Six years ago, few imagined travellers could land in a new country and get connected instantly, without hunting for a SIM card or paying roaming fees. Airalo changed that. Founded in 2019, the Singapore-based startup was one of the first to bet on eSIM technology, building what has become the world’s largest eSIM marketplace.

Today, with over 20 million users in 200 countries, Airalo is redefining global connectivity — and the Middle East is fast emerging as one of its most strategic growth markets.

In this interview, CEO Ahmet Bahadir talks about what gave Airalo its early advantage, how it’s staying ahead in a crowded space, and why the region’s tech-savvy travellers are shaping the next chapter of digital mobility.

Airalo was among the first to bet on eSIMs and now leads a category that barely existed six years ago. What do you think gave you that early advantage, and how are you defending it as the market gets crowded?

Our early advantage stemmed from our firsthand experience with the problem, rather than chasing trends or relying on industry reports. Before Airalo, I was running a “ship supplying” business. My job was to make sure cargo ships were stocked with everything they needed for long voyages: potatoes, tomatoes etc..

And again and again, I heard the same request: “Can you organise local SIM cards for our crew?” These were sailors who spent months at sea. They didn’t ask or care for luxury items. They just wanted to talk to their families and loved ones. That stuck with me, and was why I set up a global SIM card.

Then, when Apple announced eSIM technology in 2018, I realized the entire telecom landscape was about to shift. I didn’t have a clear blueprint, but knew that if someone was going to create the Netflix or Amazon for connectivity, it should be us. That’s what pushed me to act early.

Today, as the market grows, our advantage comes from the depth of what we’ve built. Connectivity means something different to everyone, for some it’s a video call home, a map that loads instantly, a message that arrives when it matters. That’s why our eSIM offering is built for every kind of traveler.

Whether you need a few gigabytes for a quick trip, or a regional plan with voice, text, and data, we make staying connected simple and reliable. We even offer domestic options for those who need consistent coverage closer to home or for longer stays somewhere else.

For our domestic plans, we chose to build truly local infrastructure and long-term partnerships with telecom operators around the world. It has taken time and patience, but it has also created something far more comprehensive.

With more than 20 million users across over 200 countries, how are you capturing and sustaining market share against rising competition from carriers and new eSIM startups?

For us, growth came from word of mouth from a very early stage. People would have a great experience and then share it with others. I distinctly remember one CEO telling me that after she tried Airalo on a trip, she told her entire company, “This is what we are using from now on.” That kind of word-of-mouth is incredibly impactful because it’s built on trust.

Our platform model, gives users real choice and control: competitive prices, stronger coverage, and more authentic local experiences. We’re not simply another eSIM provider, we’re a customer-driven platform built to make global connectivity simple, and flexible.

We’ve also always focused on making eSIM adoption as easy as it can be. From early on we focused on educating people on the sector, while also establishing a range of educational materials for users. Our team is committed to ensuring that all our plans provide reliable connectivity. We also have a 24/7 support team that can communicate with you in more than 50 languages, because we understand that travel doesn’t happen on a 9-to-5 schedule.

We’ve found a balance and we are focused on continuing to improve the user experience. I believe that’s how we’ve sustained our edge.

eSIM adoption has surged globally. What’s driving this shift, and how do you see Airalo influencing or accelerating it further?

The shift is happening because the old ways no longer make sense. Think about it: you land in a new country, you’re tired from a flight, you don’t speak the language, and the first thing you have to do is find a kiosk, queue up, fill out forms, and get a physical SIM just to get online. Or worse, you turn on roaming and then come home to a terrifying bill.

Consumers want simplicity. Device makers are currently accelerating this by removing SIM trays, a great indicator of that is Apple recently announcing the iphone 17 as an e-SIM only device in most regions, but the real driver is behaviour. People expect to be connected instantly. They don’t want to think about it.

As a leader in the industry, we play a crucial role in educating people about the technology, and we expect this role to become even more important as adoption grows. However, beyond that, we are primarily focused on ensuring the customer experience is as smooth as possible, and we prioritise making app and network updates that enhance the customer experience.

At the end of the day, every time someone has a smooth, stress-free experience with Airalo, they’re more likely to stick with eSIM. And when that happens millions of times over, adoption accelerates naturally.

The Middle East is seeing rapid digital travel growth. How strategic is this region for Airalo’s expansion, and what traveller behaviours stand out compared to other markets?

The Middle East is incredibly strategic for us, not just because of its growth, but because of the type of travellers here. People in this region are very digitally savvy. They embrace new technologies quickly, and international travel is a huge part of their lifestyle.

