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Empowering Entrepreneurs and Fostering Financial Wellness for a Thriving Future in the Region!

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Jigar Sagar

Integrator had an exclusive interview with Jigar Sagar, a UAE-based serial entrepreneur. In this conversation, he shares motivational, strategic, and actionable insights tailored for aspiring entrepreneurs, business professionals, and those passionate about finance and innovation.

Jigar, tell us the story of your beginnings and what is your core area of expertise?

My entrepreneurial journey began quite early, at age 10, working in my family’s retail shop in Sharjah’s Gold Souk. This early exposure was instrumental in shaping my understanding of business fundamentals. The dynamic nature of the gold market, with its constant price fluctuations, naturally drew me toward understanding numbers and financial mechanics. Every day after school, from 6 PM onwards, I would immerse myself in the family business, learning invaluable lessons about customer service, inventory management, and the importance of building lasting relationships with clients.

What started as basic bookkeeping in the family business evolved into a deeper passion for finance and accounting. The gold market taught me early on that success in business isn’t just about sales – it’s about understanding the numbers behind those sales, managing inventory effectively, and maintaining precise financial records. This realization led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in finance from the American University of Dubai, where I graduated with Cum Laude honors.

My core expertise lies in understanding the intricate relationship between numbers and business success. Whether it’s corporate finance, strategic planning, or risk management, I believe that financial literacy is the backbone of any successful enterprise. This financial acumen, combined with my practical experience in business setup and growth strategies, has been crucial in my journey from the Gold Souk to managing multiple successful ventures. My expertise has evolved to encompass not just financial management, but also strategic business development, risk mitigation, and the creation of sustainable business models that can weather market fluctuations and economic challenges.

Tell us about what inspired you to transition from a finance manager to an entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurship was always the end goal for me—employment was a stepping stone in my larger journey. My brief stint at HSBC’s treasury department and subsequent role as Finance Manager at Creative Zone helped me build a strong foundation for my entrepreneurial aspirations.

Employment served multiple crucial purposes: it allowed me to accumulate capital for future investments, provided hands-on experience in corporate operations, and offered valuable insights into both effective and ineffective business practices. I specifically chose to work at Creative Zone, a startup at the time, rather than working with a large multinational, because I recognised that startups offer accelerated learning opportunities and growth potential that established corporations typically can’t match.

In a startup environment, roles are often fluid, and this allowed me to gain experience across multiple aspects of the business. I progressively moved from finance to sales, then to operations, and eventually became the key point person for government relations. This comprehensive exposure was invaluable in understanding how different business components interact and influence each other.

What truly inspired me was the opportunity to build something from the ground up. At Creative Zone, I witnessed firsthand how good business relationships could lead to new venture opportunities. This experience culminated in my acquisition of a minority stake in the company pre-Covid, marking my first significant step from employee to owner.

The transition wasn’t just about changing roles – it was about fulfilling a vision I’d had since my early days in the Gold Souk. I wanted to create not just successful businesses, but entire ecosystems that could support and nurture other entrepreneurs. This desire led me to launch multiple ventures, each addressing specific market gaps and needs I’d identified during my employment years.

How did you approach financial management and scaling Creative Zone to become Dubai’s largest business setup advisory firm? Can you share the (financial) details of your exit from Creative Zone?

The scaling of Creative Zone was built on three fundamental principles I learned from my early days in the Gold Souk: meticulous financial management, customer service excellence, and continuous innovation in service offerings.

In the initial phases, our focus was primarily on robust cash flow management and maintaining lean operations. This meant being extremely mindful of our expenses while simultaneously investing in growth opportunities. Drawing from my family business experience, I understood that customer service would be our key differentiator in a competitive market.

We consistently expanded our service portfolio to address evolving market needs. This included launching Creative Zone Business Hub and Creative Zone Tax & Accounting, which helped create additional revenue streams while providing more comprehensive solutions to our clients. Our approach to growth was always customer-centric, ensuring that each new service offering addressed a genuine market need.

The success of this strategy culminated in a multi-million dollar exit to a fund. This exit validated our business model and growth strategy, while also providing resources for future ventures and investments in the UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

You had mentioned that hardworking people are paid the least during the Gladiator Summit in Dubai? What made you say so?

This observation comes from years of experience and studying successful business patterns. While our traditional education system promotes the idea that hard work alone equals success and higher compensation, the reality of modern business presents a different truth.

