One of the most prominent business organizations in Dubai today is ITL, though what once started as a modest textile trader evolved into a diversified global conglomerate. Its story speaks not just of survival but of innovation and strategic growth. Meanwhile, with the support of Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, ITL gained the royal decree of incorporation after five years since it was established; it is now the first company in Dubai to be incorporated during that epoch-making period of the region. It is indeed an adaptive strategy with commitment to excellence towards the continued success of ITL as Dubai blooms from its small beginning into a global city. ITL, which started its business in the 1950s importing fabrics from Japan, China, and India, started with textiles.

The Trucial States, at that time, were nothing like they are today, nor was the trading environment. Its operations were very small with four employees working out of a small office under Mr. Murij Manghnani. This small but determined team laid the groundwork that would eventually become one of the largest players in the region’s economy. In 1958, ITL received a Decree of Incorporation from Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum that validated its position in the nascent commercial landscape of Dubai.

This royal endorsement was key as it enabled ITL to come into its own during a time when the region was about to get transformed. ITL’s first Cosmos opened before 1960-a chain of stores showing wide ranges of products that would attract customers from all over the region, eventually becoming the flagship chain of stores for the group. From decade after decade, ITL continued to expand its portfolio, becoming the authorized distributor of many renowned Japanese brands, such as Sharp, Minolta, Rhythm, Remington Products, and TDK.

This strategic alliance with quality brands further strengthened ITL’s reputation in reliability and excellence in customer service. The 1970s were a new beginning for the company as it diversified into the hospitality and food sectors, in response to the growing needs of Dubai’s burgeoning population and the influx of tourists drawn to the emirate’s evolving identity. With the emergence of Dubai as a global city in the early 21st century, ITL needed to reinvent itself by strategic realignment.

ITL streamlined its operations and diversified into the IT sector. Thus, this company would move with changing technology. It is through this ability of adaptation and innovation that the company has sustained its success story, relevant to the changing dynamics of a market. Today, ITL reflects the vision and determination of the founders and the hard working employees. With an idea of quality and satisfying a customer, ITL extended the influence beyond Dubai and throughout the Middle East as well. Its path marks the broader narrative of the city itself: over such decades of change from day to day, becoming, in every sense of commerce and culture, Dubai has evolved into.

From small beginnings with textile trade, ITL, through innovative vision and agility, today stands as a diversified conglomerate with multiplicity of options that translate market and consumer changes into profitable possibilities. ITL will contribute even more to the country’s economic growth, for it embodies in itself the spirit of entrepreneurship that has defined Dubai since day one. The story of ITL is not about a company; it is the embodiment of growth, resilience, and success-a narrative that mirrors the aspirations of Dubai itself.

Invenio Origin is the name with serious talent in bringing Indian cinema, especially South Indian cinema, to audiences worldwide. The vision of Alankar Pandian powers this origination from Dubai, not only as a distributor but as a production house with strategic partnerships and a growing presence in markets of Dubai, India, and Singapore. With innovative ventures and an ever-increasing presence, Invenio Origin has a new agenda with which it is redoing the way regional Indian cinema connects to global viewers.

Invenio Origin was formed with the motive to expand the horizons of Indian cinema and has quickly flourished in film distribution and production. It could do so in the Kannada film The Terrorist, 2018, starring Ragini Dwivedi, while directed by PC Shekar. Fast-forward to quick-to-follow hits of Ayushman Bhava, Vikrant Rona, Kabzaa, and Jigartanda Double X; a presentation that proved how dedicated the company was toward supporting South Indian cinema and making sure regional stories reach the borderless audiences.

From the television side of things, Invenio Origin has commenced productions of collaborative projects, co-producing regional adaptations of MasterChef Australia in Tamil and Telugu. That not only highlights Invenio’s commitment to popular global formats but also enhances regional languages and content to be visible on mainstream television with a unique flavour that resonates with the viewer from their specific regional areas. Invenio Origin kick-started the calendar year 2024 with an ambitious line-up of five back-to-back productions with director R Chandru. With titles like Father, POK, Sri Ramabana Chirita, Dog, and Kabzaa 2, promise fresh stories to the audience furthering the repute of Invenio in the South Indian film market. The collaborations do not stop here; Invenio Origin’s association recently with the Martin team of 2024 film works in collaboration to plan to reach this blockbuster across India in a gesture by the firm towards the distribution of high-impact cinema to a larger national audience.

Invenio Origin’s vision doesn’t just go for films and TV. Partnered in a strategic move set to escalate these entertainment platforms were, through Invenio the co-founder of South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) and Celebrity Cricket League (CCL)-head Vishnu Vardhan Induri. Together, they have come up with a quite revolutionary initiative in the shape of the Indian National Cine Academy, which held its maiden OTT Streaming Academy Awards in Mumbai in July 2024. The longed-for intention behind this initiative is to unite the regional industries of Indian cinema into a cohesive platform that brings together filmmakers, actors, and producers from different language backgrounds onto one stage for collaboration and gaining attention.

