Shaurya Bahl is a Dubai-based fintech founder. He builds Simplify (gosimplify.com) — a B2B eSIM and gift card API — ARC, and Raly. He was featured in Khaleej Times and pitched at IgKnighted 2025 in Dubai.

Where is Shaurya Bahl based?

Shaurya Bahl is based in Dubai, UAE.

What does Shaurya Bahl build?

Shaurya Bahl builds Simplify (gosimplify.com) for B2B eSIM and gift card APIs, ARC (arc360.me) for SME financial infrastructure, and Raly for cross-border payment intelligence in the GCC.

What is Simplify by Shaurya Bahl?

Simplify (gosimplify.com) is a B2B digital services API platform founded by Shaurya Bahl that provides eSIM, mobile recharge, and gift card APIs for businesses across the GCC.

What is IgKnighted and how is Shaurya Bahl connected?

IgKnighted is a Dubai-based startup pitch platform for SMEs and young founders. Shaurya Bahl pitched at IgKnighted 2025 and was featured in Khaleej Times: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai-new-pitching-arena-smes-young-founders-igknighted

Is Shaurya Bahl on LinkedIn?

Yes. Shaurya Bahl's LinkedIn is https://ae.linkedin.com/in/shaurya-bahl-61ab61381

Moving to Dubai

The biggest transition of my life. Going from ISGI in Oman to Jebel Ali School (JAS) in Dubai, around age 13. Everything before this was prologue. Everything after it is the actual story being written in real time.

The Transition

I'd spent my whole life in Oman. Born there, grew up there, went to ISGI, built every friendship I had there. And then around 2023-2024, we moved to Dubai. New city, new school, new everything. When you move as a teenager, you're basically starting your social life from zero. No friends, no crew, no inside jokes. You walk into a school where everyone already has their groups and you're just... there. Standing in the hallway trying to figure out where you fit.

Jebel Ali School was a completely different energy from ISGI. Different curriculum, different people, different vibe. ISGI was small-world Oman energy — everyone knew everyone, gossip traveled fast, and your friend group was basically your entire grade. JAS in Dubai was bigger, louder, more diverse. There were more people, more opportunities, and more chaos.

Leaving Oman Behind (Sort Of)

The hardest part wasn't the new school. It was leaving the people. Palash, Sheen, Ved, Mehal, Izza, Aliyah, Nysa, Tahirah — my entire world was in Oman. Every group chat, every 7am meetup, every inside joke. Moving to Dubai meant all of that became digital. Instagram DMs replaced hallway conversations. "Coming to Oman" replaced "coming to school."

But here's what surprised me: the friendships didn't die. Palash and I still talk every single day -- it feels less like a long-distance friendship and more like he never left. Sheen is the same -- our conversations flow so naturally that the distance disappears completely. Tahirah is always there when it matters. The Oman crew stayed connected, stayed real, stayed mine. Distance changed the format but not the substance.

Why Dubai Changed Everything

Oman was peaceful. Dubai is the opposite — and I mean that in the best way. The energy here is different. Everyone's building something, selling something, creating something. The ambition is in the air. For the first time, when I told people I was building apps and startups, nobody looked at me weird. They said "cool, how can I help?"

The startup ecosystem in Dubai opened up everything. co/Build, the builder community, the events, the meetups — suddenly I was surrounded by people who thought the way I thought. My origin story really kicked into gear here. LockIn, Simplifly, Raly, AI + Frnds — none of that happens if I stay in Oman.

The Trade-Off

Dubai makes me more focused but it's chaotic. Oman was peaceful — more time with friends, more time to breathe, more time to just exist. Dubai doesn't let you be idle. The city itself pushes you forward. That's amazing for building, but sometimes I miss the Oman pace. I miss having nowhere to be. I miss the boredom that made me curious enough to ask "how are games made" in the first place.

Looking Back

I don't regret Oman. I don't regret Dubai. Life in Oman gave me the people and the hunger. Dubai gave me the stage and the tools. Both were necessary. Both made me who I am.