One thing that stands out is the expectation of seamlessness. Travellers here want things to work the moment they step off the plane. They expect high-quality digital experiences, whether they’re traveling for business, visiting family, or exploring new destinations.

There’s also a vibrant ecosystem here, from innovative airlines to rapidly growing fintech companies and travel platforms. That creates amazing opportunities for partnerships. For Airalo, the region represents both a growing user base and a hub for building meaningful collaborations.

It’s not just a market we’re expanding into. It’s a region that aligns perfectly with where the future of digital travel is heading.

As connectivity becomes a core part of travel, how do you see eSIMs integrating into broader ecosystems, from airlines and booking platforms to IoT and smart tourism?

Connectivity is becoming like the air around us, invisible but essential. You don’t have to think about it; it’s simply there when you need it. That’s where eSIM is headed. I imagine a future where connectivity is woven seamlessly into every step of the travel journey. You book your flight and your eSIM at the same time.

Your hotel app, your insurance, your navigation, and your local experiences all run smoothly because the connectivity layer is already in place.

We’ve started building partnerships with airlines, fintech companies, and travel platforms to bring this vision to life. Airalo’s role is to be that invisible layer that makes travel simpler, smarter, and more connected. The traveler shouldn’t have to think about how it works. It should just work.

From a leadership standpoint, how do you maintain a culture of innovation and agility inside a company that’s already a global market leader?

For me, leadership is deeply personal. I’ve experienced financial insecurity and instability, and I never forget how that feels. At Airalo, I want people to come to work with their heads held high and go home the same way. Stability and dignity are the foundation of everything we build internally.

We don’t believe in “hire fast, fire fast.” We don’t chase flashy hires. We focus on bringing in good people, giving them the space to grow, and creating an environment where they can do extraordinary things together.

Innovation doesn’t happen because you tell people to be innovative. It occurs when people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and challenge ideas without fear. My job is to protect that culture as we grow, so that Airalo remains nimble, creative, and bold no matter how big we get.

Looking ahead, what’s your vision for the future of mobile connectivity, and where will Airalo lead in shaping that next chapter?

My vision is simple but ambitious. I imagine a world where connectivity is so seamless that people stop thinking about it altogether. We call this “One World, One Network”.

Whether you’re using your phone on a trip, your laptop for work, or your smartwatch on a hike, connectivity should follow you effortlessly, without physical barriers or complicated setups.

I see Airalo as the invisible backbone of that future. We’re already moving in this direction through partnerships, corporate solutions, and technology that integrates into larger ecosystems. The goal is for every gigabyte consumed globally to touch Airalo in some way.

It’s a big vision, but if you look at how far we’ve come in just a few years, it’s not unrealistic. It’s the natural next step in making the world truly connected.

At a moment when the UAE is doubling down on entrepreneurship, innovation, and diversification, Sheraa is refusing to leave women founders on the sidelines. In this conversation with its CEO Sara Abdelaziz Al Nuaimi, Gulf Business explores how Sheraa’s new Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship (SWIF) is positioning female-led scale-ups not as an optional add-on, but as central to the nation’s growth story.

With more than half of Sheraa’s supported startups led by women — an unprecedented regional figure — Al Nuaimi lays out how mentorship, purpose and scaling frameworks are being designed with the next decade in mind. From Sharjah’s ecosystem advantages to the real metrics of impact, this is how Sheraa is rewriting the rules of startup support in the UAE.

How does investing in women-led scale-ups directly support the UAE’s economic diversification goals

As we look toward the next decade of growth, the role of women founders becomes increasingly vital to shaping the UAE’s economic future. Investing in women-led scale-ups is both a matter of equity and an economic necessity that advances the UAE’s diversification agenda. When women founders are empowered to grow and scale, they open doors to new industries, products, and services that expand the nation’s economic landscape beyond traditional sectors. Their ventures often emerge at the crossroads of innovation, sustainability, and social impact, areas that form the foundation of the UAE’s future economy.

At Sheraa, 51 per cent of the startups we support are led by women, an unprecedented figure in the region that underscores both the depth of female entrepreneurial talent and the importance of inclusive ecosystem design.

By equipping women entrepreneurs with the funding, networks, and mentorship they need to scale globally, we are unlocking untapped potential that fuels job creation, attracts foreign investment, and strengthens the knowledge economy.

