The First Woman in F&B and Hospitality to Receive the UAE Golden Visa, Panchali Mahendra Managing Director of Atelier House Smashing The Glass Ceiling

Panchali Mahendra, Managing Director of Atelier House Hospitality has just been honored with the UAE Golden visa. Smashing the glass ceiling in a largely male dominated industry, Panchali is one of the very few (if possibly only) women who runs a global hospitality enterprise in the Middle East, and currently she is the only woman in the F&B industry to be awarded the Golden visa for her contributions and accomplishments to the UAE. 

Panchali Mahendra, Managing Director of Atelier House Hospitality

In only 4 years, as Managing Director of Atelier House Hospitality, under the guidance of Founder and CEO Ahmass Fakahany, Panchali has bought internationally acclaimed Michelin star restaurant Marea to Dubai, which has won its own local accolades and awards. She conceptualized and directed from inception local home-grown brand Mohalla, which is a Dubai homegrown Indian restaurant brand set to open 10 new locations in Saudi - as well as setting brand visions for opening in other international locations planned for the near future.

Looking at what is next in Dubai, Mahendra with Atelier House Hospitality is also partnering on a new and exciting unique concept called 11 Woodfire, in collaboration with a celebrity chef, in late fall of 2021.

Mahendra has featured in the Power 50 List (only Indian woman to ever make the list) and The Power Women list in 2020 and 2021.

Speaking about the honor of receiving the Golden Visa, Panchali Mahendra says, “I am extremely honored and grateful for the recognition and privilege in being awarded the 10-year golden visa. I am thankful to Federal Authority for Identity and Nationality and General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs- Dubai for recognizing my efforts. To be recognized based fully on my skills and contribution to the industry and achievement in such a competitive field is such an honor. I look forward to fulfilling the expectations and mentoring and inspiring many other young women who want to succeed in this industry. CEO Mr. Fakahany believed in me and has unraveled my potential, and I am committed to do the same in turn for others. This honor without doubt is also shared with our entire team and colleagues for their relentless efforts and support.”