Dubai’s 100 fastest-growing small and medium-sized enterprises were yesterday honoured at a ceremony hosted by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation.
Dimara International was named the fastest-growing company at the Dubai OneHundred SME event. Led by Mohammed Sharif Al Zarooni, the firm supplies towels, toiletries, bedding and other products to hotels, hospitals and airlines.
In second place was i General Trading, which sells water, juices, sports drinks and hygiene products for women. Its chief executive is Ibrahim bin Shaheen. Dubai Desert Extreme, a distributor of bikes and activewear, placed third. Its boss is Shahriar Khojasteh.
The Dubai OneHundred SME ranking is a biennial initiative that Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed launched in 2011.
To be ranked by the initiative, companies have to submit audited accounts that are then independently verified. Many companies that featured in this year’s ranking had appeared in earlier lists. Dimara International, for instance, was ranked at 71st place in 2011, and shot up to sixth place in 2013.
Mr Al Zarooni, an Emirati who set up his company 10 years ago, now employs 65 people. His company services many of Dubai’s five-star hotel operators including Jumeirah Group, Four Seasons, Hyatt and Ritz-Carlton. “How have I been successful? Because I have worked 16-hour days in the company,” said the entrepreneur who also complimented the teamwork of his management and staff.
The initiative's organiser, Dubai SME, an agency of the Dubai's Department of Economic Development (DED), said the competition for this year's ranking was more intense than previous years, with a substantial increase in the number of companies that wanted to participate. The number of applications rose 49 per cent from 2013, with 4,532 companies having registered.
“Today Dubai, because of its global reputation as an entrepreneurial hub, is increasingly becoming a launch pad for SMEs,” said Sami Al Qamzi, the department’s director general.
SamTech Middle East, which produces vehicle tracking software, has moved up to seventh spot this year from 16th in 2013 and 18th in 2011.
It was founded by Samir Abdul Hadi, a Palestinian who arrived in Dubai 12 years ago.
“I came with this idea to have a business to help people to manage their fleet,” said Mr Hadi. “I started the business [alone]. Now after 12 years we have 35 people working for us, we have 800 very satisfied customers in all of the UAE, and other customers in Saudi Arabia and in Oman.” Nahar, a supplier of wooden floorboards, rose to 66th position this year from 97th in 2013. It provided composite wooden flooring to The Beach at Jumeirah Beach Residences, among other projects.
“Wood is our passion and Dubai is … where we’ve got everything,” said Vakil Mohammed, the firm’s chief executive. “We have safety, expansion possibilities, unlimited growth, and if they work hard everybody can [achieve their dreams].”
Ravi Bhusari, the managing director of Duplays Sports Services which placed 98th, said he was looking forward to the seminars and other events that the initiative has organised.
"I'm thankful that the Dubai government is recognising entrepreneurs," he said. "It can be a lonely endeavour when you start out here. So it's nice that they recognise you, and there's a chance to network and meet other entrepreneurs so you feel like you're not so alone."
mfahy@thenational.ae
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