And through initiatives like the Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship (SWIF), a programme by Sheraa designed to empower women founders to scale their ventures through tailored mentorship, strategic partnerships, and access to investor networks, we aim to ensure that women play a defining role in the UAE’s diversification journey, driving innovation, creating opportunities, and shaping the nation’s next phase of growth. This aligns closely with the UAE’s Entrepreneurial Nation initiative, which seeks to empower 10,000 entrepreneurs and position the country as a global hub for enterprise and innovation.

Together, these efforts reflect a unified national vision to build an economy driven by creativity, inclusivity, and opportunity for all.

Beyond funding, what is the most critical component of the SWIF curriculum for helping founders navigate the scaling phase?

As with every Sheraa initiative, the Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship (SWIF) was designed to go beyond creating access to funding, offering the guidance, connections, and community that truly accelerate growth. Unlike traditional programmes that focus primarily on the startup, SWIF places the founder at the centre, supporting her personal and professional development.

Through tailored mentorship and purpose-driven learning, the fellowship helps women founders strengthen their leadership, gain clarity of direction, and lead their ventures, and communities, with purpose.

This approach comes to life through the programme’s core design, where the focus extends beyond financial access to emphasize strategic mentorship and global networks. Central to the fellowship is the 4D model, ‘Discover, Define, Develop, and Deepen’, a rigorous, interconnected methodology that guides founders through a journey of self-awareness, business clarity, and sustainable growth.

Through immersive learning, real-world application, and a supportive, high-trust cohort, fellows pressure-test new ideas, strengthen their leadership practice, and hold each other accountable to the values and commitments that drive their ventures. This blend of structure, expertise, and peer connection ensures growth that is measurable, scalable, and enduring.

The program also emphasises peer learning and community. Each cohort forms a powerful support network where founders exchange lessons, share challenges, and collaborate on opportunities. This creates a lasting ecosystem of women leaders who continue to support one another well beyond the programme.

By combining tailored mentorship, expert-led sessions, and access to new markets, SWIF ensures that founders are equipped to sustain growth and lead scalable, high-impact ventures that strengthen the UAE’s entrepreneurial landscape.

How does the programme define and measure “impact” alongside traditional business growth metrics?

The fellowship’s approach to growth is holistic, recognising that sustainable entrepreneurship is built on both profitability and purpose.

At Sheraa, we believe that true growth is reflected in outcomes that create lasting, positive change. The fellowship embraces this approach by encouraging founders to build ventures that thrive commercially while leaving a meaningful imprint on people and communities.

Fellows are encouraged to define clear impact goals from the start, whether that involves advancing sustainability, improving access to education, empowering communities, or creating inclusive employment. These goals are then assessed through measurable outcomes such as jobs created, carbon savings, lives improved, or communities reached.

Our approach blends data-driven indicators with human stories, recognising that lasting success comes from ventures that grow responsibly, sustain value over time, and contribute meaningfully to the UAE’s vision for inclusive and sustainable development.

What specific advantages does Sharjah’s ecosystem offer scaling ventures that are unique in the UAE?

Building on the UAE’s national vision for innovation and entrepreneurship, Sharjah continues to distinguish itself as a place where purposeful innovation meets opportunity. The emirate offers a unique value proposition for scaling ventures through an ecosystem defined by accessibility, targeted support, and strong institutional alignment. Entrepreneurs find in Sharjah a nurturing environment to test, refine, and expand their business models, with the added advantage of proximity to key markets across the UAE and the wider region.

Sharjah’s ecosystem stands out for its balance between economic ambition and social impact. The emirate’s leadership has cultivated a culture where innovation is deeply connected to sustainability, education, and community development, priorities that shape the next generation of startups.

This is reinforced by an integrated network of entities such as the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK), the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and the University City, which together create a continuum of research, innovation, and commercialisation support.

Within this ecosystem, Sheraa plays a pivotal role by equipping founders with the mentorship, resources, and partnerships needed to scale globally. Through initiatives such as the Sharjah Startup Studio (S3) and Startup Dojo and SWIF, founders gain the tools, expertise, and growth frameworks to strengthen their business foundations and scale sustainably. Programmes like the Access Sharjah Challenge (ASC) open pathways for global startups to collaborate with local industries and enter regional markets, while Deal Dock connects founders directly with investors and accelerates access to capital.

Together, these efforts create an environment that enables ventures to grow with purpose, expand sustainably, and contribute meaningfully to the UAE’s innovation-driven economy.

Read: 44 women leaders share advice to power your success

What ripple effects do you expect from the SWIF alumni network on the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem?

The vision behind the SWIF alumni network is to create an enduring community of women founders whose impact multiplies across the ecosystem. Each fellow becomes a multiplier of impact, sharing knowledge, opening doors, and creating new pathways for other women and entrepreneurs across the ecosystem.

