Doing business in the developing world is not without its own unique set of challenges. Lack of proper roads, internet access, other essential infrastructure, are just some of the problems that entrepreneurs face. Yet entrepreneurs brave these uncertainties to capture a growing market that is no harder to find in America and Europe. As we all know the upside of increased risk, is increased return on investment – or that’s the way things are supposed to work anyway.

I recall when I was in university Bill Draper addressed a conference on investment in China and India. He commented that he thought that over 90% of all investment in India would be lost. If that happens there’ll be quite a few disgruntled LPs. While it is important to be cautiously optimistic of developing markets, it would be foolish to dismiss opportunities in the global South as throwing money away.

One thing that I’ve learned after having traveled to parts of the world where most people recoil in fear after hearing the name of the country, the region or the city, is that there are plentiful opportunities that are worthwhile and should be pursued. And despite the appearance of instability, the situations is always more stable than it may appear at first glance; and certainly more stable than the way it is shown in the press. Things are never as bleak as they seem. Ultimately, no matter what part of the world you may find yourself in, the language of economic empowerment is universal; it is the same for a financier on Wall St. or a child selling roasted corn on the streets of Karachi.

Having now become accustomed to free, reliable wifi in the Bay Area, it makes it very difficult while traveling abroad to not have such access. In the Middle East, in particular, finding wifi access is nearly impossible; and you can just about forget trying to get it for free.

While internet access is free in most hotels these days, this isn’t the case in Dubai. Not only is it not free, it’s fairly expensive.

For a city that prides itself as being the most modern and cosmopolitan in the region, it’d do well to invest in free wifi. In a city known for grand projects (world’s tallest building, world’s only 7-star hotel, floating cities), the world’s first city with free wifi would certainly draw positive attention. Perhaps, that’s just wishful thinking on my part. But for all the red tape that’s embroiled similar projects in the U.S. there’s none of that in Dubai.

In other news:

Akhtaboot.com get’s some coverage here. We covered them here.