The Indian diaspora in the UAE has emerged as one of the most successful expat communities in the country. The historic ties between India and the UAE have been strengthened with the recent signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa), which is enhancing the already robust bilateral trade. Prominent Indian businessmen in the UAE share their success stories.
Soham Shah, CEO of SelfDrive Mobility, discusses his journey. Before entering the UAE, his company provided chauffeur-driven services in India. The transition to the UAE began in 2016 when car manufacturers sought a mobility tech company to develop a platform for managing unsold inventory through leasing and renting. Initial meetings were held in India in January, and by September, the company was licensed in the UAE. It took a year to study the market and rebuild the tech platform, leading to the launch in August 2017.
Shilpa Mahtani, Chief Business Officer (CBO) and co-founder of bnbme Holiday Homes, shares her experience. Before co-founding bnbme, Shilpa worked as an Operations Supervisor for the luxury footwear brand Vi-ga and as an Office Manager for Unique Precise International LLC. Her journey into holiday home management began with a challenging tenant experience on the Palm. The success of listing the property on short-term rental platforms like Airbnb inspired the founding of bnbme in 2018.
Imran Khan, Founder and CEO of Pixl Group, reflects on his background. After completing a double graduation in Literature and IT, he joined MICA for his MBA and then worked for Godrej Consumer Products Limited and 3M, handling international assignments. The inspiration for Pixl Group came from the gap in marketing and tech solutions in the real estate sector, particularly in off-plan real estate. The company aims to be the growth partner of choice for developers, brokers, and master brokers across key cities worldwide.
Marilyn Pinto, Founder of KFI Global, discusses her motivations. Before starting KFI Global, she and her husband ran a media agency. The inspiration came from the realization of the poor financial literacy among young people. The UAE was chosen for its ease of doing business and as a home for their family. The future plans include scaling the impact of financial literacy for vulnerable sections of society.
Suresh Sambandam, CEO of Kissflow, shares his journey. The seeds for Kissflow were sown during his work in Bengaluru in the early 2000s. The turning point came with the acquisition by Accenture, which led to the formation of a consultancy team. Kissflow's mission is to democratize technology by providing easy-to-use platforms for business process management. The UAE was chosen for its dynamic business environment and strong emphasis on innovation and digital transformation.
