Entrepreneurs
The Man Who Changed the FMCG Game: A Look at Feroz Allana’s Global Impact

Feroz Allana, co-founder of the Allana Group, is one of the most respected and dynamic business empires in the Middle East. His company, based out of Sharjah, UAE, is recognized world-over for its purpose on quality, sustainability, and innovation in its very competitive industry. Under the leadership of Feroz Allana, the company has built an enviable portfolio of goods and products that reach millions of consumers with everyday essentials such as oil, frozen foods, and institutional services. Feroz’s sound business acumen and foresight have catapulted his net worth to about $4.3 billion, rendering him one of the most influential figures in the country’s business map.
Founded decades ago, the Allana Group has grown exponentially under the watch of Feroz Allana and his family. From humble origins, the company was built based on the founding philosophy of quality and affordability. From a strategic perspective, Feroz Allana’s vision stretched the business from the Middle East into global markets with FMCG products that are compliant with international standards and cater to various consumer needs.
Another growth factor is the Allana Group’s focus on ethical and sustainable business practices. The business model adopted by the group is based on transparency, quality, and environmental stewardship. Based on these factors, the group has experienced immense success while remaining grounded in the firm’s principles of social responsibility. The values of Feroz Allana have trickled down to each element of the organization, and Allana Group is a name trusted in markets both locally and abroad.
Actually, the strength of Allana Group lies in the variety of brands it comprises, several of which are well-known household brands, both locally in the Middle East and internationally outside the Middle East, including London Dairy, an ice cream brand that has trademarked itself to be high-quality, full of flavor, and Noor, trusted brands for cooking oils. All these brands are well recognized, with Al Baker being one of the most known brands followed by Tiffany, Igloo, Khaleej, and Rahma, which has a very different product range catering to a different segment of the FMCG market. The companies are able to build loyal customers and establish their position as one of the leaders in the FMCG industry. By having diverse strengths and high quality standards from every brand, Feroz Allana transformed the group into a machine that ran smoothly and could widely produce consumer goods with efficiency and then dispersed them.
For example, the group has operations and exports into markets of over 70 countries, making Allana Group compete with some of the largest FMCG companies in the world, and this makes Feroz Allana’s business a significant player in the global market. Quality and innovation have been the hallmarks in delivering product to the clients, and the production facilities that are high-tech ensure the products meet international standards.
Feroz Allana also significantly invested in research and development mainly to improve production processes and to design ways to increase sustainability in products. Their commitment to innovation enables the group to be at the fore in embracing changes in demand from consumers and gaining a position at the helm of the latest trends in the FMCG industries.
Feroz Allana’s business philosophy extends into his approach toward corporate social responsibility. Allana Group has carried out various philanthropic activities and initiatives in supporting communities and sustainability in the light of giving back to society. Such activities include minimum environment damage at the time of production, support for local farmers, and generating employment for people in the areas in which they operate. Feroz Allana gives considerable emphasis to ethical business practices. All these factors which comprise focus on fair trade, environmentally friendly practices, and quality assurance established the Allana Group as a credit-worthy and reliable FMCG industry company.
Feroz Allana takes his vision of sustainable growth, innovation in products, and consumer satisfaction ahead. Flexibility and an ongoing journey to get better will enable this group to overcome the threats that the company faces in the FMCG industry going forward. A strong portfolio of brands and an adherence to quality at all costs means that the Allana Group will be on a trajectory, consolidating its place in markets it is already present in, and pushing for entry into new markets across the world.
Entrepreneurs
Meet Xpanse CGI: The Animation Studio Behind the UAE’s First Sci-Fi Film

Xpanse CGI, a Dubai-based company, is rewriting the narrative of animation and visual effects in the Middle East. Founded by Ashraf Ghori in 2007, Xpanse CGI has rapidly become a power within the creative industry of the UAE. Known for creating “Xero Error,” the region’s first computer-generated sci-fi film, Xpanse has become synonymous with state-of-the-art animation, unique storytelling, and high-caliber visual effects, raising the bar for aspiring studios in the region.
