Those of us who live in Dubai joke that it is the centre of the world. But the reality is that the emirate is increasingly becoming a pivotal point on the globe.
In half-a-century, Dubai has created a place for itself on the world stage in finance, tourism, trade, renewable energy, architecture and other areas. Its vigorous attention to culture and creativity in recent years is also establishing a compelling new destination for fashion designers, artists, filmmakers and performers.
As the newest international city, we decided it was time to showcase the people who make up the backbone of Dubai and those who contribute the most to its vitality. We have excluded the Dubai Royal Family and government ministers, whose influence is immeasurable. We wanted, instead, to highlight some of the men and women – sometimes behind the scenes – whose names are not always familiar but whose influence is unmistakable.
And it is not only the people running big businesses that wield influence. In today’s world, attracting a strong following on social media can give a person as much, if not more, power than the CEOs of the city’s biggest institutions. If Huda Kattan, for example, tells her 20 million social media followers to buy a specific lipstick, probability dictates that thousands of them will. The success of her eponymous beauty brand proves just how influential her commentary is.
Entrepreneurs are also becoming far more influential as they innovate concepts that manage to change public behaviour. Ride-hailing app Careem, for example, has been so disruptive to Dubai’s taxi industry that regulatory changes have been enforced.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo Mouchawar’s souq.com has helped to fuel Dubai’s recent maturation in e-commerce, while Rashid Alabbar’s SAVVI.com has enabled shoppers to access more than 100 high street brands and boutique labels. Its 30 percent month-on-month growth is indicative of its influence on the emirate’s fashion savvy.
In a city teeming with restaurants, standing out is tough. That is why we believe the chefs and restauranteurs who have managed to do so deserve to be mentioned. That, too, goes for Chaudary Abdul Hameed, whose simple and inexpensive Pakistani food has arguably made his Ravi Restaurants the most famous of all. All long-term Dubai residents have dined there, and all new arrivals are told to.
Others have simply delved into their passion – be it photography, science or healthcare – and are excelling because they love what they are doing. And we love what they are doing.
The point we want to emphasise is that the contributions of all of these people, and many more, are fortifying the foundations that the Dubai leadership has created and continues to build.
As the city continuously evolves from a transient stop-off on the career path to a desirable place to set roots and create a life, we believe the Dubai 100 list of the most influential people in the emirate will be one of the most talked-about magazine editions each year.
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