Latest news with #XenaInteriors
NDTV
26-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
"Could've Just Shopped": How A Dubai Housewife-Turned-CEO Built A Business Empire
Anita Surani seemed destined for the quintessential Dubai housewife life: a Palm Jumeirah mansion, a pink G-Wagon for her teenage daughter, and 24-karat gold-gilded ceilings. However, instead of indulging in luxury, she leveraged her privileged life to build a design company from the ground up, staffed predominantly by women. Today, Anita leads a boutique design firm named after her daughter, a venture fueled by determination, style, and a nudge from her husband, Moiz Khoja. "I have a lot of money. I could've just shopped. But I didn't. And I continued," she told Gulf News. Journey to Success Anita's journey to success wasn't always glamorous. Born into a middle-class family, she worked hard to fund her education in the US, juggling part-time jobs at a convenience store and a jewellery store. It was during this time that she met her future husband and business partner, Moiz. Interestingly, Moiz also came from humble beginnings, having once cleaned restaurant floors before building a successful tech store empire. "We were partners, friends, and then a couple," she says. Anita and Moiz's entrepreneurial journey began with a small cell phone kiosk in an American mall, which eventually grew into a retail empire with over 100 stores. While Moiz oversaw the retail business, Anita pursued her passion for interior design, honing her skills by working on their real estate projects. Feeling confident in her abilities, she partnered with a seasoned colleague and launched Xena Interiors in Dubai, leveraging her degree and experience to build a successful business. From two people to a team of 40 Anita's design company has experienced rapid growth, expanding from a two-person team to over 40 employees, including engineers, architects, graphic designers, and interior designers. With ambitious plans for further expansion, Anita is driving her business forward. However, establishing herself in Dubai presented its own set of challenges. "Dubai is very competitive. People want a local experience. So the experience from the US didn't count much at first. We had to start small — doing up offices and apartments, just to get the word out. Eventually, we landed villas and restaurants," she said. Her Inspiration For Anita, the real driving force behind her success is her daughter, Zena. She wants to show Zena that it's possible to balance life and achieve her goals. "I wanted to show my daughter that we can balance everything. That we can achieve whatever we want. That's why I named the company after her — Zena." High-maintenance Persona Anita embodies the Dubai Bling aesthetic, embracing her high-maintenance persona with pride. Her home is a lavish masterpiece, complete with 24-karat gold ceilings and curated opulence. However, she's also a shrewd businesswoman who prioritised creating a beautiful office space, only to be reminded by her husband to focus on financial responsibility. "One thing about me — I made the office nice too. That was my first task. But my husband told me, first, you pay off that office. Then you make sure the employees are paid from your pocket, not from our joint account," she noted. Anita has a straightforward relationship with money: she enjoys it, works hard for it, and isn't afraid to splurge. A self-proclaimed shopaholic, she loves The Dubai Mall and often jokes about her credit card bills with her husband. However, she finds greater satisfaction in spending her own hard-earned money, rather than just relying on her husband's wealth.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Housewife-turned-CEO now lives in Dubai mansion with 24k gold ceilings. Who is she?
With a mansion on Palm Jumeirah, 24-karat gold ceilings, and a pink Mercedes G-Wagon for her daughter, Anita Surani had all the glam she could ask for in Dubai. Still, instead of settling into luxury, she rolled up her sleeves and launched her own interior design company from scratch. 'I have a lot of money. I could've just shopped. But I didn't. And I continued," she told Gulf News in an interview. Raised in a middle-class family, she moved to the US as a student and met her husband while working part-time jobs to make ends meet. In her "struggling phase," she worked at a jewellery store and met Moiz Khoja, who cleaned restaurant floors. Together, the couple built a retail tech empire, starting with a tiny phone kiosk in a mall and grew it to over 100 stores. 'We were partners, friends, and then a couple,' she said. While he continued to build their tech business, Surani turned to her design degree and started "practising" in real estate. When she felt ready, she teamed up with a colleague who had 12 years of experience and founded her own interior design company in Dubai. But the market was too competitive, so they started small. From building offices and apartments, she eventually landed villas and restaurants. Today, Xena Interiors has over 40 employees, including engineers, architects, graphic designers, and interior designers. She said the motivation behind her work is her daughter. 'I wanted to show my daughter that we can balance everything. That we can achieve whatever we want. That's why I named the company after her — Zena," she added. Though her home is luxurious, Anita doesn't rely on family wealth to fund her business. Early on, her husband set clear boundaries—she had to repay the office investment and cover her employees' salaries independently. The pressure pushed her to work even harder, fueling her drive to grow the company. 'I enjoy money, and I work hard for it,' she said. 'It feels satisfying when you're using the fortune you are making yourself.' (Also read: Dubai woman shows off husband's 'push presents' for giving birth: $2 million home, 8 Dior bags and more)
