In an era defined by transformation, innovation, and global collaboration, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a beacon of strategic progress. At the heart of this ascent lies a cadre of individuals whose vision, resilience, and forward-thinking leadership continue to shape the UAE’s position on the world stage. From the intricate corridors of global finance and real estate to the evolving landscapes of maritime logistics, digital innovation, and holistic health, Capt Jagdeep Singh Sodhi, Safa Almarhoun, Sergii Malomuzh, Muhammad Saeed Mirza, and Sunita Teckchand represent the diverse pillars driving the nation’s momentum.
This feature brings into focus the remarkable journeys of five professionals who are not just shaping industries but redefining what success looks like in a globalized, future-focused Gulf region. Capt Jagdeep Singh Sodhi’s transition from sea to enterprise illustrates the transformative power of maritime expertise when combined with entrepreneurial foresight. Safa Almarhoun offers a compelling lens into inclusive digital transformation within the region’s public sector, balancing strategy with human-centered leadership. Sergii Malomuzh unpacks the complex interplay between law and blockchain innovation, advocating for secure, compliant financial ecosystems amid a fast-changing regulatory landscape.
In parallel, Muhammad Saeed Mirza’s strategic command of the real estate market demonstrates how local knowledge, paired with global vision, can scale ventures into billion-dirham success stories. And finally, Sunita Teckchand’s pioneering work in holistic healthcare and education shines a light on the UAE’s growing influence in wellness innovation and integrative medical education.
Each leader featured in this edition brings a unique dimension to the UAE’s global narrative, whether through trailblazing in digital policy, pioneering wellness education, scaling global real estate, or redefining the boundaries of maritime and economic development. Their individual contributions are shaping a more connected, empowered, and purpose-driven future for the Emirates.
We invite you to read their stories, each one a testament to grit, intellect, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. These leaders are not only inspiring in their own domains; they are also architects of the UAE’s broader global success.
Capt Jagdeep Singh Sodhi
Capt Jagdeep Singh Sodhi – Founder & CEO, Oceane Group of Companies
With a distinguished maritime career spanning over 36 years, Capt Jagdeep Singh Sodhi stands as a testament to perseverance, vision, and leadership in the global shipping industry. From his first steps on deck as a cadet to now steering his own enterprise, Capt Sodhi’s journey is one marked by dedication, depth of experience, and unwavering ambition.
Having served with leading tanker operators including Tanker Pacific, Dynacom Tankers, and AET, and later transitioning to critical shoreside leadership roles with industry giants such as GAC, Teekay, and Safe STS, Capt Sodhi has accumulated a rare and comprehensive perspective on maritime operations. These years of hands-on experience across both sea and shore have equipped him with the insight and resilience required to navigate the complexities of the global shipping ecosystem.
Now at the helm of his own venture, Oceane Group of Companies, Capt Sodhi is channeling his extensive expertise into delivering innovative, customized Ship-to-Ship (STS) solutions. With operational bases in Dubai, Fujairah, and Oman, the company reflects his deep-rooted values of integrity, reliability, and partnership. Oceane Group is not just a service provider, it is an emerging strategic ally for maritime businesses seeking operational excellence in the Gulf and beyond.
What sets Capt Sodhi apart is his human-centric approach. Throughout his career, he has placed immense value on collaboration, mentorship, and long-term relationships, attributes that continue to define his leadership style today. His passion for shaping the future of maritime logistics, coupled with a clear vision for quality-driven services, positions him as a transformative leader in the region.
As the Gulf’s maritime sector evolves, Capt Jagdeep Singh Sodhi is undoubtedly a leader to watch in 2025, one whose journey from cadet to captain of his own ship serves as an inspiring model of ambition realized through perseverance, expertise, and purposeful innovation.
