Adnan Dekedek · Abu Dhabi
My work spans corporate innovation, AI adoption and the analysis behind major decisions. I design and deliver programs, work with founders, and build tools with AI when the work calls for them.
Currently at MBZUAI's Incubation & Entrepreneurship Center. Co-founder of Upstart Bar.
Organizations I've worked with since 2020
A few examples of how I work, from introducing AI across organizations and shaping government strategy to building ventures and the platform I use to run my workshops.
AI adoption · MBZUAI
I designed and delivered an internal adoption initiative that introduced six AI tools and trained 100 staff. Participants built 12 solutions. I then worked with The Academy to take the program to government and corporate clients.
Read about the adoption programAI training · Upstart Bar
I trained more than 1,000 employees of a Dubai Government department on the foundations of AI and on using Microsoft 365 Copilot in their day-to-day work. I then delivered the same program for 21 employees of a bank in Jordan.
Read about the AI trainingEuropean client
Company-wide deployment
Upstart Bar
Several agents in internal use
AI agents · Upstart Bar
I worked with a European client to develop and deploy AI agents across the company. At Upstart Bar, I have deployed several agents in our own operations, so the advice we give comes from running them ourselves.
Read about the agent workFirst edition
200+ applications31 countries
3 startups awarded pilots
Second edition
300+ applications69 countries
5 startups awarded pilots
As announced by Aldar
Corporate innovation · startAD
At startAD, I worked on Scale Up across its first three editions, connecting property technology startups with opportunities to test their solutions. The work included guest and tenant experience, and green asset management.
Explore Aldar Scale Up5 ventures created 3 operating in the market
Venture building · Upstart Bar
I led the creation of five ventures with European clients through Upstart Bar. Three are operating in the market. The work combines the commercial questions behind a venture with the practical demands of getting it started.
Read about the venture workOrganization
Department setup and restructuring
Growth
Digital strategies and new business models
Economy
UAE economy, trade and outlook
Policy
Affordability analysis
Government strategy · Whiteshield
At Whiteshield, I supported a Dubai Government entity on department setup, digital strategies and new business models. I also built economic analysis and models of the UAE economy, trade and future outlook, and analyzed affordability.
Read about the Whiteshield workClients
Innovation strategies
Clients
Innovation departments and sandboxes
In-house
startAD and Upstart Bar strategy
Innovation strategy · startAD and Upstart Bar
I have developed and implemented innovation strategies for corporate clients at startAD, and helped organizations establish innovation departments through Upstart Bar, including technology sandbox initiatives. I have also worked on the internal strategy of both startAD and Upstart Bar.
Read about the strategy work
Product build · In use
I built a platform to run my client workshops from one laptop. It keeps the trainer, projector and participants in sync, and brings quizzes, polls and session records into the same workflow.
Read the case studyMoments from programs I worked on, in photos published by the organizers.
I work with organizations at different stages: deciding where to invest effort, setting up an innovation function, developing a venture, or helping a team adopt AI.
I develop innovation strategies, help establish the teams and processes to deliver them, and work on new ventures. That has included venture creation, incubation programs, technology sandbox initiatives, and intrapreneurship programs in which client employees develop new ventures and ideas.
See the venture workI help teams identify useful applications for AI, choose tools and learn how to use them in their work. That includes MBZUAI's internal adoption program, Microsoft 365 Copilot training for more than 1,000 government employees in Dubai and a bank team in Jordan, and deploying AI agents across a European client. Upstart Bar's training is accredited by The CPD Standards Office, including the CPDSO3023 AI in Training Standard.
See the AI adoption workI design and deliver programs that connect startups with corporate and government needs. Across startAD and Upstart Bar, I have overseen the design, negotiation, deployment and measurement of more than 30 pilot projects, and scoped commercial deals between startups and corporates.
See the startup programsI develop strategy for governments and organizations, from restructuring and new departments to innovation strategies and new revenue models, and I build the economic and financial models behind those decisions. That includes economic analysis of the UAE economy, trade and affordability at Whiteshield, and market feasibility studies across oil and gas, retail, AI, Web3, e-commerce, fashion, real estate and healthtech.
See the analysis workBuilding with AI has become part of my practice. I define the problem, design how the tool should work and test it in real use; AI writes the code, through Claude Code and Claude, and I publish and run the results. These projects address problems in training, analysis and day-to-day operations. Some are in use; others are still taking shape.
Training, 2026
In useA workshop platform with a trainer console, projector view and participant workspace. Core activities run over a local network without internet access; the optional AI assistant needs a connection.
Read the case studyData privacy, 2026
First phase builtI'm developing a tool to identify personal data in Word, PowerPoint and Excel files, apply a written handling policy, and produce an edited file with a decision record. It uses a local model for processing.
AI strategy, 2026
In developmentI'm building an assessment to help executives examine where AI could be useful in their organizations. The planned outputs are an opportunity map, a dashboard and a report with a presentation.
Operations, 2026
In developmentI'm building Upstart Bar's internal operating system around clients, contacts, access permissions and an audit log. Finance and delivery modules are planned next.
Website, 2026
LiveI built Upstart Bar's website with AI. It includes a tool for exploring AI learning pathways.
Visit Upstart BarWebsite, 2026
You are hereThis site is another example of that approach. I set the brief, made the design and content decisions, and worked with AI on the build.
See how I built this siteI start by understanding the work as it happens today. That determines what needs analysis, what is worth building and what a useful result would look like.
I speak with the people doing the work and look closely at where it becomes difficult.
See it in the workTraining Control Center
A live workshop involves more than presenting slides: questions, exercises, reading the room and keeping a record. Each extra tool is another thing to set up.
Read this part of the case studyI clarify the problem and the decision the work needs to support.
See it in the workTraining Control Center
The core workshop had to work without an internet connection, with participants joining through their browsers and no app to install.
Read this part of the case studyI examine the options, assumptions, costs and trade-offs.
See it in the workTraining Control Center
The AI assistant was kept separate from the core session, so the workshop continues over the local network if the connection drops.
Read this part of the case studyI develop a first version that can be used or tested.
See it in the workTraining Control Center
One session across three views: a trainer console, a projector view and a participant workspace.
Read this part of the case studyI observe what happens in practice and use that evidence to decide what to change.
See it in the workTraining Control Center
The platform is in use in client workshops and is now in its third version.
Read this part of the case studySince 2020, I've worked across startup programs, strategy and public policy consulting, venture building and AI adoption. My experience spans government, real estate, healthcare, fintech, energy and AI research.
Current roles, held concurrently
Earlier roles
I'm developing AI Discovery Agent and Upstart ERP, alongside the tools I use in client work. I'm also working on AI adoption and founder programs at MBZUAI.
Explore the toolsIf you're developing a venture, planning an innovation program or working out how your organization should use AI, I'd be glad to hear from you. I also welcome conversations about roles, collaborations and speaking.
A short note about the problem and the stage you're at is a good place to start.
Based in Abu Dhabi. I work in Arabic and English.