![\"Mariam](\"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Boom-app2-1024x1024.png\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Small Business Needs to Tech Innovation: The Birth of BOOM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00ad-Mariam, can you tell us what inspired the idea for BOOM, and how you and your co-founder transformed a simple business need into a fully functioning digital platform?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n – I graduated with a degree in quality assurance and now work in the Ministry of Education\u2019s inspection department. My co-founder, Mariam Alnuaimi, and I have been best friends since college\u2014we studied the same field, though she now works in future foresight at Abu Dhabi Police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea for BOOM started about two years ago when she was going to launch a small home-based cookie business. She struggled to find affordable couriers to deliver her products outside Al Ain. Around the same time, I had just studied user experience and suggested we build an app to solve this issue – not just for her, but for others facing the same challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We envisioned a platform where anyone with a license and a car could earn money delivering items \u2013 and no CV or prior experience needed. It could help unemployed youth while also supporting women with home businesses. So we worked on the idea together and we promised each other that whatever happens, we will have to make this happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freelance courier work wasn\u2019t common here. The market was dominated by companies with fixed pricing and rigid structures. So we developed the idea, ran surveys, built prototypes, and gathered feedback. By chance, we came across the Create Apps Championship in Dubai and applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We made it to the semifinals and kept refining the idea. It was a learning curve – especially explaining how this platform could be open to anyone, both couriers and customers. But with the right support and mentorship, we won Dubai\u2019s App of the Year and Most Impactful App.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since then, we\u2019ve focused on turning the idea into reality. After months of development, BOOM officially launched in late September. We\u2019re still at the beginning- but we\u2019re here, Alhamdulillah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gaining Visibility and Credibility: The Role of the Create Apps Championship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n – Alhamdulillah. So how did the Create Apps Championship influence BOOM’s early development, credibility, and future vision? Do you think it has an impact on your work now?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n – Yes, I think the Create Apps Championship is designed to connect you with the right people\u2014those who truly understand business and what it takes to build something, even in the logistics world. They gave us visibility and access we wouldn\u2019t have had on our own. It would\u2019ve been hard to reach major players or get advice from CEOs without this opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What helped the most was how they challenged our idea. They didn\u2019t just praise it – they pointed out the gaps and pushed us to improve. That kind of honest feedback is rare. Friends and family usually tell you it\u2019s great, but this process showed us what we needed to fix. And that made all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Female Founders & Friendship: A Stronger Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n – You built BOOM with a close friend. How has this partnership shaped your entrepreneurial journey, and what has working together meant to you?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n -It really elevated the experience for me. If I had partnered with a stranger, I might have had concerns. There\u2019s this stereotype that you shouldn\u2019t start a business with a friend\u2014it might hurt the friendship. But I always ask, what if it makes the work better?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mariam <\/em>and I know each other\u2019s strengths and weaknesses. We support each other, divide tasks, and work from different angles. So having that loyalty and having those years of friendship, it makes the working with her honestly feel a lot more relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If she\u2019s tired, I step in. If I\u2019m tired, she does. We work hand in hand. For us, it\u2019s not the business affecting the friendship – it\u2019s the friendship empowering the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, I want to shift that negative narrative. I\u2019ve seen many friends build businesses and stay friends. It\u2019s possible. And when there\u2019s trust, it can make the partnership even stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Balancing Roles: Full-Time Work Meets Full-Time Passion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n – You\u2019re working at the Ministry of Education while developing a tech startup. How do you navigate these roles, and has it been more of a challenge or a motivation?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n – Of course, it’s challenging, but it depends on how you view a challenge. Do you see an opportunity, or do you feel afraid and back away? It really depends on your personality and perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For me, it taught me a few important things. If you truly want to start something – if you want to be an entrepreneur and build a product – you have to go after it, no matter what. Having a job is not an excuse. I see so many men starting side businesses while being employed, and no one asks them how they manage it. But women are always questioned, as if it\u2019s too risky for us to divide our time between a job, a family, or a business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It taught me that if I really want something, I\u2019ll go for it. I do have a full-time job, but I can still do it. If I say I can\u2019t, it means I\u2019m either afraid or don\u2019t want it enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve learned so much about time management – it\u2019s a skill and an art. I need to know how to prioritize. Sometimes, family is the most important thing, and I give them my full attention. When I\u2019m at work, I give 100% to my inspections. I can\u2019t think about anything else. So I structure my time in blocks: this is for work, this is for BOOM, this is for family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You also realize that you can\u2019t do everything alone. There\u2019s this illusion that you can handle it all, and then reality hits. You need someone to take over certain parts, to guide you, or just to say, \u201cI\u2019ve got this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to be humble – to know when to delegate, when to pause, and when to rest. Your body and mind will tell you when you\u2019re overwhelmed. You just have to listen. In the end, when you\u2019re clear about your goal, it\u2019s achievable. You just have to navigate wisely and know what to prioritize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think we often ask women how they manage family, because family is seen as their first priority. But men have families too\u2014and no one asks them the same question. So yes, my family supports me, and that support means a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n –<\/em> What does it mean for you, this support that you get from your family?