Retail: Sima Ganwani Ved

After pursuing higher education at King’s College London where she achieved both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA in business management, Ganwani Ved returned to Dubai in the early 90s.

She honed her skills in the retail industry while working at one of her father’s shopping malls at age 20. It was in 1996 that Ganwani Ved and her husband Nilesh Ved established the foundation of the Apparel Group to fulfil a niche for international retail brands in the Middle East.

Under her leadership, The Apparel Group today caters to millions of customers with over 85 brands across 14 countries. Its extensive network of over 2,300 stores and its diverse workforce of over 24,000 multicultural staff has solidified its position as one of the best retail companies in the UAE and now across the GCC and beyond.

Ganwani Ved’s philanthropic efforts include founding the social commerce platform NESSA and mentoring her daughters in launching brands like F5global, with proceeds helping to provide education to underprivileged children.