· CFO CONVERSATIONS · 2026
Compete with yourself every day. Use your head and heart. Deliver executable solutions on ground.
Anand Soni
Veteran CFO
Business Transformation & Multi-Industry Finance Leader
About
About Anand Soni.
Anand Soni is a Chartered Accountant from India and a US CPA with nearly three decades of leadership experience across the Middle East, including over 20 years in Dubai. He has led finance functions across family-owned conglomerates and diversified business groups spanning real estate, construction, contracting, retail, trading, manufacturing, FMCG, facilities management, and capital markets.
The impact delivered across complex enterprises.
KEY IMPACT
01
Led finance leadership across diversified business groups in the UAE for nearly 30 years
02
Guided businesses through the 2008 financial crisis, COVID disruption, and post-pandemic recovery
03
Delivered turnaround strategies, cost optimization, and banking negotiations during stressed environments
04
Built high-performing finance teams and mentored next-generation finance leaders
05
Enabled growth across multi-entity businesses while balancing risk, profitability, and cash flow
Interview Summary
A conversation on business CFO leadership, crisis & the future CFO.
01
When Finance Became Strategic
The CFO role has evolved from reporting and compliance into a business leadership function that influences growth, risk, and commercial outcomes.
02
The Rise of the Business CFO
Modern CFOs must understand business models, pricing, margins, collections, working capital, and operational levers—not just numbers.
03
Managing Owners & Boards
Trust is built when CFOs remove ego, communicate simply, listen deeply, and present executable solutions leaders can support.
04
Leading Through Crisis
During uncertainty, CFOs must stay calm, protect liquidity, communicate difficult truths, and focus on short-term wins that stabilize the enterprise.
05
The Future CFO
Tomorrow's CFO will combine technical expertise, business understanding, digital fluency, adaptability, and people leadership.
“A good CFO understands businesses.”
Anand Soni · Veteran CFO · Business Transformation Leader
Top CFOs of UAE 2026 is an editorial recognition highlighting finance leaders who strengthen the CFO ecosystem through broad experience, active contribution, and meaningful influence within their professional networks.