Why We Chose UAE: Building a Global AI Company from the Emirates
When I set out to build Maxo.ai, the mission was clear: to create an AI company that could operate at a global scale, attracting the best minds to solve some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. But before deciding what to build, I had to decide where to build it.
For me, that answer came naturally. I have spent more than three decades working in the corporate world here in the UAE, a place that has been both my professional and personal home. After decades of solving problems inside large organizations, I felt it was time to take a leap—to use that experience to create solutions that could touch lives on a global scale. Over the years, I’ve seen the UAE’s remarkable transformation—how it continuously embraces innovation, welcomes global talent, and builds the future with ambition and clarity. So when the time came to step out of the corporate world and into entrepreneurship, I didn’t have to look far. The UAE was not just a good option; it was the obvious choice.
We weren’t searching for an established tech hub or a well-trodden path. We were searching for a launchpad—an environment built not on the weight of legacy but on a bold, forward-looking vision. That is exactly what the UAE offers.
And that is why we proudly chose the United Arab Emirates, and specifically, the Ajman NuVentures Centre Free Zone Establishment, as our home. This was not an accident of geography; it was a deliberate, strategic decision. The UAE is not just the backdrop for our story—it is an active catalyst for our vision. Being part of a next-generation free zone like NuVentures gives us the agility to build at the speed of innovation.
Here are the fundamental reasons why.
Reason 1: Future-Ready Governance
Most countries have an economic policy. The UAE has a roadmap to the future. Our establishment under Amiri Decree No. 15 of 2023 is a testament to that vision. This isn’t just a business license; it’s a clear signal of forward-thinking governance. It shows we are operating within a framework designed specifically for the needs of new ventures, digital companies, and innovation-driven enterprises.
For a founder, this makes all the difference. We are not constrained by legacy regulations; instead, we are building on a foundation that prioritizes speed, flexibility, and a global outlook. It gives us the confidence to focus on what matters most—building powerful AI SaaS products—with the assurance that our regulatory partner is as ambitious and future-focused as we are.
Reason 2. The Global Crossroads of Talent and Capital
When you begin a deep-tech venture, you don’t always start with large teams and sprawling offices. At Maxo.ai, we started lean—with a small core team and by outsourcing much of the work. But even in this early stage, geography matters.
The UAE’s position is, quite simply, unparalleled. Within an eight-hour flight, we can reach two-thirds of the world’s population. This makes it a natural magnet for a diverse and global talent pool. Our team can be built with brilliant minds from London, Lagos, Mumbai, and Singapore, all collaborating within a single, dynamic time zone. This diversity is not a “nice-to-have”; it is essential for building AI that is unbiased, globally relevant, and culturally aware.
Equally important, the UAE is a hub where capital converges. Investors from the East and the West meet here, looking for the next wave of disruptive innovation. For a deep-tech company requiring patient, visionary capital, being at this financial crossroads provides access to an investment landscape that is both deep and globally diverse.
Reason 3. An Ecosystem Built for Speed and Agility
The Ajman NuVentures Centre is designed for companies like ours. It represents a new breed of free zone—one that prioritizes speed, cost-effectiveness, and streamlined processes. This agile environment means we can dedicate more of our resources to what truly matters: research, development, and building world-class products.
This ecosystem strips away the bureaucratic friction often associated with starting and scaling a business. It allows us to be nimble, to pivot quickly, and to grow efficiently, all while benefiting from the UAE’s world-class digital infrastructure and pro-business policies.
Choosing a headquarters is about finding fertile ground for your vision. We sought a place defined by ambition, a commitment to the future, a global mindset, and an agile, innovative spirit. We found all of that and more in the UAE and specifically at the Ajman NuVentures Centre.
Maxo.ai’s mission is to architect the future of intelligence. There is no better place to undertake that mission than in a country that is, in every sense of the word, doing the very same thing. We are not just an AI company based in the UAE; we are a UAE-born AI company with a vision for the world. And our journey is just getting started.
-Founder maxo.ai