- Tell us about yourself, your business journey and your contribution to the UAE?
A – My story is one I never quite planned. I spent many years as a diplomat with the Indian Foreign Services, posted across China, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Libya. In 1987, a missed connecting flight in Dubai changed everything. I stepped out into this city and felt something I had not expected, possibility. I returned to London, told my wife we were moving, and never looked back.
I founded Nikai in 1987, starting modestly with commodity trading. Over nearly four decades, the group has grown into a diversified conglomerate spanning electronics, home appliances, Technology, FMCG, Outsourcing, and logistics, serving over 75 million customers across 50 countries. The UAE gave me the platform to build all of this. My contribution, I hope, has been to give something back: through employment, through community initiatives, and through a brand that millions of families across the region trust in their homes every day.
- What does receiving the 9th Golden Excellence Award for Electronic Product Design Leader mean to you?
A – It means a great deal, particularly because this recognition comes under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahayan, whose commitment to tolerance, coexistence, and human achievement I deeply admire. I have been associated with the Golden Excellence Awards since their very first edition in 2014, and watching this platform grow has been a privilege. To be recognised as an Electronic Product Design Leader at the 9th edition feels like a validation of everything the Nikai team has worked towards, not just commercial success, but meaningful, accessible innovation that genuinely improves lives.
- How do you view the role of the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence in shaping the UAE’s society?
A – The UAE’s greatest achievement is not its skyline or its economy, it is the society it has built. Over 200 nationalities living, working, and thriving together in harmony is not accidental. It is the result of deliberate, visionary leadership. The Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence gives institutional strength to values that are the very foundation of this nation. For those of us who came here from elsewhere and built our lives in the UAE, this environment of openness and mutual respect is something we do not take for granted.
- What opportunities do you see emerging in your industry over the next few years?
A – Consumer electronics is being reshaped by artificial intelligence, smart home integration, and sustainability. Customers today want products that are intelligent, energy-efficient, and genuinely connected to their lifestyles. For Nikai, this represents an exciting frontier, one where our agility as a brand gives us a real advantage over larger, slower-moving competitors.
- What are your company’s key plans and growth priorities for the future?
A – We are investing significantly in product innovation, expanding our footprint across Africa and South Asia, and deepening our digital capabilities. But above all, our priority remains what it has always been, to make quality accessible. Innovation should not be a luxury. That belief built Nikai, and it will continue to guide everything we do.
Pull quote: “For those of us who came here from elsewhere and built our lives in the UAE, this environment of openness and mutual respect is something we do not take for granted.” — Paras Shahadapuri
