Access
Make international markets, training and education reachable for young people and SMEs, not only for large companies.
About Shababeek
A Dutch company built as a bridge
Shababeek (شبابيك) means “windows” in Arabic. Every window we open is a view onto a new market, a new skill or a new place to study.
Who we are
Linking the Netherlands and Europe with the MENA region and the Gulf
Shababeek is a business development company headquartered in the Netherlands. We connect businesses, entrepreneurs, students and institutions between the Netherlands and Europe on one side and the Middle East and North Africa, including the Gulf, on the other.
We started from a simple observation: talent and ambition are everywhere, but the costs and risks of crossing borders keep too many people and companies at home. Our answer is a secure, fast and cost-conscious model built on three tracks: business expansion, training and academic pathways.
Our team works from the Netherlands and from the MENA region, in Arabic, Dutch and English, so both sides of every partnership are understood.
Our mission
Open windows, lower barriers
Exchange
Move knowledge and opportunity in both directions, between Europe and the MENA region.
Trust
Build partnerships on transparency, clear agreements and relationships that last.
What we do
Three tracks, one bridge
Whether you are expanding a business, building skills or pursuing a degree, every track runs through the same trusted network in the Netherlands, Europe and the MENA region.
01Business expansion
Business Expansion & Company Formation
Two-way market entry: European companies exploring the Gulf and MENA markets, and MENA entrepreneurs establishing a company in the Netherlands and Europe.
02Training
Shababeek Academy
Practical training programmes in the Netherlands and Europe on business management, digitalisation and expansion strategy, built for the realities of the MENA market.
03Education
Academic Pathways
Guidance for MENA students towards Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programmes in the Netherlands and Europe, including scholarships and complementary training.
Why Shababeek
Built to reduce risk, not to add cost
01
Two-way market access
Direct routes in both directions: MENA businesses entering Europe, and European companies exploring the Gulf and MENA.
02
Cost-conscious by design
We start small, with market studies, partner scans and pilots, so you invest step by step and keep the risk of going abroad under control.
03
Practical over theoretical
Every programme is built to be used on Monday morning, not filed away. Our trainers are practitioners.
04
Dutch ecosystem expertise
We know which institutions matter, how they operate, and how an international newcomer is actually received.
05
Real networks, not lists
Introductions come from relationships we maintain in Europe and the MENA region, which is why they lead somewhere.
06
Genuinely international
We work across cultures as a matter of routine. Arabic, Dutch and English are all working languages.
Where we are
The Netherlands (HQ) and the MENA region
Our headquarters is in the Netherlands, where we work with companies, universities, municipalities and business networks. Our regional team in the MENA region develops partnerships and supports clients on the ground.