Abu Dhabi: Emirati entrepreneurs Mohammad Abdulhadi Bashkeel and Hani Saleh Akasha, both 28, were on a holiday together when they were first inspired by the idea of opening their own business in Abu Dhabi.
It was 2012 and the two young men, childhood friends, were holidaying in London. The easiest way to get around the busy city and its traffic, they realised, was with the help of a bicycle, which could be rented from bike stations.
“So we rented bikes and cycled from East side of London all the way to Central London, it was quite a long journey. [At the end of which], Hani looked at me and said, ‘Why don’t we do this in Abu Dhabi?’” recalls Bashkeel.
“We were impressed with how convenient it was to go from one place to another. It was great for the environment and great for the city, so we started working on the plan,” Akasha explained.
Due diligence
By early 2013, the two friends started to research what it takes to set up a bike-share business.
They studied everything — from what different bike manufacturers had to offer to UAE regulatory aspects and laws. Once they were satisfied that their concept was a viable business idea, they made their business plan and started to look for funding.
They approached Khalifa Fund. Because their business idea was a fresh concept, it took around a year for them to get funding. Meanwhile, they managed to raise some money to get started.
The next goal was to get the relevant permits for their bike stations and sponsorship.
The procedures to get permits in central Abu Dhabi proved to be challenging, so they started to look for other alternative locations for their stations.
They approached Aldar and Miral, stakeholders in a number of areas in Abu Dhabi such as Yas Island and Al Raha area, and requested permits to have their bike-stations in those locations.
According to Akasha and Bashkeel, both Aldar and Miral were very supportive of their environmentally friendly idea and provided them with the required permits.
They soon realised that their business venture required sponsorship to survive. “To maintain the system, to operate and to market it, we needed a sponsor to support us and help us expand into different areas and to get us to the vision that we wanted to have,” said Akasha.
Bashkeel and Akasha started to contact organisations with their proposal in hopes of securing a sponsorship, an experience that they found rather challenging.
“Nobody is going to hand you something for nothing and it is very hard to convince people who haven’t seen or used the system. It’s new to the region,” said Bashkeel of the experience.
“So talking to them [potential sponsors] and trying to convince them how it was going to impact Abu Dhabi was daunting,” added Bashkeel.
But their hard work paid off and the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) agreed to sponsor them.
Having secured funding, sponsorships and permits, Cyacle finally opened 11 bike-share stations in December 2014, with 75 bicycles on Yas Island and Al Raha Beach thus becoming the emirate of Abu Dhabi’s first bike-share scheme.
“Cyacle is more than just a bike-share, it’s about impacting people’s lives. It’s about something that is fun, healthy and environmentally friendly and also quite convenient,” said Bashkeel.
Speed bumps
Despite the challenges, the Cyacle boys say it has all been worth it.
“It’s definitely rewarding when you see something that was just an idea in your mind or a strategy become a reality. It’s a great reward. It gives you a sense of self-accomplishment,” said Akasha.
“It feels great to see the bikes on the street. I would really like to see it here in the city too,” said Bashkeel.
“Sometimes we are going to Yas [Island] and we see somebody on the other side of the road on our bicycle or somebody at a station taking it [the bike] and there is a sense of accomplishment,” adds Bashkeel.
And how has business affected their friendship?
“It’s like any relationship, you either grow closer or you grow apart, the dynamic changes. With myself and Hani, we have definitely grown closer.”
With their business doing well and even exceeding their expectations of summer usage, these two ambitious 28-year-olds are looking forward to the future with bigger dreams.
“Plans are to get our bikes on every corner on the street and to make it convenient for people, and to get them to actually use them as a means of transport,” said Akasha.
“We have already secured a number of locations within Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Maryah Island and Reem Island as well,” said Bashkeel. But expanding the number of stations is not their only target. “It’s also about engaging with the customer a lot more. We hope, through our social media channels and our website, that we can build a sense of community… We want to have an impact on their lives.”
What drives them is also a strong sense of responsibility they feel towards their city and country.
“I think the government has done such a great job for visitors and citizens, with all of what we see now. As UAE nationals, it’s our turn now to participate in this development,” said Bashkeel. “Especially when it comes to sustainable development. People like us need to step up and create some kind of an impact.”
Advice to other entrepreneurs:
“If you have an idea, do your research, be committed and go for it,” advises Hani.
“Also, if looking for a business partner, choose wisely. Hani and I complement each other. He is more of a dreamer and I am more of a pragmatist,” said Bashkeel.
“And prepare for an emotional rollercoaster,” he added. “There will be ups and downs, that’s business, that’s what makes it fun.”
