SHEELA RAHIM
Sheela Rahim, managing director of the Al Rawi Printing Press based in Sharjah, is a role model and inspiration for all the women entrepreneurs who aspire to make it big in the UAE. It is her sheer passion, determination and hardwork that have helped her reach where she is today. Being at the helm of an organization with around 85 employees, she attributes her success to the support and guidance of her husband Adv Y A Rahim and other family members, and above all, the blessings of the Almighty.Sheela was an ambitious girl who was born and brought up in Kerala and she wanted to run a business on her own some day. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Alphonsa College and a Postgraduate Degree in Computer Application, after which she developed an interest in printing industry. She came to Dubai in 1992 and worked in the administration department of a printing press for two years, which gave her a lot of opportunities to learn more about the industry.In 1995, she started a printing press of her own named as ‘Candour’. In the initial years of struggle, she had the support of her husband, siblings Joy Francis, Mini Tom and brotherin- law Tom Thomas. She also acknowledges the contributions of their first employee, Jaison P Beniyam, who is currently the production manager of Al Rawi, towards the progress of her initiative. They worked as a team with an aim to grow further in business. For that they took efforts to learn and understand the needs and expectations of the customers and trends in the industry. Their hard work came to fruition within two years, in 1997, when they opened the Al Rawi Printing Press.
In Al Rawi, a high quality control system ensures that high standards are maintained throughout the printing process. They have the latest computerized Heidelberg machineries that can print as many as 15,000 sheets per hour, which reduces the per page printing cost to a great extent. High quality papers are imported directly from the manufacturers, which further reduces prices for the end products.
With their commitment to quality and perfection, Al Rawi has carved a niche in the printing industry and has won many loyal customers. Today they run it more as a family business, with Joy Francis being the sales manager, Thomson Thomas, executive director, and Mini Tom, finance manager. They are leading a team more than 85 dedicated employees in serving their ever-increasing client base. The management of Al Rawi is always keen to ensure that their employees are satisfied with their jobs and the benefits they receive. Above all, in Al Rawi employees are working in a family atmosphere of sharing and caring, which gives them a feeling of belongingness. 
The progress of Al Rawi from a small entity to a major player in the thriving printing industry field in the UAE is really appreciable. They deliver top quality products and services at competent rates to their customers, using high quality raw materials and highly sophisticated modern machinery. Al Rawi always upholds the motto ‘Customer is king’ and makes earnest efforts to meet the expectations of the customers and retain the trust they have bestowed on them. The press functions 24 hours a day and the employees have flexible work schedules.
Al Rawi has no outsider salesmen to market their products. All their new customers approach them for the quality of their service and for the reputation they have created with years of superior service and dedication. The company has received the International Organization for Standardization 9001: 2008, 14001: 2004 and 18001: 2007 certifications in all the three sectors- safety, quality and environment. Sheela Rahim has also won many accolades for her achievements and her contributions towards the society, including an award from IOC Sharjah. Sheela believes that it is with the support and guidance of her husband Adv Y A Rahim that Al Rawi has evolved as an entity and she, as a person.
Rahim is the current president of the Indian Association Sharjah. He has served as president for 11 years in previous terms and three years as general secretary, making immense contributions towards Indo-Arab unity. Despite his busy schedule, Rahim finds time to fulfill his duties as the executive director of the Al Rawi, giving valuable suggestions and guidance for its progress. The couple has two children- Shyam Rahim, an MBA student, and Sruthi Rahim, who is pursuing Electronic Engineering. Both are studying in Dubai.
Sheela is a person who always tackles challenges in a creative way and she thinks that the greatest challenge she has to handle in business is the credit policy and credit terms. They have a fool-proof evaluation process for their clients to provide credit. With an aim to increase the quality and quantity of production, Al Rawi applied for extra power consumption to the authorities, which was duly approved and allotted. They have also bought a CD 102 5 Colour LXUV machine that has accelerated the productivity of the press manifold. Sheela is so dedicated to her profession that she takes care of the business as her own child.
Al Rawi is specialized in manufacturing high quality luxury perfume boxes, chocolate boxes, pharmaceutical boxes, and tissue boxes. They are experts in all packaging-related activities along with brochures, catalogues, posters, magazines, diaries, calendars and other stationery items. The products of Al Rawi are being exported to USA, African and other Middle Eastern countries.
Despite the increasing number of printing presses in the UAE, the Al Rawi team is not afraid of the future. They are upbeat instead, and believe that with God’s grace and their hard work, they can keep on scaling newer heights.