“With the vision of delivering state-of-the-art animation and visual storytelling from the UAE to the world at large,” Xpanse did just that by launching its journey in 2007 from Dubai Media City. With CEO Ashraf Ghori being the founder himself, Xpanse made rapid strides under his leadership with a strong focus on a variety of creative projects: corporate videos, branding content, and full-scale animation productions. Founded on a resolve to transform local talent into an international force in the digital arts, it built a studio.
In 2009, Xpanse CGI produced “Xero Error”, the first sci-fi film coming out of the UAE. The success of this film was the biggest achievement for the studio and would go on to make a new benchmark for regional cinema. “Xero Error” gained international notoriety and screened at such famed events as the Cannes Film Festival and Sci-Fi London. Commendations came not only in the technical brilliance but also how it was able to focus on the potential of creating quality digital content that the UAE creative industry might be able to produce.
Xpanse CGI continued producing ambitious projects that definitely showed versatility and great commitment to storytelling. The studio also co-produced “Malal,” the first Indo-Emirati film, through which its reach and influence expanded over cultural lines. In 2012, Xpanse worked on a thriller called “Djinn,” created by ImageNation Abu Dhabi, to work on some major storyboarding assignments. In return, these have proven to be successful examples of the fact that Xpanse is very effective in working with the most diversifying types of content from thrillers and indie films to corporate branding, hence making it very relevant in the regional film and media landscape.
Over the years, Xpanse CGI has won enough awards and accolades to vouch for their excellence and influence in the field. Among such accolades, its most remarkable achievement is the Distinguished Achievement Award for “Levity Xero Error Minus1” by Abu Dhabi University in 2011. Within the same year, Ashraf Ghori won the award for “Best Filmmaker of the Year,” at Digital Studio Awards in Dubai. This achievement acted as the crest of his career and added to the growing reputation of the studio. Technological achievements of Xpanse are also characterized by the “Best Technology Implementation” award received from the SME Advisor Stars of Business Awards, thereby highlighting the pioneering role of the company in animation technology.
Xpanse CGI has also grown with technologies and innovations to advance at the highest level of the industry. Its success in digital artistry has led to a broader portfolio, including website design and digital branding for high-profile clients in Dubai. Constantly in touch with emerging animation and CGI trends, Xpanse stands out in making visual experiences unique for audiences-even as it embraces possibilities in augmented and virtual reality.
Entrepreneurs
Workz: The Dubai-Based Tech Giant Revolutionizing eSIM and IoT

There are few companies that have positioned themselves as strongly as Workz, a Dubai-based technology firm specializing in eSIM, IoT, and cloud-based services, in this dynamically changing telecom landscape. With a focus on innovation and an eye toward the future, Workz has grown dramatically since its founding in 1997. Initially foray into SIM card production and personalization has now developed as a technological powerhouse that forms the game-changer for mobile connectivity throughout the Middle East and Africa.
Workz was founded in 1997 and first marked its presence in the SIM card manufacturing business. Success in early years helped open a modern, state-of-the-art production facility for scratch cards in Dubai in 2014. This increased the company’s production capabilities and its prestige throughout the region. In 2015, Workz joined the GSM Association (GSMA). Hence, it became one of the well-thought-out players in the global telecommunications industry-a pioneer at new mobile standards and security measures.
One strategic shift Workz took in 2018 was in eSIM technology. It emerged as the largest provider of GSMA-certified eSIM software in the Middle East and Africa. As embedded SIM technology’s consumer demand increased, it opened avenues for innovation for Workz while allowing it to distribute seamless eSIM experiences for the users of smartphones and IoT device manufacturers as well. Through a deal in collaboration with Arm and MTX Connect based in Luxembourg, Workz spread its wings further into the global eSIM market in the year 2018, providing far-reaching solutions for SIMs that would allow remote access for a more mobile life.
Protecting the lead in the telecoms industry being its primary intent, Workz launched the world’s first 5G SIM card in 2019, thus putting itself at the forefront of 5G technology. This sealed the company’s position as a provider of secure, quality SIM cards and eSIM solutions, putting it in a position to form partnerships with important players in the telecoms sector, such as Vodafone Qatar and Virgin Mobile MEA. By 2020, Workz had developed its IoT platform in-house, bringing a holistic suite of connectivity solutions to the market. This helped the company better respond to the growing demands of the IoT ecosystem, making it easier for businesses around the globe to manage and deploy SIM-based IoT devices.
