From many failures to not leaving others behind: How Dubai-it winners became successful

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Humantra founder Charlie Wright, chef Izu Ani and Omniyat’s Mahdi Amjad reflect on setbacks, ambition and taking Dubai-born ideas to the world ...

Humantra founder Charlie Wright has failed “loads of times”. Developer Mahdi Amjad recalls being told that one of his most ambitious projects would never be built. Chef Izu Ani believes getting ahead should not mean holding others back.

The three Dubai-it Award winners work in different industries, but they reveal the challenges behind their achievements and how living and building businesses in Dubai shaped their response.

Wright was recognised in the Entrepreneurs category, Ani in Hospitality, and Amjad, founder and executive chairman of Omniyat Group, in Real Estate Projects.

They were among six recipients announced on November 4 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE. The announcement completed the winners’ list for the inaugural awards, which recognise exceptional achievements delivered with speed and quality.

For Wright, the recognition is not an end point. "I feel like it’s day one all over again, and we’ve got so much left to prove,” he said.

Wright’s electrolyte brand began with a personal change when he started paying closer attention to his health and looking for ways to protect it.

That search repeatedly brought him back to hydration. Rather than building a business trying to address every aspect of wellness, he chose to focus on one. “You can’t put a price on it,” he said to Khaleej Times about health.

According to the award announcement, Humantra grew from a single office into a brand operating in 10 international markets, reaching more than two million customers within 15 months.

But Wright, who said he has spent 13 years in Dubai, described a journey that involved setbacks as well as growth. “I’ve failed a load of times, but there’s something about Dubai’s ecosystem that gets you to keep on going,” he said.

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