Masala King Dr Dhananjay (Jay) Datar, chairman and managing director of Al Adil Trading, Dubai, was recently honored with the Retail ME ICONS Award, recognizing his passion and contribution to the advancement of the retail industry in the MENA region. Retail ME revealed its long-awaited list of the top retail leaders in the region at a ceremony hosted at JW Marquis, Business Bay in Dubai. Dr Datar received the award from Mohammed Al – Tahaineh, general manager – Projects, DAMAC, Dubai. Guests of honor at the event included Laila Mohammed Suhail, chief executive officer – Alliance and Partnership, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Dr Datar, popularly known as the Masala King, upon receiving the prestigious award, said, "It is a great honor to be recognized by Retail ME, which is one of the most credible media houses in the world. This is yet another achievement for our Al Adil Group, UAE's leading name for Indian spices and masalas. It is a great privilege to be honored by Retail ME and winning the coveted Retail ME ICONS award is an acknowledgment of our pioneering leadership in the business of retail in MENA. As I understand that stringent guidelines were followed by Retail ME, this recognition will enable my team and me to add more responsibility to what we do. This will motivate us to provide enhanced value to our customers in a socially responsible manner. I wish to thank Retail ME for providing me with this honor, which is also a reflection of the support I get from my beloved wife Vandana Datar, my dear sons Hrishikesh and Rohit and also my dedicated team of employees."

The objective behind the Retail ME ICONS award is to bring to the world who the top retailers in the region are. A Pioneer is someone who sees potential, builds the courage to lay out the foundation with the grit to explore and push boundaries. According to a note from the award organizers, the retailers who have won have demonstrated great leadership with clear examples of innovation. They are the entrepreneurs, initiators, and the first movers that have built the thriving retail ecosystem paramount to the region's economy. Al Adil has been recognized in this category.

Under the leadership of Masala King Dr Dhananjay Datar, Al Adil Trading has been instrumental in bringing 9000 Indian products in the UAE with a network of 49 outlets and is all set to open their 50th outlet soon. The group also produces more than 700 products within categories like readymade flours, spices, pickles, jams, Namkeen and instants, under its own brand Peacock. For the last 36 years, Dr Datar has been serving the Indian community in the Gulf region with authentic, hygienic and secure Indian foodstuff. His group's Indian arm, Masala King Exports (India), is operating from Mumbai. Al Adil Group has established special trade routes in USA, Canada, Kenya, Switzerland, Italy, Eretria, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE.