Student Spending Sparks New Business Venture in Dubai

Feb 27, 2026

78 min

Feb 27, 2026 12:32

How student spending inspired a new business

## Innovative Student Discount Platform Launched

Faissal Bochi, a student at Canadian University Dubai (CUD), has launched Nafaa, a digital platform designed to connect university students in the UAE with exclusive discounts from various brands. The platform was developed as part of Faissal's academic journey in Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications.

## From Concept to Reality

The idea for Nafaa emerged from Faissal's observations of student spending habits after he moved to Dubai. He saw an opportunity to organize and highlight student benefits, leading to the creation of a platform that offers curated discounts to verified students. The name Nafaa, meaning "benefit" in Arabic, reflects its mission to provide value to students while allowing brands to engage with the academic community.

## Development and Launch

Over eight months, Nafaa was developed within CUD's entrepreneurial ecosystem, benefiting from mentorship and collaboration. The platform was officially launched at CUD’s City Walk campus, where students and brands interacted with the application in a live setting. This launch allowed for immediate feedback and engagement with the platform's target audience.

## Future Plans

Following the successful launch, Faissal aims to expand Nafaa's reach across the GCC region and strengthen partnerships. He also plans to involve more students through internships, ensuring the platform continues to grow within an academic context. Faissal credits the support from CUD's community for helping shape Nafaa into a practical and sustainable venture.

Dr. Khulood Shebib Khansaheb, Faissal's mentor, emphasized the importance of mentorship and applied learning in fostering student-led enterprises, highlighting Nafaa as a successful example of this approach.

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