Nader AlBastaki

Managing Director at Dubai Future District Fund

Presenter

Nader Albastaki is a Managing Director of the Dubai Future District Fund, an evergreen venture fund of funds and direct investment vehicle of the emirate of Dubai. The fund is anchored by Dubai Future Foundation and the Dubai International Financial Centre to invest in the Future of Finance and Future Economies with the aim of bolstering economic development in Dubai, the UAE and the broader region.

Nader’s first exposure to early-stage tech start-ups came in 2012 when he co-founded a healthcare technology start-up that expanded to 4 countries in the Middle East by the time of his departure, in early 2015. In 2017, Nader became a founding member of Keiretsu Forum’s Dubai Chapter, an angel investment platform focused on bridge rounds, where he was involved in investments and deal screening. He went on to be a mentor at the Intelak Incubator, NYU Abu Dhabi and Unilever’s Young Entrepreneur Awards for several cohorts, amongst other startup focused programs. In 2020, he co-founded a travel technology start-up that eventually merged with a global player in 2023.

Prior, and in parallel, to venturing into the tech ecosystem, Nader spent 7 years at HSBC Middle East, where he oversaw the non-bank financial institutions portfolio, covered corporate and small-medium sized enterprises for the bank – roughly doubling the banks business in key areas of accountability. After his time in banking, Nader joining Dubai Tourism to develop a Strategic Partnerships department and create an Advanced Analytics team, resulting in over 40 Strategic Partnerships and over 30 cost saving initiatives. At his last employer, the Dubai Future Foundation, Nader was involved in over 20 initiatives and strategies that would drive social, technological, economic and environmental impact, estimated at over $5 billion to the Emirate of Dubai.

Other past experiences include Standard Chartered Bank and the UAE Armed Forces.

Nader earned his Master of Business Administration from INSEAD, his Master of Science in Business Analytics from New York University’s Stern School of Business, and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Waterloo, Canada