Prime Highlights-
- TiE Dubai names Bashar Kilani as President, launching a new board focused on mentorship and founder growth.
- TiE Fellows debuts as an invite-only program supporting full-time founders building scalable regional ventures.
Key Facts-
- TiE Dubai has supported more than 1,000 students across 50 plus universities through its youth programs.
- The chapter drew over 1,800 event registrations since March 2026, with more than 60 percent returning attendees.
Background-
TiE Dubai, the regional chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs, has named its new board for 2026-2027 and unveiled plans to give founders across the UAE and wider MENA region stronger, more structured support. The new term will focus on mentoring, learning and long-term growth for entrepreneurs at every stage.
Bashar Kilani takes over as President, with Shameema Parveen as President-Elect and Prashant Gulati as President Emeritus. The board also includes Bianca Gracias, Deepak Padmanabhan, Kushal Shah, Ramit Harisinghani, Piero Ricotti and Anastasiya Golovatenko in various director roles. Sashikanth Ramakrishnan will co-chair TiE Youth, while Carlina Marani and Shameema Parveen will co-chair TiE Women.
TiE Fellows will be the first major initiative launched under the new board. The invite-only program will support full-time founders building scalable regional ventures, matching them with TiE Dubai Charter Members for closed-door mentorship and tailored guidance.
TiE Dubai will also relaunch TiE U as TiE Youth, deepening ties between universities and industry after supporting more than 1,000 students across 50 plus universities in the GCC and MENA region.
Bashar Kilani said the new board brings together experienced leaders committed to supporting the next generation of founders, adding that the term’s priorities include deepening mentorship, strengthening partnerships and building programs that stay relevant as founders scale.
Prashant Gulati said the chapter will connect its programs more closely with national priorities, including the UAE’s National Youth Agenda 2031.
Since March 2026, TiE Dubai has run events across seven sectors, drawing more than 1,800 registrations, with over 60 percent returning attendees. The chapter counts more than 20,000 global members and 3,500 Charter Members across 65 plus chapters in 15 countries.
