Rami Darwish, founder and chief executive of Arrow Labs, says the new funds will be used to accelerate the company’s growth into new markets. Courtesy Arrow Labs
Rami Darwish, founder and chief executive of Arrow Labs, says the new funds will be used to accelerate the company’s growth into new markets. Courtesy Arrow Labs
Rami Darwish, founder and chief executive of Arrow Labs, says the new funds will be used to accelerate the company’s growth into new markets. Courtesy Arrow Labs
Rami Darwish, founder and chief executive of Arrow Labs, says the new funds will be used to accelerate the company’s growth into new markets. Courtesy Arrow Labs

Dubai technology start-up Arrow Labs raises $5m amid expansion push


Alkesh Sharma
  • English
  • Arabic

Arrow Labs, a Dubai-based technology start-up that helps businesses automate traditional processes, raised $5 million in its latest investment round, which was led by California-based venture capital fund Draper Associates.

The funding round also included participation from Dubai-based investor Global Ventures and Beirut-based B&Y Ventures Partners, which specialises in investment in early-stage technology start-ups in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Arrow Labs’ technology has really caught my eye, they have built the solution the world needs
Tim Draper,
founder of Draper Associates

The funds will be used by the company to accelerate its growth into new markets such as the US, UK, mainland Europe and Southeast Asia, said Rami Darwish, founder and chief executive of the company.

“It will enhance the development of the MIMS [Mobile Information Management System] platform’s machine-learning capabilities … and help build innovative capabilities in new geographies, further investing in AI [Artificial Intelligence] capabilities and bringing innovative solutions to the wider deskless worker market,” Mr Darwish told The National.

Arrow Lab’s core product is a software-as-a-service platform, MIMS, which unifies front line workers that are usually away from desks.

Accessed by mobile app, web and wearables, MIMS connects employees, machines and facilities to ensure a smooth workflow. It reduces operating costs by 20 per cent, increases staff productivity by 30 per cent and business efficiency by 40 per cent, the company said.

“Securing such strong financial support and backing from investors such as Tim Draper is transformative for our business … [it will] accelerate our journey to connect the 80 per cent of the global workforce that is deskless … we are ideally positioned to grow rapidly,” Mr Darwish said.

In 2018, Arrow Labs completed a seed funding round of $3m — led by Global Ventures and other private investors.

The investment by Draper, founded by billionaire venture capitalist Tim Draper, is one of the company’s first in the Mena region. Other investments by Draper to date include Baidu, Hotmail, Skype, Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter.

“For many years, investment in critical remote working tools has focused almost exclusively on office-based staff. This has caused front line workers to become disconnected,” Mr Draper said.

“Arrow Labs’ technology has really caught my eye. They have built the solution the world needs, which is already being used by some of the biggest global brands,” he said.

The company’s MIMS platform aims to make deskless work more productive for millions of front-line workers who are yet to be empowered with technology. By bringing machine learning capabilities to the front line, MIMS removes the complexity of scheduling, work distribution, recourse management and workflow automation.

“[Arrow Labs] has been a leading player and innovator in its space, addressing a critical and global challenge in workforce management,” said Noor Sweid, general partner at Global Ventures.

“We are strong supporters of reverse innovation and emerging market founders building cutting-edge technology with both regional and global potential … we are thrilled to be a part of the next chapter of Arrow Labs.”

Founded in 2011, Arrow Labs also operates a subsidiary in the US to focus on its North American clients, especially in the oil and gas and logistics sectors. Most of its clients come from industries such as facility management, hospitality, security and transport.

“Most of the innovation globally has been aimed at improving desk and office work resulting in field work being largely overlooked. Arrow Labs solves the disconnect between the deskless workers and the back office, and is on a mission to transform the way businesses manage field resources,” Abdallah Yafi, managing partner at B&Y Ventures, said.

“[They] can build a category leading business in this space, thanks to an extremely intelligent platform, flawless execution and strong focus on delivering profitable growth.”

Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face

The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.

The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran. 

Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf. 

"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said. 

Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer. 

The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy. 

 

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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (11.30pm)

Saturday 

Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)

Werder Bremen v Schalke (6.30pm)

Union Berlin v Borussia Monchengladbach (6.30pm)

Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)

Fortuna Dusseldof v  Bayern Munich (6.30pm)

RB Leipzig v Cologne (9.30pm)

Sunday

Augsburg v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)

Hoffenheim v Mainz (9pm)

 

 

 

 

 

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Key fixtures from January 5-7

Watford v Bristol City

Liverpool v Everton

Brighton v Crystal Palace

Bournemouth v AFC Fylde or Wigan

Coventry v Stoke City

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal

Manchester United v Derby

Forest Green or Exeter v West Brom

Tottenham v AFC Wimbledon

Fleetwood or Hereford v Leicester City

Manchester City v Burnley

Shrewsbury v West Ham United

Wolves v Swansea City

Newcastle United v Luton Town

Fulham v Southampton

Norwich City v Chelsea

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

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Name: Kumulus Water
 
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Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
Labour dispute

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Ain Issa camp:
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  • Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
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Most wanted allegations
  • Benjamin Macann, 32: involvement in cocaine smuggling gang.
  • Jack Mayle, 30: sold drugs from a phone line called the Flavour Quest.
  • Callum Halpin, 27: over the 2018 murder of a rival drug dealer. 
  • Asim Naveed, 29: accused of being the leader of a gang that imported cocaine.
  • Calvin Parris, 32: accused of buying cocaine from Naveed and selling it on.
  • John James Jones, 31: allegedly stabbed two people causing serious injuries.
  • Callum Michael Allan, 23: alleged drug dealing and assaulting an emergency worker.
  • Dean Garforth, 29: part of a crime gang that sold drugs and guns.
  • Joshua Dillon Hendry, 30: accused of trafficking heroin and crack cocain. 
  • Mark Francis Roberts, 28: grievous bodily harm after a bungled attempt to steal a £60,000 watch.
  • James ‘Jamie’ Stevenson, 56: for arson and over the seizure of a tonne of cocaine.
  • Nana Oppong, 41: shot a man eight times in a suspected gangland reprisal attack. 
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From: Ras Al Khaimah

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Updated: July 29, 2021, 5:51 PM`