The focus for Workz has also been on technological development, environmental accountability, and data protection. For instance, in 2021 the company launched a biodegradable SIM card which, in turn, received immediate interest from Virgin Mobile as one of the eco-friendly brands. This innovation was part of a broader mission by Workz to reduce its environmental footprint while meeting the needs of its clients. In ensuring that maximum security was in place, Workz obtained GSMA Security Accreditation Scheme (SAS), hence offering secure lifecycle management of consumer and M2M eSIMs.
Workz has been acquired by Trasna Holdings based in Ireland in September 2024 as part of a strategic acquisition. The acquisition is probably to accelerate further growth and innovation with Workz further expanding its competencies in SIM, eSIM, and SoC technologies. As it continues its expansion, the influence of the company on the global telecommunications market is expected to increase, especially in the vast emerging markets within the Middle East and Africa.
Entrepreneurs
Wasl’s Real Estate Empire: The Force Behind Dubai’s Modern Landscape

The Dubai real estate landscape has dramatically changed over the past decades. Among those who stand out as part of this evolution is Wasl Asset Management Group, founded in 2008 by the Dubai Real Estate Corporation, or DREC. Wasl has grown to be one of the most influential semi-governmental real estate entities in the city. With a portfolio as impressive and vast in terms of commercial, residential, and mixed-use developments, Wasl is not only changing the skyline of Dubai but also the standards set within property development and urban management.
Wasl was established as a company aimed to oversee the development and management of DREC-owned assets, a role that has dramatically expanded since its inception. It was founded by merging the two major public organizations: the Dubai Development Board and the Real Estate Department. This integration provided Wasl with an extremely vast arsenal of experience and materials that in the long run would establish it as one of the biggest players in Dubai’s real estate market. Under the leadership of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Chairman, and Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim as Vice Chairman and CEO, Wasl has always envisioned and looked at the future of elevating Dubai’s urban infrastructure to new heights.
Wasl has a strong market presence in Dubai, with a significant number of developed residential and commercial projects. Wasl Properties was established in 2008 and undertakes property management in some of the oldest neighbourhoods in Dubai, such as Deira, Bur Dubai, and Al Karama. This placement in some of Dubai’s older neighborhoods has assisted Wasl in developing a strong reputation in the mind of a resident and an investor.
Wasl, entering 2014, in its aggressively competitive freehold real estate market took the first step with one big project: two iconic towers under the name of Hyatt Regency Creek Heights. Not only did it help diversify the portfolio, but it also placed it as one of the high-end players in the luxury real estate market of Dubai. Many of the recent corporate announcements represent other high-profile developments: Wasl Gate, Tiara United Towers, Wasl Green Park, and Wasl Village, all bringing something new in the way of lifestyle and operating together with a vision of what Dubai as a modern urban metropolis should represent.
Wasl has been one of the vanguards of innovative urban projects in Dubai. Through a partnership with the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, in 2017 Wasl initiated Dubai CommerCity, the largest free zone for e-commerce, marking Dubai’s effort to become a global business hub. A collaborative project between Wasl and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, launched in 2021. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s initiative improves food security and encourages sustainable agricultural practices that fit Wasl’s innovation and sustainable development commitment mirroring national priorities.
Some of its projects extend to developing community-centric spaces that pay more attention to quality life. The group manages seven community malls located all over Dubai: Dar Wasl, Wasl Vita, Wasl51, and Wasl Square. These are not just designed to be shopping destinations but hubs of community gatherings and social gatherings, which reflects Wasl’s pursuit of maintaining very vibrant and connected communities.
Such strategic focus on quality, innovation, and sustainable growth has helped Wasl earn the trust of residents in Dubai as well as international investors. With a strong slate of upcoming projects on the horizon, this company continues to play an important part in the real estate landscape of Dubai, building properties to cater to every type of need and enhancing the appeal of this cosmopolitan city as a global destination.
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