As these founders scale their ventures, they naturally generate new jobs, attract investment, and establish collaborations that strengthen the entrepreneurial landscape. But their influence goes further: they become mentors, investors, and ecosystem champions who inspire others to pursue growth and innovation.

Over time, this collective network will evolve into a powerful community of leaders shaping policy, driving sustainability, and amplifying the UAE’s position as a hub for purpose-driven entrepreneurship. The alumni network will serve as a bridge, connecting experience with opportunity, and ensuring that each success story fuels the next wave of growth in the region.

What does “impact-driven leadership” mean for a founder in this programme?

Impact-driven leadership is about leading with intention and responsibility. For founders in the SWIF program, it means scaling ventures that leave a lasting positive mark on people, communities, and the planet. It’s the ability to see growth and purpose as one vision, where every strategic decision, partnership, and innovation serves a larger mission.

We believe true leadership lies in how founders channel their success into creating value that outlives their businesses.

Through SWIF, we nurture this mindset by surrounding founders with mentors and peers who challenge them to think beyond profit, to measure success through the lives they touch, the opportunities they create, and the systems they transform.

This is the kind of leadership that defines the UAE’s next generation of entrepreneurs: leaders who are bold, empathetic, and unwavering in their commitment to building a future where innovation drives both prosperity and progress.

Ecomondo 2025, Europe and the Mediterranean basin’s leading international event for the green, blue and circular economies, concluded successfully at the Rimini Expo Centre, reaffirming its role as a global hub for ecological transition. Organised by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), this 28th edition marked a significant expansion, reflecting growing international engagement and the event’s leadership in advancing sustainability.

Total attendance increased by 7 per cent, with international visitors rising by 10 per cent. The exhibition featured over 1,700 brands—18 per cent from abroad—spanning 166,000 square metres. More than 600 journalists, including 15 per cent from outside Italy, helped draw global attention to Rimini as a centre of innovation and sustainability.

Highlighting the importance of Ecomondo’s role in the global green economy, Italy’s Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, visited the exhibition on November 6. “We can count ourselves among the leading countries in the world in terms of recycling capacity,” he said. “There is a lot of talk about rare earths and critical raw materials, but the largest deposit we have is our waste… And the ability to recycle is fully demonstrated at this show, a symbol of innovation and sustainability.”

Ecomondo 2025: the most international edition yet

This year’s event reinforced Ecomondo’s position as a global platform for collaboration between businesses, researchers, and industry professionals. Working with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), the show welcomed over 800 hosted buyers and delegations from 65 countries, including Spain, Turkey, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt. Around 90 international associations also participated. Together, they facilitated 3,800 business meetings, advancing global cooperation and sharing best practices in ecological transition.

A global lens on the green transition

Over 200 events took place during the four-day exhibition—70 organised by Ecomondo’s Technical and Scientific Committee, chaired by Professor Fabio Fava. The programme offered deep insights into pressing sustainability topics, including waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), critical raw materials, the circular textile industry, sustainable finance, water management, the blue economy, bioenergy, AI in resource optimisation, and the role of communication in promoting ecological awareness.

The forum also dedicated focus to international cooperation, the Mediterranean’s green transition, and clean energy access initiatives in Africa, under the Mattei Plan and “Mission 300” programme. The fifth Africa Green Growth Forum further emphasised collaboration with the continent.

The 14th States General of the Green Economy opened Ecomondo with the presentation of the Report on the State of the Green Economy 2025, examining Europe’s ecological transition within the shifting global landscape. For the first time, the second day’s plenary session was conducted entirely in English, expanding the event’s international reach.

Innovation and industry on display

The return of Sal.Ve, the biennial Exhibition of Ecological Vehicles in partnership with ANFIA, showcased advanced vehicles and equipment for waste collection, street sweeping, and sewage disposal.

The Innovation District bridged research and industry, hosting 40 high-tech startups, including 20 from Morocco and Tunisia through the Luca Attanasio Lab Innovates for Africa project by ITA and MAECI. Ecomondo also presented the Lorenzo Cagnoni Award for Green Innovation to seven companies—one from each sector—for the most forward-looking technologies.

Ecomondo will return to the Italian Exhibition Group’s Rimini Expo Centre from 3–6 November 2026, continuing its mission to accelerate the global green transition.

