10 questions for… Organic Press Dubai

Forget coffee, go to LA and it’s all about pressed juice. Shoppers on Rodeo Drive all have some sort of organic, vegan medley of blended fruit and veg in hand. Chris Vahanian spotted the trend while studying at UCLA and along with his brother Daniel, who was an engineer at the time, decided to take the concept home to Dubai.

What started at a personal health kick in early 2014 is now a fully-fledged business. Organic Press Dubai make raw juices out of fruit and vegetables. All are packed with enzymes, vitamins and minerals, and they’re now available in six locations, as well as their online store. We caught up with the entrepreneurs and asked them ten questions about life in Dubai.

How long have you been in Dubai?
Chris: I was actually born and raised in Dubai and spent my entire adolescent years here. But I did spent the last five years abroad in Los Angeles studying in university before I moved back to Dubai in March of last year.
Daniel: Over 30 years. I was born and raised her and wouldn’t exchange my experiences growing up here for anywhere else. Dubai is my home.

Friday afternoon means…
Chris: Time well spent with the family. Now that 2 of my elder siblings are married and have children on the way, Friday seems like the best day to spend time with them.
Daniel: Spending a day with family, having fun and catching up.

Guests have flown in to see you for a weekend and they’ve never been here before. What three things do you do?
Chris:
1. Dubai desert dafari
2. Skydive Dubai
3. Burj Khalifa

Daniel:
1. Dune bashing in the desert
2. Ski Dubai
3. Dubai’s nightlife

Where do you go to get a taste of home?
Chris: Being originally Lebanese Armenian, to get a little taste of home, I must say a visit to my aunt’s house will surely do the trick. She is adamant on cooking food that is solely home based and the culture of her house always seems like home.
Daniel: I would have to say my aunt’s place. Her cooking reminds me of my grandmother.

What one thing could they introduce to Dubai that would immeasurably improve the quality of your life?
Chris: Focus on more home grown local based companies.
Daniel: A variety of healthy eateries like in the US and London. I’m always looking for healthy places to eat and I think there are not enough of that in Dubai.

If you had to spend AED100,000 in a single Dubai shop, which one would you choose and what would you buy?
Chris: I would have to say Organic Press Dubai. I would purchase enough juice to last me a lifetime!
Daniel: I would reinvest in my business and try to expand and be the number one organic cold pressed juice company in the UAE and hopefully in the MENA region.

What do you do in Dubai that you never do anywhere else in the world?
Chris: Spending quality time with the whole entire and extended family all in one place. Those types of gatherings are my favourite.
Daniel: Ski and snowboard in the middle of the desert. Where else would you do that?!