The Al Arif family represents a model of business leadership in which growth is viewed across generations rather than through a single corporate cycle.Their business interests span areas including construction, manufacturing, real estate, sports, renewable energy and investment. That diversification reflects an approach in which the family enterprise evolves with the UAE economy while maintaining a common emphasis on long-term value.Family-owned groups face a distinctive leadership challenge: preserving identity while allowing each generation to modernize the business. For the Al Arif family, that evolution is reflected in the expansion across multiple sectors and the continued focus on innovation and operational…
Author: Taim
Aysha Asfour’s move from senior fitness operations into entrepreneurship reflects a broader shift in the GCC wellness industry: experienced operators are increasingly creating specialized platforms of their own.As Founder and Managing Director of Jiwar Movement, Asfour combines strategic consulting for fitness and wellness businesses with community-based movement experiences in the UAE. Her professional experience spans club operations, multi-site leadership, commercial performance and business turnarounds across several GCC markets.Jiwar’s model is built around practical execution. The company supports founders and investors with concept development, commercial modelling, pre-sales, operational systems and launch strategy, while its community arm brings structured fitness experiences closer…
Adi Alfardan has built his jewellery business around an idea that goes beyond precious stones: luxury is ultimately a relationship of trust.As Founder of Adi Alfardan Jewellery, he continues a family tradition associated with pearls, gemstones and craftsmanship while developing a contemporary luxury brand in Dubai. His approach emphasizes custom design, personal service and pieces intended to remain meaningful across generations.The jewellery market has changed significantly with digital discovery and global luxury competition, yet the fundamentals of craftsmanship remain important. Alfardan’s model combines those traditional qualities with a modern brand experience aimed at clients who value individuality.His own public statements…
Sultan Alkokhardi is helping build a distinctly Emirati identity within the international niche fragrance market. As CEO and Co-Founder of GHAFF, he is working alongside Dr. Bader Nasser Marzooq to create a fragrance house rooted in UAE heritage while designed for a global audience.GHAFF takes its name from the Ghaf tree, the national tree of the UAE and a symbol associated with resilience, generosity and connection to the land. The brand translates these cultural references into contemporary perfumery through collaborations, craftsmanship and storytelling.For Alkokhardi, the challenge is bigger than creating individual fragrances. It is about establishing an Emirati luxury brand…
Jatiinder Juss brings more than 18 years of experience across commercial and industrial real estate, facility management, retail and distribution. His career offers a perspective on property that extends beyond development and sales into the operational systems that keep assets performing.At RedRock Real Estate, Juss is involved in a business covering commercial, residential, warehouse, land and off-plan property. His professional profile also highlights property management, commercial real estate and business development.Dubai’s property market is often discussed through launches, prices and transactions, but the long-term performance of real estate depends heavily on what happens after a building is delivered. Tenant relationships,…
Dr. Maisoun Alkaabi represents a leadership model in which clinical knowledge and business management operate side by side. She serves as a hospital director and brings experience across healthcare operations, business planning, innovation management, communication and clinical research.Her academic background includes a Master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacy from Ajman University. That foundation gives her a perspective that connects patient care with the operational systems required to run modern healthcare institutions.Healthcare leadership in the UAE has become increasingly complex. Hospitals are expected to deliver high clinical standards while improving efficiency, adopting technology and responding to changing patient expectations. Alkaabi’s career sits…
Saleh Al Tabakh has built his career around one of Dubai’s most competitive industries: real estate development. As Founder and CEO of Andalusia Group, his work spans development, investment and the delivery of large residential portfolios.His professional background includes senior roles at Dubai Properties Group and Delta International, giving him exposure to major development environments before building his own platform. Finance & Business UAE describes more than 18 years of experience and a portfolio exceeding 26 projects and 40,000 residential units.What distinguishes Al Tabakh’s trajectory is the combination of institutional experience and entrepreneurial ownership. Dubai’s property market requires developers to…
Abderrahmane El Alj leads Chaimaa Holding at a point where family heritage meets Dubai’s fast-moving real estate market. As Chairman, he represents a business philosophy built around quality, execution and long-term trust, while helping the group extend its presence beyond Morocco.Chaimaa’s history dates to 1960, and the group today spans real estate, construction, healthcare, education, manufacturing and hospitality across Morocco and the UAE. Its Dubai expansion gives El Alj a platform to translate that diversified experience into a boutique development approach shaped around design, location and lifestyle.His public commentary on Dubai real estate emphasizes research before development and a focus…
Dubai’s branded residences market is continuing to expand as luxury buyers increasingly look for more than just a prime address. The combination of internationally recognised brands, hospitality-style services, lifestyle amenities and Dubai’s position as a global wealth hub is helping drive demand for branded homes across the emirate.According to Knight Frank’s The Residence Report 2026/27, Dubai is now the world’s largest city market for branded residences, with 175 schemes, including 68 live developments and 107 in the pipeline. The scale of Dubai’s market is more than twice that of Miami, which has 73 schemes, while London has 30. From luxury…
UAE Targets AED 2.56 Trillion in Islamic Finance Assets by 2031 The UAE is targeting AED 2.56 trillion in domestic Islamic finance assets by 2031, as the country moves to strengthen its position as a global centre for Islamic finance and expand the sector’s contribution to investment and the wider economy.The target was highlighted during the inaugural conference on the implementation of the UAE Islamic Finance and Halal Industry Strategy 2025–2031, held in Dubai on September 30, 2026. The event brought together financial institutions, regulators, Shariah scholars and representatives from the halal economy to discuss the next phase of growth…