An article by Artem Shargin, a UAE-based entrepreneur and co-founder and chief operating officer of 0to8.
In the digital economy, geography works differently. But it has not stopped mattering.
Twenty years ago, an internet company seeking credibility, capital and global reach often looked first to Silicon Valley. Today, companies can be built from almost anywhere. What still varies significantly is how easy a place makes it to operate once a business begins crossing borders.
Dubai has become one of the places from which founders can run global companies day to day, coordinating teams, banking, legal structures and partnerships from the city while the business itself operates across multiple markets. A decade ago, founders seeking that kind of international reach were more likely to default to San Francisco, London or Singapore.
That does not make Dubai the right base for every company. Operating costs can be high, specialist talent is not always available locally, and businesses focused primarily on a single domestic market may find other locations more efficient.
