From housewife to CEO: She wanted to show her daughter that 'we can balance everything'

In a city that celebrates luxury like no other, where the skyline sparkles with gold and ambition, Anita Surani could have easily slipped into the comfortable life of a Dubai socialite. A sprawling Palm Jumeirah mansion, a pink G-Wagon for her teenage daughter, 24-karat gold ceilings overhead — everything was set for a life of glittering ease. But Anita had other plans. She wasn’t content being a passive participant in privilege. Instead, she turned her designer heels toward entrepreneurship and built a boutique design firm from scratch — all in the name of showing her daughter that ambition and balance can coexist.

A Life of Gold, Grit, and Guts

According to a report from the Gulf News, Anita’s story is one of contrasts, of abundance and effort, of sparkle and sweat. Born into a modest middle-class family, she worked her way through college in the U.S., juggling part-time jobs at a convenience store and a jewellery counter. It was during this phase of hustle that she met Moiz Khoja, the man who would become her partner in both business and life.

Moiz, like Anita, came from humble beginnings. He once cleaned restaurant floors and later built a tech retail empire from a small cell phone kiosk in an American mall. Together, the duo created a flourishing business with over 100 retail stores — Moiz managing the tech frontier, while Anita slowly carved her niche in interior design by working on their real estate projects.

From Family Projects to a Full-Fledged Firm

Armed with a design degree and a growing sense of confidence, Anita co-founded Zena Interiors — a name that reflects her deepest motivation: her daughter. What began as a two-person setup has since grown into a thriving team of over 40, including architects, engineers, designers, and creatives. The firm’s client list now includes luxury villas, restaurants, and stylish offices across Dubai.

But the road was anything but smooth. Dubai’s design scene is fiercely competitive, and American credentials didn’t always impress local clients. “People wanted someone who understood the regional aesthetic,” Anita recalls. “So we started with smaller jobs — offices, apartments — just to get the ball rolling.” Eventually, her team’s meticulous craftsmanship and design sensibility began to attract bigger projects and a loyal clientele.

Zena: The Muse Behind the Mission

For all the hustle and glitz, the real heart of Anita’s journey lies in motherhood. Her daughter Zena isn’t just her pride — she’s her purpose. “I wanted to show my daughter that we can balance everything,” Anita says. “That women can build something of their own and still be present at home. That’s why I named the company after her — Zena.”

It’s more than just a name. It’s a philosophy. Anita wants her daughter — and other young women — to grow up seeing that ambition isn’t at odds with femininity or family. That designer bags and business plans can go hand in hand. That high heels and higher goals aren’t mutually exclusive.

The Dubai Bling with a Business Brain

Anita may embody the high-maintenance Dubai aesthetic — gold ceilings, curated opulence, and a wardrobe to rival a fashion week runway — but she’s also a fierce businesswoman. When she launched her firm, her first instinct was to create a lavish office space, only to be firmly reminded by Moiz to get her priorities straight.

“He told me, ‘First pay off that office. Then make sure the employees are paid — from your pocket, not ours,’” Anita laughs. It’s this balance of style and substance, aesthetics and accountability, that has helped her business flourish.

Yes, she’s a self-proclaimed shopaholic who adores The Dubai Mall and jokes about her credit card bills. But the thrill of spending her own money — earned through her creativity, grit, and business acumen — hits different. “I enjoy money,” she says candidly. “But I enjoy it more when it’s mine.”