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n – It means a lot. I often ask myself – who am I doing this for? Am I doing it for myself, for my community, or just to be seen or talked about? When my sister became the first to use the app, our very first customer, she said, \u201cI used it\u2014and it worked.\u201d I felt so glad. In that moment, I thought, okay, my work is done. It\u2019s an amazing feeling to see people benefit from what you\u2019ve built\u2014whether it\u2019s a program, a platform, or even just an idea that turned into something useful. It\u2019s helping someone. It\u2019s doing what we hoped it would do. That\u2019s enough validation for me. I feel proud of the hours we\u2019ve put in, the work we\u2019ve done\u2014and when it\u2019s my family or friends who say it, it makes me even happier, even more proud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Breaking Stereotypes: Women in Tech, Innovation & the MENA Region<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n – I\u2019m really glad you shared your experience of having a full-time job while building a startup. Many entrepreneurs face this, but it\u2019s not often openly discussed. When you\u2019re just starting out, time can be your most valuable investment.<\/em> On the other hand,<\/em> you definitely need a sense of safety\u2014a financial cushion, some stability. That\u2019s why many of us keep full-time jobs for a while. I know women entrepreneurs in other countries who\u2019ve said, \u201cI don\u2019t feel safe leaving my job just yet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n -Yes, exactly. I felt the same. I couldn\u2019t just leave everything behind and take the risk – it felt like a gamble. So I asked myself: how can I balance both? How can I hold onto that feeling of security? Entrepreneurship is a step-by-step journey. We don\u2019t just appear in the news one day – it takes hard work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And sometimes your background helps. Your workplace, your colleagues\u2014they can support and inspire you. You also carry those skills into your business. I\u2019ve seen women in my own family take that chance\u2014starting something from scratch with no backup plan, no other income. And it worked out for them, Alhamdulillah. Those are the people I look up to\u2014the risk-takers who believe in what they\u2019re building, even when it\u2019s scary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Have you experienced any assumptions or expectations as a woman innovating in tech in the Gulf? How do you see the landscape for women in the MENA region, and does being a woman entrepreneur there make a difference?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n -It does make a difference. There\u2019s a stereotype that people try to put you in a box – you\u2019re a mother, an employee, that\u2019s it. I\u2019ve even had people tell me directly, \u201cBut you\u2019re already employed, why are you doing this too?\u201d Like Oscar Wilde said, to define is to limit.<\/em> I don\u2019t want to be limited, and no one should be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can be many things at once. My co-founder, Mariam is a wonderful mother, an employee, and an entrepreneur. She doesn’t fit into one box – and neither do I. People often try to label you: \u201cYou\u2019re an employee,\u201d and when I say no, they ask, \u201cThen what are you?\u201d The answer is: I\u2019m many things, and that can change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve seen this mindset shifting. More women in tech are stepping up, and what I notice most is how detail-oriented they are. Especially during the pitching phase of the championship – it was clear that women often build businesses to solve very specific, everyday problems. They aren\u2019t always chasing big profits – they\u2019re solving something real, something human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That attention to detail is powerful. Even if the problem seems small, it\u2019s meaningful to someone. And that\u2019s what matters: creating solutions that make life easier, safer, more comfortable. I love seeing more women choosing to be the ones who step up and say, \u201cI\u2019ll solve that problem,\u201d even if it\u2019s not the most profitable – because it helps someone, and that\u2019s enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And also women are, you know, in the family, the ones who are taking care of so many things at once. So maybe that helps also that we can see maybe different business cases than men, and it’s okay. You can often tell when something was designed by a woman – the attention to detail really stands out. I don\u2019t want to stereotype; I know men who are very detail-oriented too. But in the tech world, I\u2019ve noticed many women are choosing to build apps, businesses, or programs that focus on solving one specific issue, rather than trying to cover everything at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe it comes down to different needs – or different ways of seeing the world. What\u2019s interesting is that many women I\u2019ve met say they didn\u2019t personally struggle with the problem their business solves. So I ask, \u201cWhy this idea, then? Why solve something that doesn\u2019t affect you directly?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And the answer is always simple and powerful: \u201cI saw someone else struggling, and I wanted to help.\u201d That\u2019s enough. You don\u2019t have to experience something yourself to care about it. You can just choose to be the one who makes it better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – It’s great to hear that so many women in the MENA region are so active in tech. There\u2019s often a misconception globally, but just like in Europe, there are inspiring initiatives and strong female presence in this field.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n – I think many women today feel the need to prove they can do it all. You see young girls -14, 15 – already starting businesses. When I ask them why, they say, \u201cI still have a lot to give.\u201d It\u2019s beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I was younger, we were told to choose from a few roles\u2014teacher, doctor. Now, I see women in aerospace, engineering, even pilots. Alhamdulillah, in my country, it was never taboo. We were taught we could do anything, as long as it helps the community. And now, more women believe they can be both – a mother and an entrepreneur. That fear is fading. And that\u2019s a beautiful shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Social Responsibility in Entrepreneurship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n – Yes, I see the same happening here. What you said is important – it\u2019s not just about profit. Many women, like you, consider social responsibility too, such as supporting unemployed people. Is this approach also part of your education?