Arif Alawi

Arif Mohd Al Alawi is the CEO of Dubai Cultiv8 Investments Limited, a Dubai-based investment firm launched in 2018 and associated with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund for SMEs. Dubai Cultiv8 is described as a Shariah-compliant investment firm regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority and focused on both advisory services and investments through fund creation.

Before Dubai Cultiv8, Al Alawi worked with Dubai SME as an investment advisor for special projects and startups from 2017 to 2018, where the idea for Dubai Cultiv8 was developed as an investment arm complementing Dubai SME’s financing activity. SignalHire lists prior roles including investment placement at GFH Financial Group from 1999 to 2002, investment placement at Arcapita from 2002 to 2006, founder and managing director of Al Safwa Islamic Financial Services from 2007 to 2008, founder and managing director of Tharawat Investment House from 2008 to 2013, chairman of Aghsan Group from 2013 to 2018, and managing director of Pillarium Consultancy from 2014 to 2016.

His education includes the University of Strathclyde, listed on LinkedIn for 1997–1998; SignalHire further reports a postgraduate qualification from the University of Strathclyde and a B.Sc. in Industrial Management from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals.

In his current role, Al Alawi is responsible for Dubai Cultiv8’s business plan, attracting entrepreneurs and investors to Dubai, and helping startups set up, raise capital, formulate financial models, and expand in the UAE and GCC.

• Dubai Cultiv8’s stated investment philosophy is to back companies established in the UAE with plans to expand globally, as well as non-UAE companies that want to expand into the GCC, especially the UAE, with operational branches.
• Al Alawi evaluates founders on vision, passion, experience, and skills, asking whether they have a real vision or are only motivated by money.
• The team looks for market differentiation, revenue and earnings quality, customer acquisition cost, customer lifetime value, five-year growth plans, break-even timing, scalability, and exit planning.
• Dubai Cultiv8 Technology Fund is described as a US$100 million fund focused on growth-stage technology companies in the UAE or abroad that aim to shift operations wholly or partly into the UAE.
• Sector priorities include fintech, AI, blockchain, e-commerce, healthcare and wellness, payment gateways and wallets, gaming, crypto/NFT-related opportunities, legaltech, mobility tech, and logistics.
• Al Alawi has said Dubai Cultiv8 aims to “clear the way for SMEs to enter and grow in the UAE market without financial pressure.”