Don’t misunderstand – hard work is absolutely essential and non-negotiable for success. However, it’s the combination of hard work with smart strategic thinking that truly creates exponential value. I’ve seen countless examples of people who work incredibly hard in their jobs, putting in long hours and maximum effort, yet they remain in the same financial position year after year.

The key differentiator lies in how you channel that hard work. Are you building something sustainable? Are you creating systems that can work for you? Are you developing multiple revenue streams? These are the questions that separate those who are merely working hard from those who are creating lasting wealth.

When I started at the Gold Souk, I could have simply focused on being the hardest working person in the shop. Instead, I used that experience to learn about business operations, customer service, and financial management. I then applied these lessons to build multiple businesses, creating sustainable systems rather than just trading time for money.

The most successful entrepreneurs I’ve encountered are indeed hardworking, but they combine this with strategic thinking, market awareness, and the ability to build scalable systems. They outwork their competition while simultaneously working smart – creating businesses that can grow beyond their personal time investment.

Tell us in what ways are free zones adapting to the needs of today’s entrepreneurs, and what innovations are you bringing to these spaces?

The evolution of free zones in the UAE represents one of the most dynamic shifts in our business ecosystem. Today’s entrepreneurs demand more than just a business license—they need a comprehensive support system that enables their success, and free zones are rapidly adapting to meet these changing needs.

The primary transformation we’re seeing is the shift from traditional licensing centers to integrated business enablement hubs. Free zones are now focusing on making the entire process simpler, faster, and more cost-effective for entrepreneurs. This includes digitising operations, streamlining procedures, and reducing documentation requirements. What used to take weeks can now often be accomplished in days or even hours.

However, real innovation lies in how we’re reimagining the role of free zones in the entrepreneurial journey. Instead of being mere service providers, we’re transitioning these spaces into comprehensive market platforms. This means creating entire ecosystems where entrepreneurs can not only establish their businesses but also find partners, connect with customers, and access various support services.

Through my involvement with various free zones, I’ve focused on introducing innovations that address real entrepreneurial pain points. This includes developing new partnerships that provide value-added services.

You’ve mentioned a goal to empower over 100 million entrepreneurs globally. What drives this ambitious vision?

I believe empowering entrepreneurs is one of the most effective ways to build a better world. While individual inventions can certainly make an impact, entrepreneurs create lasting change by building sustainable businesses that serve society’s needs. They’re not just creating wealth, they’re solving problems, generating employment, and driving innovation across all sectors.

The goal of 100 million entrepreneurs might sound ambitious, but consider the ripple effect. If each entrepreneur creates even just a few jobs and serves a few hundred customers, we’re talking about improving millions of lives. These entrepreneurs will build businesses that not only serve today’s needs but anticipate and solve tomorrow’s challenges.

What really drives me is the long-term impact. When we empower entrepreneurs, we’re not just helping individuals succeed—we’re creating a chain reaction of positive change that will benefit future generations. These entrepreneurs will create the jobs of tomorrow, develop solutions for emerging challenges, and build the foundations for continued economic growth.

This is particularly relevant in the UAE, where we’re transitioning from attracting global wealth to nurturing homegrown innovation. By empowering entrepreneurs here and globally, we’re helping create a more dynamic, resilient, and prosperous world for future generations. It’s about building a legacy of sustainable growth and innovation that extends far beyond our own time.

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Emerging Trends Shaping Financial Empowerment and Inclusion in the UAE Workforce

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Emerging Trends Shaping Financial Empowerment and Inclusion in the UAE Workforce

By Claudio Di Zanni, Managing Director, Edenred Middle East

A portrait of Claudio Di Zanni, Managing Director, Edenred Middle East
Claudio Di Zanni, Managing Director, Edenred Middle East

One of the most critical issues faced by low-income employees across the UAE and the broader Gulf region is achieving true financial empowerment. In the UAE, over 60% of the workforce comprises low-income migrant workers earning less than AED 5,000 per month. These employees are the backbone of the nation’s key industries, yet many still struggle to access the benefits of a fully digital financial ecosystem.

While the UAE’s Wage Protection System (WPS) was introduced to safeguard workers’ rights—ensuring salaries are paid accurately, on time, and through traceable digital channels—the banking system’s minimum salary requirement prevents a large portion of the workforce from opening traditional accounts. This creates a structural gap that payroll solutions are designed to fill, enabling compliant salary payments and basic access to digital finance.

