Walid Kunafa (Mohamed Elsayed Abbas): A Visionary Restaurateur Driving Innovation in the UAE Hospitality Industry
MR WALID KUNAFA (MOHAMED ELSAYED ABBAS ) Owner of Mr Walid Kunafa Marketing Management Company in the UAE and owner of Lux Media Production for Artistic Production and Distribution is a reputed name in the industry of hotels and restaurants. With over twelve years of combined experience in the field, he has attained more than just expertise. Walid was born to an Egyptian father while his mother is from Turkey.
Presently, he is General Manager for a group of international restaurants in Dubai. Additionally, he has launched his own restaurants across international lands Walid Sheliwa. interest in the restaurant and hotel realm was piqued from childhood. The thing that inclined him towards the field was the warmth and comfort that hotels and restaurants provide customers and the level of faith that is attached to it.
Eventually, he decided to step in the business and started small. Climbing his way to the top, Walid believes that only persistence and hard work has made him reach where he is today Walid Sheliwa’s restauranteering career began in 2006 when he started working in Italy Stefano’s restaurants.
After gaining experience here in Italy , he shifted to Dubai in 2010 and has worked there since then the list of Walid opening & handle in Dubai uae restaurants is long. It includes Stefano’s an Italian restaurant & Zahr El Laymoun a Lebanese restaurant & Emirgan Sutis a Turkish restaurant . He also working & opening the Taiba Management Group & Double Tree by Hilton Hotel & Now it’s working Store Manager in Mr. Kunafa Sweets in Dubai an outlet of authentic Turkish Baklava & Kunafa sweets.
In a brief discussion, Walid Sheliwa was asked about his career in general and what he feels about the future of the restaurant industry. He responded by saying, “My career has always flourished. And it continues to do so even today. The reason why I’ve always stepped up my game is because I believe in consistent growth. I don’t promote a hustle culture but do think that a healthy amount of ambition is important for you to move forward. I took that ambition and put it out in the universe. The one thing that has helped me in my journey is planning things ahead of time. I always make a goal list for myself. Whether it is about wanting to put efforts towards getting promoted or about opening up a new restaurant.
Talking about the future of the industry, Walid says, “Tech and innovation is surely going to dominate the restaurant business. More and more processes are becoming increasingly automated and the winners will be restaurants and hotels that adapt themselves to the fast-paced technological advancements. Apart from that, I believe there’s a trend of innovation that customers are not just liking but also looking forward to. It has become almost an expectation. That is why, personally, I come up with new concoctions and offer something new to people everytime they come into my restaurants. Authentic Italian and Turkish food are my specialities but innovation can never take a backseat.
Walid Mr wants to continue bringing fresh ideas to the restaurant industry. He plans to open up more chains of his Turkish and Italian restaurants in the future.
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