< Previous50 HOT 1OO 2O19 | THE PIONEERS HE SHAIKHA NOORA BINT KHALIFA AL KHALIFA The Bahraini entrepreneur is focusing on philanthropy The growth of my soul mission to develop education was my highlight of 2019. We need to spread awareness about climate change so people can take the right action. My dreams inspire me. When I sleep and dream of beautiful things, when I wake up I’m inspired to achieve them. My dreams are my inner power and strength. I am working on a couple of initiatives with UNICEF and will make a more detailed announcement in 2020. They will bring sustainability to refugee camps and provide education for more than six million refugees. ELISSA FREIHA The Emirati-Lebanese businesswoman and women’s economic activist is the co- founder of Womena This year, Womena launched Womentum, the region’s first accelerator programme for women-led startups. We also produced the Womentum Series, which is an 11-episode documentary series following the lives of the Middle East’s top women founders as they experience the highs and lows of entrepreneurship in the hopes of winning a US$100,000 investment. I recently invested in a digital currency that hedges against trees, instead of gold – every coin is weighted against the carbon emissions that the tree takes in during its lifetime. I’m inspired by human stories of perseverance, kindness, and true, unabashed creativity. 51 THE PIONEERS | HOT 1OO 2O19 As an Emirati, the UAE is in my blood. I am very proud and fortunate to be a part of this wonderful country that has given so much to nationals and expats alike. Honesty and hard work inspire me. I love having conversations with people who have achieved great things and are helping other achieve them too. It’s so wonderful to hear stories such as these. My biggest mistake is giving too much of my time and energy to people that just took advantage and only wanted material things. I now don’t waste my time around any of these sort of people anymore. Climate change is so important to me, I do little things here and there, whether it’s turning off electricity anywhere that is not in use, or recycling as much as I can, or making sure that we don’t waste money on things that we just don’t need. I have downsized a lot. I also don’t own a car, so I’m trying to cut my carbon footprint as much as I can and use public transport. My highlight this year was being able to help three amazing young Arab women fulfil their dreams and pursue careers that they thought they weren’t capable of doing. It was extremely rewarding. OMAIRA FAROOQ AL OLAMA Emirati mum of three @omairaofficial founded Advanced Learning Formulas and became a TED Talk speaker52 HOT 1OO 2O19 | THE PIONEERS The highlights of 2019 have been some of the best of my entire career because I have one year left before I retire (at the age of 30). This year we made a decision to take my company OWS public on the NASDAQ. That is the highlight of any entrepreneur’s business and career. I’m a major believer in our planet’s safety. Businesses are usually so focused on their growth that they forget to ensure it’s not destroying the environment. Unfortunately, having a green recycling symbol about how many tons of “scrap” we keep from going into the landfills isn’t enough. It needs to be more regulated, and not just abused by anyone wishing to create an illusion of being “eco-friendly”, largely driven by PR initiative. I’m proud to say that my business was created with the planet in mind as 50 percent of our business is focused around re- manufactured spare parts. Re-manufacturing reduces environmental harm by 97 percent vs new spare parts. Think about how many trees we are now able to save because we re-manufacture that scrap and resell it. I would like governments to be more active with their sustainability responsibilities. If regulators were more aggressive, we would all be forced to think about the environment as a fundamental consideration to our business. One that is just as important as growth and economic stability. I was told in order to be successful; you must get comfortable with the uncomfortable. That is the single best piece of advice I was given and my decisions and ultimately, success have been built on this advice. OWEIS ZAHRAN The sustainability-focused American automotive businessman plans to retire at the tender age of 30 53 THE PIONEERS | HOT 1OO 2O19 ARABELLA WILLING Emirates Nature-WWF’s conservation education- outreach and research manager This year, we launched Connect with Nature. Through the programme I’ve had some amazing experiences — tagging turtles, camping in the Empty Quarter, kayaking at sunrise and being inspired by passionate young people. We are creating a movement ‘for youth, by youth’ that aims to encourage engaging with nature, to be more mindful of the environment, and ultimately become leaders who champion a sustainable future. I’m trying to buy less and make more effort to repair or shop for second-hand goods, as well as choose food to reduce the carbon footprint of my diet, especially meat and dairy. AHMED ALNASHEET @dvlzgame takes gaming to a whole new level Winning the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award 2019 as the favourite gamer, with over 3.5 million votes from all around the world made me rethink everything I did as a gamer. Being a part of the Angry Birds universe and seeing myself in the cinema (I’m Alex in Angry Birds 2) was something else. I am working on a couple of projects with different organisations, trying to plant trees all around the GCC and we will start with Saudi. I’d like to see more people get electric cars and use reusable straws. I’d like to do bigger campaigns for our ‘plant a tree’ project. 