The company is also coming into the hospitality sector. Invenio Origin, working in association with Gilly’s Restaurants & Pubs, has made strategic investments to heighten the presence of the brand; hence, locations of Gilly’s restaurants have undergone renovation and rebranding into Gilly’s Super Bar in Bengaluru. At such a scale, the larger intent of Invenio Origin stands resonated-to create spaces that celebrate entertainment and culture and bring people together through shared experiences.

The achievement with Invenio Origin is actually in its dynamic approach connecting regional film industries and international diversity through the possibility of worldwide access to South Indian cinema. Its commitment to the integration of various elements of Indian culture by way of cinema and television and hospitality stands testimony to its unique approach at the acquisition of growth. As it continues to make progress in new projects that are surfacing, the company remains a strong example for regional cinema to capture and find its place in a global market.

It was not just a film but a journey under the guidance of Alankar Pandian, which was so different, not only of success but of cultural impact. Here, meaningful partnerships, as well as regional storytelling, are brought across borders and, as Invenio Origin extends its reach and influence, it leaves little doubt about the new benchmarking standards Indian cinema will carry along.

InstaShop, the e-commerce platform launched in 2015 by a Dubai-based firm, had drastically evolved from being just a grocery delivery service to being among the largest quick-commerce giants in the Middle East. Fuelled by innovation, adaptability, and an awareness of the needs within the local market, Instashop has become a widely trusted marketplace. Today, the use of this business has 21 categories of shopping, and currently, it is an easy, one-stop place in digital life to get everything under the sun in everyday life. Delivery Hero had acquired InstaShop for a landmark $360 million back in August 2020, and this entity continues to mould the future of quick commerce, delivering a high-speed shopping experience in the UAE as well as Egypt with more geographic expansion on its cards.

The InstaShop story begins with Greek entrepreneurs Ioanna Angelidaki and John Tsioris, who started the platform as a tool for connecting customers directly with a network of local retailers. What started out as a grocery delivery app quickly evolved, incorporating a range of services and product categories spanning from electronics and pharmaceuticals to fresh produce and pet supplies. More than that, the value proposition of InstaShop is rooted in its accessibility and versatility: “With just a few taps, customers can order almost anything they want – making shopping experiences streamlined to one particular app catering to diverse consumer needs.” Great breadth and adaptability have made InstaShop a great choice for saving both time and effort by way of considerable everyday purchases among urban residents.

InstaShop became an essential shopping tool for users as the demand for online services mushroomed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The app witnessed a 70% rise in downloads and the order volume grew with hikes in average basket size during this period. However, growth was not short-lived as it helped to cater to the growing users’ transition toward digital solutions for convenience even after the peak of the pandemic. With “quick commerce” – 30- to 60-minute delivery – InstaShop filled an important lacuna in the Middle Eastern market of having customers accustomed to being served promptly. Thus, it not only makes InstaShop stand out from the traditional online marketplaces but also caters to the newer expectations that modern consumers have regarding the instant availability of goods.

Having now stepped out as an independent brand within the portfolio of the global Delivery Hero group, InstaShop expanded to capture customers in Egypt and brief explorations of the Greek market before an exit at the end of 2023. On the other hand, expanding into new markets displays that the brand is on a growth pursuit while remaining stable at the roots in their major markets. While InstaShop serves its B2C space, it has ventured into the B2B space as well. InstaShop is using its logistics capabilities to get businesses quicker access to fast-selling products. The company maintains a profitable model by collecting commissions from partner shops. This is a model that will prop up large ambitions toward future innovations and market extensions.

InstaShop got inroads when global online food ordering industry leader Delivery Hero acquired it. This allows InstaShop to scale while enjoying the logistical experience and regional knowledge that Delivery Hero offers. By keeping its brand identity and management, InstaShop truly embodies the resilience and flexibility this market requires to compete with different undertakings in a rapidly changing digital economy. Its influence over the Middle Eastern e-commerce sector is thus an indication of local innovations’ ability to make a global impact.

InstaShop differs itself in the marketplace by the customer-centric service with delivery tracking and various product recommendations to perfect the platform where its users have an outstanding experience. With its focus on speed, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, InstaShop has set a benchmark as the pioneer in the MENA region’s quick-commerce sector. InstaShop looks forward to the extension of its influence in the MENA region as the company seeks to be a leader in rapid online retailing.

InstaShop had never imagined that an end on its business would lead to a new beginning when Delivery Hero bought out the company. With ambitious plans to lead the quick-commerce market in MENA, InstaShop continues to innovate and expand its reach, changing the way online shopping transforms with strong convictions towards convenience, speed, and wide service offerings. InstaShop has provided an example for the agility and customer-centric services in the evolving digital marketplace. This is the success story of the company as a tale of hope for digital transformation and an exemplary model for how technology can make life much easier in this rat race of today.