Abdulkarim Fahad al Arif is only 13, but this has not stopped him entering the Young Entrepreneurs Competition. He has spent the past five days selling his goods in Dubai Mall and already has his sights set on his father's business.
What are you selling?
I am selling USB sticks that look like the keys of a sports car. I have Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. I am also selling pens that are video cameras. If people do not have a camera they can just bring this pen, called the MP9. It's simple and small to take photos and videos. You can save pictures and videos and put them straight on to the computer.
How did you come up with the idea and where do you buy the products?
I had a vacation in Thailand and saw the pieces and decided to buy them. I went last weekend with my family, I bought the pieces and brought them back. Young people in the UAE do not have a USB key ring that looks like car keys and I had not seen the camera pen here before either.
How much did you spend on the USB sticks and camera pens in total?
I spent about Dh12,000 (US$3,265) in total.
Where did the money come from?
I was given it by my father who is sponsoring me through his general maintenance company, Arifco.
Very generous. How much profit do you make on each item?
I make Dh50 profit on each. I sell the pens for Dh250 and I bought them for Dh200. The car key rings I sell for Dh170 and bought at Dh120. It is day three and I have sold 20 key rings and 7 pens.
Is this the first time you've been in the competition?
Yes, this is the first time. I will definitely come back next year. I hope to win the competition. I just know I have a chance.
I presume you are still at school?
Yes, I go to Al Mawakeb School, near Mall of the Emirates.
What do you want to do when you leave?
I would like to become a businessman. I will probably work for my father and for my family to begin with. After that I will not just work for my father. I'd like to start something like Abdulkarimco, like my father's business name.
* Rory Jones
