Founder Aims to Showcase UAE’s Global-Standard Mobility Technology.
Dubai: Emirati entrepreneurs are shifting from importing technology to developing it locally. Founders like Rashid Al Salmi are driving this transition through Sulmi, a UAE-based mobility and clean energy company specializing in autonomous driving and electric vehicle technologies.
Sulmi is founded on the belief that the UAE can design, engineer, and manufacture advanced mobility systems for global markets, moving beyond its traditional role as a consumer of technology. The company focuses on electric motorcycles, intelligent systems, and next-generation transport solutions developed entirely within the country.
The idea behind Sulmi originated from a long-standing passion for engineering and machinery, which gradually evolved into a broader vision of the UAE’s regional technological capability.
“From a young age, I was fascinated by engineering, robotics, and automobiles,” Al Salmi said. That passion evolved into a belief that the region could develop world-class automotive technologies.
“Sulmi was born from a desire to prove that an Arab company can create globally competitive, advanced mobility solutions from the UAE to the world,” he added.
This conviction guided him into entrepreneurship with a focus on building something lasting. “I wanted to create something meaningful, something that outlives me and contributes to society,” Al Salmi said, noting that his goal is to ensure the region plays a leading role in shaping the industries of the future.
From Hands-On Work to Product Development
Al Salmi’s early experiences helped shape Sulmi’s direction, particularly through firsthand exposure to the practical challenges of mobility and engineering.
“My personal journey, from running a garage to developing an electric motorcycle from scratch, revealed the gaps in mobility, safety, and energy systems,” he said.