Safa Almarhoun
Safa Almarhoun stands out as one of the UAE’s most inspiring leaders, seamlessly bridging global insight with regional transformation. As Managing Director at Accenture Middle East and a key figure in the firm’s KSA leadership team, she is deeply embedded in the ongoing evolution of the Gulf region, particularly Saudi Arabia’s ambitious modernization agenda. With a multicultural upbringing across four continents and professional experience that spans government, private, and nonprofit sectors, Safa brings a unique perspective shaped by both global exposure and local engagement.
Her professional journey is marked by influence and innovation, from serving as a public commissioner in Australia to founding and scaling social enterprises designed for long-term impact. In Saudi Arabia, she now drives digital transformation initiatives within the public sector, helping to reimagine services and systems with a forward-looking, inclusive lens. Passionate about equity and representation, she actively mentors emerging leaders and champions women’s advancement in leadership roles. Her approach to leadership is grounded in human-centered principles, focusing on meeting people where they are and guiding them toward meaningful growth.
Safa’s work is a reflection of her belief in designing for what is possible, not just what is probable. Her ability to integrate strategic thinking with empathetic leadership makes her a force for sustainable progress. Whether advising government stakeholders, building ecosystems, or shaping the next generation of changemakers, she remains committed to driving purposeful outcomes. Outside of her professional commitments, she finds balance through travel, yoga, swimming, and investing, pursuits that mirror her curiosity and drive for continual learning. Safa Almarhoun’s leadership exemplifies the spirit of today’s UAE: bold, inclusive, and globally attuned.
Sergii Malomuzh
Sergii Malomuzh stands out as a visionary leader who merges legal acumen with entrepreneurial insight to shape the future of finance and technology. With a PhD in Law and an MSc in Entrepreneurship, he began his career by establishing a legal consulting firm in Ukraine. His professional evolution led him to the tech sector, where he became a strong advocate for the convergence of law and emerging technologies. Today, he plays a pivotal role in advising startups and enterprises navigating the complex terrain of Web3 and digital assets.
Sergii’s work centers around stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), both of which are reshaping the global financial system. While stablecoins are privately issued and backed by reserve assets like fiat currencies or commodities, CBDCs are government-issued and tightly regulated. Their implementation offers benefits such as faster transactions, lower costs, and increased financial inclusion, but they also raise challenges in terms of regulation, security, and privacy.
Through his lens, the regulatory landscape becomes critical to understanding the path forward. In the United States, a fragmented framework involving agencies like the SEC and CFTC creates uncertainty for stablecoin issuers. Meanwhile, the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-assets (MiCA) regulation provides a more unified approach, mandating clear compliance, reserve maintenance, and transparency. The UAE, on the other hand, has emerged as a progressive regulator with initiatives such as the Payment Token Services Regulation and approval of the Dirham-backed AE Coin, all underpinned by robust AML and KYC protocols.
Sergii highlights the biggest obstacles in this evolving sector, including high compliance costs, regulatory fragmentation, cybersecurity threats, and growing concerns over financial privacy. He believes the future of digital currencies depends heavily on how governments and private players align on clear, coordinated, and secure frameworks.
As one of the influential voices driving discourse on digital financial regulation, Sergii Malomuzh exemplifies the kind of leadership the UAE is becoming known for, strategic, forward-thinking, and committed to responsible innovation. His insights not only shed light on today’s complex regulatory climate but also shape the future direction of global digital finance.
Muhammad Saeed Mirza
Muhammad Saeed Mirza, a seasoned sales and marketing professional with an MBA in Marketing and five certifications from the Canadian University of Real Estate (OREA), has cultivated a distinguished career across multiple industries. With more than two decades of hands-on experience in real estate, timeshare, life insurance, FMCG, MLM, and luxury brands, he has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to drive organizational growth, increase market share, and lead high-performance teams. Notably, he has established four companies from the ground up, each evolving into billion AED ventures. His entrepreneurial acumen, combined with his ability to train and mentor over 1,000 professionals, has earned him recognition as a forward-thinking leader in the UAE's dynamic business landscape.