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n – Yes, I think it\u2019s mostly cultural. From a young age, we\u2019re taught to help others without expecting anything in return – it\u2019s something deeply rooted in us, both culturally and religiously. I see this mindset now moving into business and tech. Many women are building apps to help small groups, and when asked why, they say: it\u2019s not about how many people use it\u2014it\u2019s about helping even one person. That\u2019s the real value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – And what have been the most challenging technical or operational issue you have experienced while developing the application<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n -BOOM isn\u2019t a typical courier app – our couriers aren\u2019t employees; they\u2019re freelancers. Anyone with a license and a car can join, log in when they want, and choose to accept or reject orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the main technical challenges was building a reliable connection between customers and couriers, especially in low-demand areas. Some users were frustrated when no services were available nearby, but that\u2019s part of launching a new platform. We\u2019ve been listening to feedback and working to bridge that gap. Many couriers were used to finding customers through WhatsApp or word of mouth. Now, BOOM brings them all into one place, offering more visibility, control over pricing, and flexible working hours. Some work full-time, others just a few hours a day – we built it to fit their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve had to explain this model to users and even investors. It’s not like the standard courier companies. We\u2019re not following the usual template – we\u2019re building something that reflects how people already live and work, with freedom, autonomy, and choice. That\u2019s been both our strength and our challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BOOM: Technical Innovation With a Local Soul<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n – BOOM clearly addresses a local need with a different, more flexible model. What\u2019s next for the platform in terms of users, expansion, and future plans?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n – Right now, BOOM mainly serves individual customers, but we\u2019re planning to expand to small businesses – especially home-based ones like women running food deliveries. That was the original problem we wanted to solve: helping them reach more customers beyond their city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inshallah, we\u2019ll soon incorporate business accounts so they can grow through the platform too. For now, anyone can reach us via our website (boomapp.ae) or on Instagram @boom.uae We personally handle all messages \u2013 Mariam<\/em> and I respond directly because we want to understand issues early and fix them before they grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – What message would you share with other women who are just starting their businesses and facing challenges along the way?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n – I would say – first, remind yourself that you\u2019re not alone. There\u2019s so much support available, even if it doesn\u2019t seem obvious at first. Online communities, programs for women in tech, mentors, even strangers who want to see you succeed – it\u2019s all out there. You just have to reach for it. And yes, it\u2019s scary at the beginning. Anything unfamiliar always feels that way. But once you take the first steps, you start feeling more confident, more passionate – and the fear turns into excitement. The challenges become opportunities. You start thinking, \u201cWhat can I learn from this?\u201d instead of \u201cWhat if I fail?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I always say: when someone challenges your idea, thank them. That\u2019s where growth happens. Don\u2019t be afraid to explore something completely new, something different from what you know. Starting something unknown is not a weakness – it\u2019s courage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, don\u2019t build your expectations around applause. Recognition is nice, but it\u2019s temporary. What truly lasts is what you learn. The insights you gain from mentors, experiences, and even mistakes – that\u2019s what stays with you. That\u2019s what shapes you. So ask yourself, \u201cWhat am I gaining from this experience? What am I learning?\u201d That\u2019s what will carry you forward, in business and in life. It will help you grow, and one day, you\u2019ll pass it on – to your team, your community, your children. That kind of learning has real, lasting value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n At Womazing, we believe women like Mariam aren\u2019t just building businesses – they\u2019re shaping mindsets, systems, and opportunities for others. Her journey with BOOM is a beautiful example of what happens when courage meets purpose, and when innovation serves the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a woman entrepreneur, a small business owner, or just someone inspired by this story, don\u2019t hesitate to connect with Mariam and explore BOOM. Whether you need flexible delivery solutions or you\u2019re curious about their unique business model, visit boomapp.ae<\/a> or find them on Instagram at @boom.uae<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the heart of the Gulf, where ambition meets tradition, Mariam Almarri is doing something amazing. As the co-founder of BOOM, a purpose-driven and award-winning courier platform, Mariam is not only disrupting the logistics space with smart technology – she\u2019s making it more inclusive, accessible, and human. With her roots in education, a degree in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":9737,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"How BOOM Empowers Women & Reinvents Delivery in the Gulf","_seopress_titles_desc":"Discover how two women co-founded BOOM, a purpose-driven delivery platform in the UAE that empowers freelancers, women entrepreneurs, and youth through tech.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"How BOOM Empowers Women & Reinvents Delivery in the Gulf","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"Discover how two women co-founded BOOM, a purpose-driven delivery platform in the UAE that empowers freelancers, women entrepreneurs, and youth through tech.","_seopress_social_fb_img":"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Boom-app-1.jpg","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":9737,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":1000,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":667,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"women entrepreneurs UAE,women entrepreneurs MENA,female founders Gulf,sustainable delivery UAE,women in tech MENA,BOOM delivery platform,freelance courier app,women-led startups UAE,tech innovation by women,purpose-driven logistics","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-womazing-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9734"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9734\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Business](\"https:\/\/womazing.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Boom-app-1.jpg\")