As the Middle East accelerates its digital transformation and workforce reforms, how workers are paid and supported financially has become as important as how they contribute to growth. This shift has put a renewed spotlight on the systems managing their wages and day-to-day financial needs. For low-income employees, these systems determine not just how they are paid, but how securely they live—affecting access to savings, remittances, and their ability to handle emergencies.

When Digital Pay Isn’t Enough

The introduction of the Wage Protection System marked a turning point in the UAE’s journey toward fair and transparent wage practices. Today, nearly all employees are paid through digital channels, ensuring salaries are disbursed accurately and on time. Yet despite these advances, a significant percentage of wages are still withdrawn in cash each month, showing that digital pay does not automatically translate into digital financial inclusion.

For many employees, limited digital literacy, mistrust of financial systems, and unfamiliarity with digital tools prevent them from engaging fully with the digital economy. As a result, the very system designed to protect and empower workers can feel more like a compliance obligation than an opportunity for empowerment.

This is where payroll providers play a critical role. Too often, the industry stops at compliance—ensuring wages are delivered digitally—without addressing the human factors that determine whether employees can truly benefit from financial technology. Empowerment comes not from the transfer itself, but from helping workers understand, trust, and use digital money confidently. Only then can payroll innovation translate into lasting financial well-being and equal access to economic opportunity across the UAE.

Digital salary management platforms have already transformed how employees receive and manage their earnings. Mobile apps and prepaid cards now give workers immediate access to their wages, allowing them to make purchases, send remittances, and track expenses in real time. Many solutions integrate seamlessly with the WPS, enabling even unbanked employees to participate in the digital economy for the first time. A recent study found that organizations implementing mobile-accessible payroll solutions report up to 25 percent higher employee satisfaction, underscoring the clear business value of digital inclusion.

Empowering Through Education

Financial literacy programs are equally critical in helping employees make informed decisions about saving, budgeting, credit, and long-term planning. In the UAE, less than 31 percent of the population demonstrates basic financial literacy, highlighting a major opportunity to empower workers through education.

From workshops to mobile-based learning tools, such programs can equip employees with the practical skills to use digital salary systems effectively, avoid debt traps, and build savings or plan remittances. Employers that distribute salary cards directly at worker accommodations and provide multilingual support during onboarding see much higher adoption rates, as these field-level activations build trust and make digital tools easier to use.

Employers who take financial education seriously often see a clear business impact. Companies that invest in onboarding sessions and field engagement consistently report higher digital adoption rates. These activations not only build trust but also transform digital payroll from a compliance task into a tangible employee benefit.

When workers understand and trust digital tools, they gain control over their finances—and that stability shows at work. Financial stress is one of the most common challenges among low-income employees, limiting their ability to manage urgent expenses and affecting productivity, retention, and overall well-being. In sectors such as construction, this stress can even impact concentration and safety, as employees distracted by financial worries are less able to perform at their best.

Partnerships between employers and fintechs like Edenred are expanding this approach, combining digital wage tools with financial education programs that improve confidence, satisfaction, and long-term well-being.

The Next Phase of Financial Empowerment

Employers remain central to driving inclusion. By choosing payroll partners that provide multilingual support, education, and easy mobile access, companies can reduce disputes, strengthen retention, and improve overall workforce stability.

A growing number of organizations are now exploring earned wage access programs, which allow employees to access a portion of their earned income before payday. Surveys show that most low-income workers value this flexibility to cover urgent expenses, medical bills, or family emergencies—without resorting to high-interest loans or informal borrowing. When paired with education and budgeting tools, earned wage access can provide not just relief in emergencies but also encourage more responsible money management.

This flexibility can increase employees’ sense of financial security, yet it should complement—not replace—broader financial literacy and planning initiatives. The most successful models combine accessible financial products, user education, and ongoing engagement, ensuring workers have both the tools and the confidence to manage their finances effectively.

As technology evolves, artificial intelligence and data analytics will make financial support more personalized and accessible. Predictive models can help employers identify employees under financial strain, while new digital products can guide users toward healthier financial behaviors. But technology alone will not close the gap.

Real progress will depend on collaboration between fintechs, employers, and regulators to build an ecosystem that blends technology, education, and empathy. Businesses increasingly recognize that supporting workers in their financial journeys fosters a more engaged and loyal workforce, directly impacting productivity and retention. Selecting payroll partners that combine compliance with education, multilingual support, and mobile accessibility helps companies reduce payroll disputes and improve satisfaction.

The trajectory of financial empowerment for low-income employees in the UAE is promising. The next stage will depend on how effectively stakeholders align innovation with understanding—ensuring every salary payment becomes an opportunity for inclusion and growth. When that happens, financial empowerment will move from aspiration to reality.