Since 2003, his primary focus has been on the UAE real estate sector, particularly in brokerage and private real estate development. Through this commitment, he has built a vast property portfolio valued in the billions across Dubai. His strategic leadership currently extends to overseeing more than 3,700 agents operating in 38 countries, managing business planning, roadshows, international exhibitions, and bulk sales negotiations. His organizational expertise supports ten sales teams comprising over 800 professionals, alongside six dedicated roadshow units. He plays a central role in shaping global outreach strategies, handling underwriting contracts, and designing business policies that foster sustainable growth.
Looking ahead to 2025, Mirza sees Dubai’s real estate market maintaining its upward trajectory, driven by demand across residential and commercial sectors. He anticipates government initiatives, such as the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, will significantly impact infrastructure development and sustainability goals. With increased interest from global investors and a strong local economic recovery, he expects robust performance in both luxury and affordable housing segments.
The year 2024 marked a period of remarkable business advancement and personal growth for Mirza, especially with the integration of AI tools for smarter lead generation and operational efficiency. His forward-looking mindset remains anchored in technological innovation and continuous learning. For aspiring entrepreneurs, he emphasizes a strategic focus on understanding market dynamics, embracing digital tools, maintaining financial prudence, and prioritizing both sustainability and customer experience to remain competitive and resilient in today’s evolving marketplace.
Sunita Teckchand
Sunita Teckchand’s journey stands as a remarkable testament to vision, dedication, and the advancement of holistic healthcare in the UAE and beyond. With over 27 years of experience as a qualified clinical aromatherapist and integrated holistic therapist, her contributions have significantly shaped the region’s approach to alternative medicine. Originally from Hong Kong, Sunita moved to Dubai in 1997 with the ambition of offering her family a better quality of life. What she encountered was a lack of awareness and access to clinical aromatherapy, a gap she courageously stepped in to fill. In 1999, she opened one of the first specialized aromatherapy centers in the region, paving the way for greater recognition of holistic therapies.
After leading that initiative for nearly a decade, she transitioned to education, founding The Holistic Institute in 2010 to provide accredited alternative therapy qualifications. Following regulatory shifts, she evolved her focus further by launching The Holistic Alternatives, an online training platform dedicated to providing globally accredited diplomas in clinical aromatherapy. This digital model caters to both full-time learners and working professionals, offering a comprehensive 800+ hour curriculum alongside modular short courses and in-person practical training for UAE residents.
Sunita’s efforts extend beyond education. She also created her own essential oil brand, ‘eSSensuals,’ aligning her business with sustainable and professional aromatherapy practices. Her platform has become the only one of its kind in the UAE to offer such an in-depth and accessible online training solution, now expanding further through affiliations such as NAHA in the United States.
Even in the face of evolving post-pandemic preferences for in-person learning, her commitment to reaching international students remains steadfast. By prioritizing research, especially in areas like sustainability of essential oils, and maintaining rigorous academic standards, Sunita continues to nurture a new generation of professional aromatherapists. Her advice for aspiring educators emphasizes building intuitive, research-backed digital programs and supporting students with immediate, informed responses. As a board member and trustee of IFPA and an external examiner, Sunita Teckchand exemplifies leadership in holistic education and remains a vital force behind the UAE’s growing reputation in global wellness innovation.
Conclusion
As the UAE continues to chart its course as a global leader in innovation, business, and inclusive development, the stories of Capt Jagdeep Singh Sodhi, Safa Almarhoun, Sergii Malomuzh, Muhammad Saeed Mirza, and Sunita Teckchand serve as powerful reflections of the country’s evolving identity. These individuals exemplify the values of resilience, strategic vision, and a deep-rooted commitment to progress that define the modern Emirati spirit. Their achievements inspire not only within their respective industries but also across a new generation of changemakers determined to leave a lasting impact. As you explore their journeys, may their leadership continue to spark meaningful conversations and empower others to pursue innovation with purpose, courage, and clarity.
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