54 HOT 1OO 2O19 | THE PIONEERS TG FROM DUBAI Cofounder and managing director at F8 Production who keeps Dubai perfectly in focus Being around amazing people full of talent inspires me to do more. The UAE is full of some of the most creative people competing on such an aggressively talented platform. My family and I recycle and try to bring awareness the important things that matter in our environment through various types of media. I think we should implement a system that educates people in their homes and make it a prerequisite to obtaining certain government documents such as a driver’s license or a visa. If we educate a home, then we’ve educated the world. NATALIE BANKS The founder of Azraq has made saving the sea her life’s work As a marine conservationist, I am extremely worried about what climate change is doing to our planet. I have registered a marine conservation organisation and together with our board and members, we arrange beach clean-up days across the UAE as well as mangrove tree planting opportunities. Forests and the oceans are amazing places of carbon storage, yet sadly they have been pushed aside and often not given the huge respect they deserve. I often say we are treating our natural environments like a garbage tip while removing the important aspects that are keep our planet, and therefore ourselves, healthy and alive. 55 THE PIONEERS | HOT 1OO 2O19 My highlight of the past year was being selected as one of 40 entrepreneurs and CEOs from around the world to compete on an Amazon Prime TV series, The Social Movement, which is similar to The Apprentice. I travelled to Montreal and over four days, worked with other powerful minds to create business strategies to solve socio- economic issues that are impacting the world, including health care, global warming, hunger and homelessness. Through our PR agency Prestidge Group, we were delighted to work on incredible projects this year, including projects in emerging technology, sustainability and smart governments. We launched our sister agency, Frank City Productions, specialising in podcasts and docuseries. The world is finally concerned about climate change, but are the corporations on board? Surprisingly, just 100 corporations have caused 71% of the world’s greenhouse gas since 1977. My client and mentor, Karl Feilder, is encouraging entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to develop green tech solutions, and our agency is actively supporting his mission. As a consumer, I avoid using plastic – I’m shocked by the amount of single-use plastic bags and bottles we use in Dubai! Corporations should just stop producing and providing these entirely. Next year, I am launching a corporate label for businesswomen, with suits, cufflinks and briefcases. We have been working very hard on a collection that women feel great in. Also, after almost two years of consistently writing my book most weekends, I’m looking forward to holding the finished product in my hands – determination and persistence does pay off. BRIAR PRESTIDGE PR strategist, producer, talk show host and CEO – is there anything she can’t do?ANANTARA THE PALM DUBAI RESORT P.O. BOX 71607, EAST CRESCENT, PALM JUMEIRAH DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES T +971 4 567 8140 • E SPA.DUBAI@ANANTARA.COM LIFE IS A JOURNEY. Visit anantara.com Retreat from the bustle of the city to Anantara Spa at Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort – a majestic Asian-inspired sanctuary, where radiance and wellness blossom with Thai and Arabian traditions. Ancient rituals rejuvenate in the prestigious Turkish Hammam. 24 treatment rooms offer Thai massage, holistic cocooning and Ayurvedic therapies. Innovative wet facilities refresh with aromatic, crystal and gemstone steams; liquid sound pools; salt inhalation Journeys end in relaxed bliss. LUXURIATE IN INNOVATIVE SPA PAMPERING AND ANCIENT HAMMAM RITUALS. 57 FOODIES AND TRAVELLERS THAT INSPIRE US TO EXPLORE THE ADVENTURERS58 HOT 1OO 2O19 | THE ADVENTURERS The UAE offers me, and so many other professional foreigners, a career, a home, and so many positive things. I consider Dubai my second home after Lebanon and I will be forever grateful to this country and its rulers. The opening of OPA in Dubai, our new Greek restaurant concept, was one of the most important moments of 2019 for me, due to its huge success. I recycle whatever I can at home and our work office is also making attempting to be as green and eco-friendly as possible. I think we need more renewable energy as a power source. I look forward to electric cars becoming more mainstream. The best advice I was given was to constructively critique what I do, no matter how sure I am of a perfect result. I look up to my parents and every great parent in the world. Raising a child is not an easy task and it takes lots of wisdom and courage. Next year I look forward to launching two new projects within our company. I have several upcoming trips and books to read and I am going to start learning Spanish. KHALIL TAWIL The marketing magician behind conglomerate investment group, Demind 59 THE ADVENTURERS | HOT 1OO 2O19 Opening my own restaurant with my own investment – Reif Japanese Kushiyaki at Dar Wasl Mall has been a key highlight of 2019. It’s like a third ‘baby’ for me – the feeling is so different to working for others; so much more empowering, even though I’ve been lucky in my previous roles to have autonomy to run the kitchens. I moved to Dubai from my home, Singapore, 12 years ago, and now consider the UAE a home-away-from-home with my wife and two children. The city’s entrepreneurial spirit is very heartening. I am building a school in Zanzibar to provide education for underprivileged children. These kids are so kind and grateful, and inspire me to do good where I can. To minimise food wastage, I believe in knowing your product and using it wisely. For instance, all parts of the animal and vegetables are used such as the chicken from local hormone-free Family Meat Farm, with the neck to the liver and bone, all utilised. In line with our sustainable ethos, the first bottle of tap-filtered still and sparkling water is complimentary, while all straws are reusable metal. I’d love to see a UAE law passed that makes it compulsory for all restaurants to offer tap-filtered water on their menus. If establishments want to offer local or imported water as well, so be it, but we should be giving the consumer an affordable option, like anywhere else in the world. CHEF REIF OTHMAN He’s helmed the kitchen at high-end restaurants across the UAENext >