Global business leaders and visionaries honoured at ET Indo Global Leaders 2026 in Dubai

The ET Indo Global Leaders 2026 summit gathered entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and corporate leaders at Al Habtoor Palace in Dubai on September 25, 2026, to recognise innovation and deepen India–UAE business ties. The day-long programme combined panel discussions, fireside chats and a felicitation ceremony that honoured more than 60 entrepreneurs and executives across sectors, including Abhinav Gupta (CEO, Cars24 Arabia), Dhanush Srinivas (Managing Director, Nandhini Deluxe), Dr Dattatreya Nagireddy (Chairman & CEO, Jey Group Holdings & Investments) and Harry Sachdeva (Founder & CEO, Jes & Ben Groupo Pvt. Ltd.).

"India’s Global Decade: The New Growth Story" was the title and theme of the opening panel that set the tone for conversations around India’s expanding role in trade and investment, featuring industry figures such as Sidharth Chowdhry (Dalcore), Mark Thompson (Gulf News), CA Bidhu Bhusan Nayak and Dr Dattatreya Nagireddy.

Musabeh Al Musafri, Director of Customer Experience and Service Delivery at Ajman Free Zone, opened the event with a welcome address that emphasised the UAE’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, investment and global business growth. The summit’s programme then moved into subject-specific sessions that probed sectoral opportunities and practical scaling strategies.

A fireside chat with Zubair Ul Islam, Director of Sales at Ajman Free Zone, examined the role of free zones in facilitating regional and international expansion, while a dedicated session on luxury real estate trends put a spotlight on second-home investments in Goa. Developers and real estate executives Harry Sachdeva and Arshdeep Singh Brar (DGM Sales, Conscient Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.) discussed how such investments are influencing lifestyle choices and wealth-creation strategies amid evolving buyer preferences.

The event’s second panel, headlined "The Scale-Up Playbook: Capital, Technology & Strategy for India’s Growth Companies," concentrated on the mechanics of sustainable expansion. Speakers including Vikas Kumar Mathur (Infinity Engineerings), Imtiyaz Kalsekar (Rasasi) and Zubair Ul Islam explored how technology adoption, access to capital and disciplined strategy are enabling Indian firms to compete on a global stage. Sharat Kumar Sahu, Chief Managing Director of Stalwart Projects Pvt. Ltd., added perspective on infrastructure-led growth and organisational transformation.

Closing the discussion slate, the panel "Startup to Global Business: Building the Next Generation of Global Enterprises" convened founders and operators such as Sudhir Syal, Ashutosh Upadhayay, Manu Midha (Arnifi), Karan Rai (Credibila) and Abhinav Gupta to talk entrepreneurship, fundraising and international expansion. The session highlighted practical considerations for founders aiming to transition from local startups to multinational operations.

Felicitation and notable winners

The evening concluded with the ET Indo Global Leaders Felicitation Ceremony, which recognised individual and company achievements across sectors. The list of honourees covered a broad cross-section of industries, from healthcare and hospitality to technology and real estate.

• Abhinav Gupta – CEO, Cars24 Arabia
• Abhishek Bhatnagar – Managing Partner, Abhishek Bhatnagar & Associates Legal Consultants LLP
• Aby Abraham – Founder & Executive Director, PromptTech Insurance
• Dhanush Srinivas – Managing Director, Nandhini Deluxe
• Dr Dattatreya Nagireddy – Chairman & CEO, Jey Group Holdings & Investments
• Harry Sachdeva – Founder & CEO, Jes & Ben Groupo Pvt. Ltd.
• Imtiyaz Kalsekar – Founder, Rasasi
• Sharat Kumar Sahu – Chief Managing Director, Stalwart Projects Pvt. Ltd.

Organisers framed the summit as a platform to celebrate achievement and foster collaboration between Indian and UAE stakeholders, while panels signalled an emphasis on capital access, technology-led scaling and the strategic use of free zones for cross-border expansion. As delegates returned to their businesses, the event underlined practical pathways for companies and entrepreneurs seeking to convert regional momentum into global market presence.