Shafeena Yusuff Ali honored in Forbes list of Middle East’s Most Influential Women 2018

DUBAI:
Forbes revealed the Middle East’s Most Influential Women 2018 at a gala ceremony hosted at the Roda Al Murooj Downtown in Dubai, UAE recently. The defining list recognizes the most successful and groundbreaking 100 female executives and businesswomen and 10 women heading government departments in the Middle East.
This year Forbes also included expat women in the Middle East who have contributed greatly to regional economy. Khuloud Al Omian, Editor in Chief, Forbes Middle East, presented the awards to the winner.
In recognition of her contribution in the F&B sector in the GCC, Shafeena Yusuff Ali, CEO and Chairperson, Tablez was the only Malayali among 16 expats honoured during the event. Endowed with a futuristic vision of hospitality, as well as an enduring passion for travel and food, Shafeena has successfully set up businesses in UAE and India. In addition to introducing internationally renowned F&B concepts to both countries, she has also developed the homegrown brands – Peppermill, Bloomsbury’s, and Ming’s Chamber. In a remarkable wave of expansion, Shafeena has established more than 30 F&B stores in the UAE in the span of 7 years. In India, Tablez operates 23 stores of various F&B brands including Cold Stone Creamery, Galito’s and Bloomsbury’s.
Many other noted owners and founders were also honored during the ceremony, including, Renuka Jagtiani, CEO of Landmark Group, Huda Khattan, CEO of Huda Beauty, Rafiah Ebrahim, president for Ericsson Middle East and Africa, Asil Attar, CEO of Alyasra Fashion, Celine Bremaud, vice president for Microsoft Middle East and Africa, among others.
“It is a great honour to be recognized as a leader in the region. It was wonderful to celebrate the occasion with other successful women business leaders and my team. I don’t feel as though my contributions have been any greater than those of my incredible family at Tablez, who have been an integral part of our success story. I would like to dedicate this to all those who have been part of our journey,” said Shafeena Yusuff Ali.