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MultiBank Group and Khabib Nurmagomedov Launch an Exclusive Worldwide Multi-Billion-Dollar Joint Venture to Build the World’s First Regulated Tokenized Sports Ecosystem

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Multibank Group, the financial derivatives institution, has entered into an exclusive worldwide multi-billion-dollar joint venture with global sports icon and undefeated UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0) to create a first-of-its-kind regulated ecosystem connecting global finance, sports and technology.

The partnership will culminate in the creation of a multi-billion-dollar joint venture, MultiBank Khabib LLC, uniting two global powerhouses: MultiBank Group, a leader in regulated financial excellence, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, undefeated in the octagon and whose influence extends far beyond sport. The company will operate from MultiBank Group’s headquarters in Dubai, building a worldwide network of high-end sports ventures and real-world digital assets. This structure fulfills the vision of MultiBank Group Founder and Chairman, Naser Taher, for an exclusive global joint venture, granting MultiBank exclusive rights to develop and promote projects under the Khabib Nurmagomedov brand name, including the development of 30 state of the art Khabib gyms, Gameplan and Eagle FC brands.

The entire venture is backed by MultiBank Group’s regulated digital ecosystem and powered by its cornerstone $MBG Token being the driving force behind its expanding portfolio of real-world-asset (RWA) technologies and initiatives.

 Naser Taher, Founder and Chairman of MultiBank Group, stated: “From the UAE, we are shaping a new blueprint for the business of sport through the regulated tokenization of real-world sports assets (RWSA). Together with Khabib Nurmagomedov, and powered by our ecosystem token, $MBG, we are uniting finance and athletics into a single transparent, technology-driven ecosystem — one built on trust, innovation, and the strength of the MultiBank framework. This initiative proudly aligns with the UAE’s vision of becoming a global hub for digital asset innovation and world-class sports.

Khabib Nurmagomedov added: “This partnership with MultiBank Group is built on shared values of strength, respect, and discipline. Together with Multibank, we are building real global opportunities that go beyond sport, empowering athletes, and fans through a regulated and innovative digital ecosystem. This is only the beginning.”

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Edenred UAE strengthens market leadership with financially inclusive payroll solutions, C3Pay serving 2.5 million users

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Edenred, a leading digital platform for services and specific purpose payments and the undisputed market leader in salary processing and financial inclusion for the underbanked in the UAE, continues to reinforce its leading position in payroll card solutions, value-added financial services, and compliance-first innovation under the leadership of newly appointed Managing Director Claudio Di Zanni.

As the first company authorised by the Central Bank of the UAE to process WPS salaries, Edenred UAE has long positioned financial inclusion as the foundation of its offer in UAE — ensuring that access to financial services isn’t an added benefit, but a guaranteed outcome of getting paid. 

Trusted by both large enterprises and a growing base of SMEs, the backbone of the UAE economy, Edenred UAE now serves more than 15,000 corporate clients, 2.5 million cardholders, and partners with over 10 banks and 20 financial institutions. Demand has been strong in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and facility management—where reliability and seamless execution are critical.

Edenred UAE salary cards, C3Pay, powered by RAKBANK and part of the Mastercard network, can be used globally. A key driver of Edenred’s adoption success is its unmatched expertise in on-site training at worker accommodations, which helps large enterprises efficiently onboard thousands of employees. This ensures that workers understand how to activate their cards, utilise app features, and engage with key financial tools.

Claudio Di Zanni, Managing Director, Edenred Middle East, said: “Edenred UAE has set the benchmark for payroll and financial access in the region with digital innovative solutions, great ambitions and internationally committed teams. Our ambition now is to extend that lead by deepening trust with our clients, scaling services that matter to end users, and ensuring full compliance in a fast-evolving regulatory landscape. With unmatched reach, an expanding client base, and a proven model for financial inclusion, we are ready to shape the next phase of the region’s salary card ecosystem — developing its full potential and contributing to giving workers who were previously excluded from the financial system a secure, transparent, and dignified way to manage their money.

Edenred UAE remains the reference in payroll solutions, as it continues to scale high-impact services, deepen banking partnerships, and reinforce its role as the benchmark for secure, compliant, and ethical financial access in the UAE and beyond. With a sharpened focus on innovation and strengthened leadership, it is entering a new chapter of platform excellence as the backbone of financial access for the UAE’s workforce.

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