Abu Dhabi World’s Newest Tax Haven for Billionaires
Bloomberg
We have advised many of the most ambitious tech firms on the planet and government leaders in the largest Middle Eastern economies
Problems we solve for our clients.
We know what you want because we have done this before.
The MENA Catalysts work closely with high tech companies’ heads of public policy, government relations, external affairs, and market expansion to solve key issues affecting their business.
✓ Government bans
Many external affairs firms tell their clients that government bans are difficult to undo, almost like trying to un-stir cream from your coffee. We have unblocked 12 apps in the Gulf and halted governments from blocking dozens of others.
✓ Lack of government relationships
As any MENA veteran knows, getting access to the decision-makers is a constant struggle. Licensing is slower, stakeholders don’t get back to you, and delivering priorities gets delayed.
✓ Underperforming KPIs
Companies burn through too much time and effort on too many insignificant nice-to-have activities. Current approaches of government relations firms are not delivering results of high tech multinationals.
✓ Limited expertise
Corporate success for high tech companies increasingly rests on having specialists in place that understands your high tech business specifically and Middle Eestern operating environment.
Case Study 1
Successfully Persuaded Tech Regulator to Unblock Popular Mobile App
Client sought help to unblock their app in multiple Gulf markets.
Plan
- Determined exactly what government official was blocking app and why.
- Developed an execution plan that the client used to gain internal buy-in with company leadership first for The MENA Catalysts externally to unblock their app in the Gulf.
Excecute
- Mapped the Gulf policymakers who can order the regulator to lift the ban on the app, as well as the likely entrenched conservative interests who would oppose our client’s needs.
- Led the process to unblock the app, organized inter-ministerial meetings to systematically dismantle government objections, led presentations to persuade officials,in Arabic, of the App’s benefits to their economy and society so they agreed to unblock the App and realize benefits for both the country and the client.
- Wrote white paper for client to position company as a thought leader as the basis for conversations with national leaders.
- Executed roundtables on the impact of the mobile app economy’s trends for national leadership. Together we demonstrated the benefits of adopting business-friendly laws while highlighting the difficulties of muscular approaches.
- Reinvented client’s relationship with the government by developing a flagship CSR project that spoke to decision makers.
- Authored op-eds to popularize and help establish a business-friendly digital economy in priority Arab market.
Impact
- Government removed restrictions on foreign company’s digital platforms
regulators unblocked apps in four markets. - Client obtained a license exemption from the regulator and customs.
- Client’s leadership prioritized Middle East business growth.
- Earned praise for client from four MENA national technology regulators.
- Client achieved in months what it had been struggling to accomplish for years.
Case Study 2
Successfully Persuading Regulator to Unblock App
Client leaders wanted to launch a local version of their global app in the Gulf economies, and to prepare them for a sustainable, humble, optimistic, and successful launch in the Gulf — to ‘clear the path’ for uninhibited growth.
Intelligence for client’s app and user
- Provided analysis and diagnostics of local app’s functioning and intel about app business regulatory matters you need-to-know.
- Equipped clients with snippets and ongoing tracking of the political, legal, and regulatory environments that affect client and its users.
- Counseled client via video conference calls to brief on developments too sensitive to write, and equip Client with essential preparatory measures on reputational and regulatory issues that might arise.
- Write rapid analysis to deliver stakeholder insights that will drive Client’s Gulf business priorities.
Launch and Government Engagement Strategy
- Solved regulatory issues and help prepare Client for a public launch with ongoing operations in the Gulf, through a comprehensive engagement strategy and execution of those meetings with appropriate regulators, policymakers, political figures and influencers.
- Supported Client Leadership in clearing roadblocks and seizing opportunities to make beta and general availability phases successful, as well as any additional product availability that supports the needs of users across the region.
Partnerships
- Qualifying and generate opportunities for high-powered partnerships in key MENA geographies for Client to work with policymakers and regulators to improve reputation, including new initiatives and/or business-friendly regulations.
- Created menu of high value-added partnerships to advance Client’s Middle East business priorities with well-regarded organizations, institutions, or companies in the region to strengthen Client business and/or brand goals.
- Achieved KPIs without significant headcount by using partners to move the “heavy machinery” of assembling, orientating and hand-holding many stakeholders to become whales and/or users with Client.
