The Middle East is generally known as a car-dependent region owing to its harsh climate and cheap energy cost. However, things have changed dramatically in the last decade as cities have put digitalization and improvement of public transport on their agendas. There is a competitive spirit among countries in the Middle East region as countries are investing heavily in public transport infrastructure and innovation. The new investment in the rail network, metro system, electric buses, etc. will create more opportunities for people to do things. Further, the startup ecosystem is booming in the Middle East as Dubai is emerging as the favorite destination for crypto and Web3 Startups. Similarly, Riyadh is attracting innovative startups as a regional hub.

Dheeraj Bhardwaj is a Group CEO for City Group Co., Kuwait, leading the transformation agenda of the passenger transport/ mobility sector in Kuwait with a focus on digital innovations and green initiatives. Prior to this, he was co-founder and CEO of Arnab Mobility based in the UAE. A unique blend of experience ranging from intense R&D, and technology start-ups to large corporates and Strategy Consulting. As a digital & innovation consulting lead of PwC, he advised and consulted for a number of Government departments and businesses in the UK, India, and the Middle East on Strategy, Innovation, and Technology implementations. Dheeraj developed Innovation Strategy for $25 billion Crossrail project in London and the award-winning “Dubai Innovation Index”.