Sun’s the limit for young entrepreneurs

Hugh Naylor

• Last Updated: April 05. 2009 9:30AM UAE / April 5. 2009 5:30AM GMT

DUBAI // It can carry six passengers at speeds of more than 40kph without ever having to fill up at a petrol station, or even plug into an electric socket.

But perhaps the most impressive thing about this solar-powered, fibreglass car, which went on display at Dubai Mall yesterday, is the age of the brains behind it: S Tarek al Zubair is just 16, while his cousin, Hamad bin Sulaiman, is two years younger.

The boys, both students at the International School of Arts and Sciences, built the futuristic vehicle for this year’s Young Entrepreneurs Competition.

They and 1,200 other high school and university pupils from across the country have put their business savvy and innovation on display for the past four days, selling everything from cars and custom-made handbags to Braille designs embroidered on coffee mugs and T-shirts.

“God has blessed our country with oil, but we also have sand, hot water, energy from the sun,” said Tarek, who won last year’s competition with a solar-powered mobile phone charger. “We as a country need to become sustainable.”

Operating from 290 kiosks, the precocious youths, some wearing their finest suits and kandooras, competed for first place, hawking handmade trinkets and paintings. “Would you like to buy a personalised T-shirt, sir?” yelled one, while an eager young saleswoman at another kiosk said: “Buy one and get the next for free!”

Each school sent a team of two to five students to the competition. For the past three to four months, they have learnt nearly all aspects of setting up and managing their own business.

They devised marketing strategies, test-marketed products to different demographic segments, mulled over cash-flow statements, and even had their products’ designs and assembly done in other countries.

“We outsourced our designs to companies in London, Paris and Los Angeles,” said Rashid al Abar, 21, a student at the American University of Dubai, whose kiosk, “That’s So Vintage”, sold custom-made bracelets and earrings for as much as Dh2,000 (US$544).

Others had high hopes of altering the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. With his sun-powered car, made with solar panels shipped from Germany, Tarek said he wanted to serve as an example for the country’s leadership.

“Think what that means if two teenagers can make a car run on solar power,” he said.

He plans on giving the prototype vehicle as a gift to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Many students made healthy profits. Pupils from Latifa School for Girls said they made more than Dh20,000 over the past four days selling handmade computer covers. But they say their success did not come easily.

“We worked for three months to get this far,” said Maitha Belhaab, 17, showing off her gold and violet laptop covers, each of which is custom-made.

“We met with business people and we had to come up with a strategy for our products, like handing out questionnaires to potential customers.”

She and her teammates hope to keep their business going once the competition is completed.

But more important than profit is the business know-how and self-reliance gained by the competitors, said Nisrin Safar, the marketing manager for the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders, which organises the yearly competition.

“Their minds are clearer at this age,” she said. “They can observe more and think better at this stage of their lives.

“The establishment hopes that we can give the tools to help guide them, nurture and grow their talents.

“They’re more willing at this age to learn the concepts and the necessary subjects, so we’re there to help guide.”

This year’s competition was the biggest yet, Ms Safar said, with about 190 more kiosks than last.

The winners will be judged on such criteria as creativity, highest sales and best cultural product. Yesterday evening, all the entrants had to submit their financial reports to the organisers, who plan to disclose the winners at a soon-to-be-announced ceremony.

For some competitors, however, the experience was primarily about having fun and displaying creativity.

Shegufta Reina, 17, and three other pupils from the Arab Unity School, decorated mirrors, mugs and candles with leftover materials such as pencil shavings, lentils and rubber from erasers.

“It’s about presenting our creativity and wanting to be environmentally friendly,” said Shegufta.

“We sort of did all this last-minute, like over the last three to four weeks. But that sort of made us more creative, because we have exams right now. We divided up our time and out task in the businesses.”

She did not seem to mind that her team had made less than some of its rivals, just a little over Dh1,000 for the four days.

“We’ve made profits, but since it’s the last day, we had to have a clearance sale.”



hnaylor@thenational.ae

Editorial, page a23