are, what stage you are at in your career — almost anything is possible to achieve.”

“This is the greatest leadership book ever written.” (Holding up Dr. Seuss’ ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go!’)

Written By E-Find x WOW-RAK.

This article was originally published on WOW-RAK.
You can find the original version here.