Innovators

As someone at the helm of an enterprise overseeing global projects worth more than US$40 billion, it's all about the endgame for this businessman.

The founder of Akiba Dori shares the why, what and how for his quest for agency and independence.

According to Allied Market Research, the size of the global cloud kitchen market is expected to grow at US$71 billion by 2027- a market that Dubai-headquartered state-of-the-art managed cloud kitchen platform Kitopi is striving to take a bite out of.

Infusing innovation into a brand that already has 170 years of history in the luxury market may seem like an impossible task to many, but it's one that Nicolas Girotto has skillfully taken on in his stride in his role as the CEO of the Swiss luxury brand, Bally.

"If you are not flexible enough in a region like this, it will become more difficult to survive."

Dr. Bin Hendi is clearly bullish about the potential that Abu Dhabi represents for businesses today, and he's making sure he and his team at ADIO are able to showcase this to the world at large.

With the support of Tech Partner Life On Screen, Ecosystem Partner in5 Dubai, and Media Partner Hotel and Catering News ME , the Leaders in Foodtech Awards 2021 was able to bring together the movers and shakers of an industry that is predicted to be globally worth over US$342 billion by 2027.

This entrepreneur, philanthropist, and politician is on a mission to help transform Egypt.

The CEO of Bank al Etihad, who was recently elected to be the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors at Endeavor Jordan, is eager to help boost her country's startup ecosystem.

This neuroscience researcher turned entrepreneur is on a mission to enable female founders in Saudi Arabia (and beyond).

Led by General Partners Noor Sweid and Basil Moftah, this enterprise proudly declares on its website that its vision is global, and its focus is growth- and Global Ventures has been clearly exhibiting its premise by supporting entrepreneurs in emerging markets that are working to "change the world."

Even as one may be inclined to dismiss 2020 as though it doesn't need to exist in our collective history, a little introspection will reveal that all of us have almost certainly learnt some valuable lessons through the course of the year- things that we probably wouldn't have grasped had our world not been turned upside down over the last 12 months.

"By accepting my new circumstances and looking for creative alternatives, I was able to find a new path during uncertain times."

Kibsons managed to rise to the occasion and serve its customers in the best way it could, the brand also put its best foot forward in supporting not just its own employees through this crisis, but also local SMEs by offering them a place on its online platform.

As businesses felt the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, Al Owais and her enterprise made a move that earned her several plaudits at the time, with her actions being heralded as an example for other business leaders in the UAE to follow.

The co-founder and Managing Director of CFI Financial Group is on a constant journey to challenge -and improve- the status quo.

The Director of Scale2Dubai, District 2020 is leading a global initiative aimed at growing Dubai's innovation economy.

Radisson Hotel Group's Tim Cordon on balancing flexibility and (meticulous) detail in the hospitality industry.

The supermarket chain aims to help boost innovation among small food producer and manufacturers in the UAE by reducing barriers to entry in the supermarket industry.

Businesses that embraced tech and innovation from the start have made a smooth transition to crisis conditions with the least disruption. Those that have had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the digital era are finding it is costing a lot more to adapt by virtue of necessity.

Along with our efforts to grow sustainable communities, however, comes an emphasis on removing execution barriers in order to preserve the possibilities for developers and startups. As many entrepreneurs grappled with the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, so came the need to identify new ways to provide them with the resources they needed.