VAST Data, the AI Operating System company, has announced the signing of a commercial agreement worth $1.17bn with CoreWeave, the essential cloud for AI. The expanded partnership strengthens CoreWeave’s long-standing commitment to the VAST AI Operating System (AI OS) as its primary data foundation, positioning VAST as a core component of CoreWeave’s AI cloud infrastructure.

Powered by the VAST AI OS, CoreWeave’s infrastructure provides instant access to massive datasets, breakthrough performance, and cloud-scale economics for both training and inference workloads. With its infinitely scalable system architecture, CoreWeave can deploy VAST in any data center, supporting any customer requirement without concerns about platform reliability or scalability. In some of the world’s most demanding computing environments, VAST and CoreWeave are working together to ensure that customers are always computing at peak performance.

As part of this expanded collaboration, CoreWeave and VAST will jointly deliver advanced data services that span the full stack, enhancing data pipelines and enabling model builders with powerful design and performance capabilities. The two companies are developing next-generation AI infrastructure that allows customers to innovate faster, scale seamlessly, and operate with greater efficiency.

“At VAST, we are building the data foundation for the most ambitious AI initiatives in the world,” said Renen Hallak, founder and CEO of VAST Data. “Our deep integration with CoreWeave is the result of a long-term commitment to working side by side at both the business and technical level. By aligning our roadmaps, we are delivering an AI platform that organisations cannot find anywhere else in the market.”

“The VAST AI Operating System underpins key aspects of how we design and deliver our AI cloud,” said Brian Venturo, co-founder and chief strategy officer of CoreWeave. “This partnership enables us to deliver AI infrastructure that is the most performant, scalable, and cost-efficient in the market, while reinforcing the trust and reliability of a data platform that our customers depend on for their most demanding workloads.”

The agreement advances a shared mission to redefine the data and compute architecture powering AI. By combining CoreWeave’s GPU-accelerated cloud infrastructure with the VAST AI OS, the companies are creating a new class of intelligent data architecture that supports continuous training, real-time inference, and large-scale data processing for mission-critical industries.

Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo division of Emirates, has upgraded its ground fleet with the latest-generation Euro 6 trucks from MAN Trucks, in partnership with Allied Transport Company. With 40 new vehicles entering service, Emirates SkyCargo becomes the first operator in the region to adopt long-haul, heavy commercial Euro 6 models—introducing the most advanced trucking technology into its on-road logistics operations.

The Euro 6 engine meets the world’s most stringent emissions standards, producing substantially lower levels of pollutants than previous models. By replacing 40 of its existing trucks with 40 Euro 6 vehicles, Emirates SkyCargo expects to achieve a 17 per cent annual reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from its trucking operations. This initiative reinforces the airline’s broader commitment to adopting fuel- and emissions-saving measures across all areas of its ground operations.

Badr Abbas, divisional senior vice president, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “The addition of the Euro 6 trucks to our fleet is an important evolution in our commitment to more sustainable operations, and to investing in future-ready technology that will fuel our next era of growth. We expect cargo volumes to and through Dubai will continue to grow, driven by Dubai’s strategic Economic Agenda and are ready to play our part in better facilitating global trade by deploying the right equipment and infrastructure across our operations.”

Beyond emissions reduction, the Euro 6 trucks are equipped with advanced driver-assistance and safety systems. Each vehicle includes kerb mirrors, reverse cameras, and blind-spot monitoring for enhanced 360° visibility. Intelligent driver-assist features, such as the AI-powered Driver Monitoring System, provide real-time alerts when signs of distraction or fatigue are detected, helping elevate overall road safety standards.

Security and operational visibility are also enhanced with dual camera systems that record both forward and in-cabin views, supported by GPS and cloud-based tracking for live fleet monitoring, real-time video transmission, and data-driven performance insights.

Ali Bin Beyat, chief executive officer, Allied Transport Company, said: “The long-term relationship between Allied Transport and Emirates SkyCargo reflects our shared commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability in logistics. The introduction of the first long-haul Euro 6 fleet to the Middle East marks a major step forward in our collective effort to drive cleaner, smarter, and more efficient transport operations. At Allied Transport, we believe that efficiency and environmental responsibility go hand in hand, and this milestone showcases how enduring industry relationships and advanced technologies can together create meaningful progress toward a more sustainable future for regional logistics.”

Handling over 1,000 tonnes of cargo daily, Emirates SkyCargo’s truck fleet plays a critical role in linking Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and Dubai International Airport (DXB) via the 77 km bonded corridor—traversed up to six times a day per truck. The introduction of the Euro 6 fleet enhances operational efficiency and sets new sustainability and performance benchmarks for the airline’s dual-airport cargo operations.