Mohan Valrani

Educator.     Entrepreneur.     Philanthrophist.

In 1966, Mohan Valrani landed in Dubai with a mission to contribute to the development of the city through his entrepreneurial drive. The city’s vibrancy gave Valrani the confidence from the very start that Dubai would become home for his family for generations to come. The visionary leadership of the city provided opportunities for Valrani that allowed him to grow as an individual and as an entrepreneur. Together with his friend and business partner, Abdulla Al Shirawi, he gave back to the city of Dubai through a conglomerate known as the Al Shirawi Group, an investment vehicle of over 30 companies across different verticals headquartered in Dubai. His entrepreneurial versatility is displayed through the sheer number of industries the group operates in, including Printing and Packaging, Logistics, Oil and Gas, Construction Services, and Steel Manufacturing Industries.

While Valrani’s entrepreneurial endeavours are endless, his legacy has been defined by his achievements as an educator. In 2009, Valrani was appointed as Chairman of The Indian High School, the largest non-profit school in the UAE, serving 13,000 students in Dubai. As Chairman, he guided the school to receive its very first ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau, a rating never achieved in the school’s 50+ year history. In 2016, he founded Arcadia School in Dubai, a British curriculum school with a progressive approach to education focusing on student well-being and happiness. Under the Arcadia banner, Valrani continues to expand his schools’ footprint and his legacy as an educator.

Valrani’s continued expansion in schools is a part of his larger persona as a philanthropist. He is happiest when he gives back to the children of Dubai and his long association with the Rashid Centre for People of Determination is his proudest relationship. Valrani celebrates his birthday every year at the centre, singing and dancing with children, and playing a role in their development in ways that would not have been possible had not been for his generosity. Valrani has now dedicated his life to giving back through acts of kindness and developing children to become future global citizens.