Mohnish Rikhy: Steering Packaging Innovation In A Rapidly Evolving Middle East
Mohnish Rikhy
President and CEO
Over the years, Indian professionals and entrepreneurs in the region have contri -buted to diverse sectors by combining strategic thinking, operational discipline and an ability to navigate multicultural business environments.
Their leadership journeys often reflect resilience, adaptability and a willingness to evolve alongside changing economic and geopolitical realities.
Mohnish Rikhy, President and CEO of United Carton Industries Company (UCIC), is one such leader whose journey has been closely associated with the transformation and expansion of the packaging enterprise.
Having served as CEO for the last 12 years, Rikhy is now reflecting on UCIC’s progress over the past five years, since we last spoke with him five years ago. Today, UCIC is the largest corrugated packaging company in MENA and South Asia, including India, with an approximate 40 percent market share in the KSA market.
Under his leadership, UCIC has evolved from a traditional packaging business into a more integrated, diversified and technology-enabled organization, while progressing toward becoming a nearly $400 million enterprise.
Reflecting on the past five years, Rikhy emphasizes that the organization’s roadmap was shaped collectively with the Board and colleagues.
The period brought significant opportunities alongside challenges, including the post-COVID environment, supply chain disruptions, changing market dynamics and ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting global supply chains. Rather than allowing these challenges to define the organization, UCIC continued to adapt and evolve.
A defining phase of this transformation was the company’s expansion beyond traditional corrugated packaging. UCIC entered the folding carton segment in 2022 through an acquisition in the Eastern region, followed by the acquisition of a containerboard mill in Dubai in 2023, strengthening its backward integration and establishing a presence in the UAE.
In 2024, the company further expanded through the acquisition of a corrugated packaging facility in Ras Al Khaimah. The successful listing of UCIC on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) in 2025 marked another significant milestone, enhancing accountability and creating a platform for its next phase of growth.
Technology has remained central to this transformation, with investments including the GCC’s first single-pass digital printing
press for corrugated packaging, alongside a sophisticated customer portal and AI-enabled customer interactions.
For Rikhy, the journey has reinforced a clear leadership philosophy: sustainable growth depends on consistency, disciplined execution, adapt ability and, above all, people. His approach centers on creating an environment where individuals can grow, take ownership and translate organizational strategy into meaningful action.
Leadership Built on Clarity and Consistency
As UCIC has expanded through investments and acquisitions, Rikhy’s leadership approach has evolved from directing decisions to creating clarity, empowering people and maintaining consistency.
He believes in consistency over intensity, implementation over intent, simplicity over complexity attitude over intelligence, and finding solutions within the organization before looking outside.
These principles shape UCIC’s focus on customer service, quality, reliability, innovation and continuous improvement. While technology and AI can enhance efficiency, Rikhy believes that trust, relationships, judgment and leadership remain fundamentally human.
As information, analysis, criticism and AI-generated inputs continue to multiply, he places increasing importance on filtering the clutter and returning to simplicity, common sense and strong fundamentals.
Building an Integrated Regional Packaging Platform
The period from 2021 to 2026 has been one of significant expansion and transformation for UCIC. The company has developed an eight-facility manufacturing network across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with annual production capacity of approximately 500,000 tons. Its growth has been driven by organic development strategic acquisitions, diversification and backward integration.
At the same time, the packaging market is changing rapidly, driven by shorter lead times, customization, sustainability, e-commerce and evolving consumer expectations. UCIC’s strategy has therefore moved beyond simply adding capacity toward creating a more integrated and responsive packaging platform.
The company works closely with customers to develop solutions combining functionality, sustainability and visual appeal for modern retail e-commerce and point-of-sale appli-cations. Its acquisitions have expanded capabilities and geographic reach, while backward integration through its UAE containerboard mill has strengthened supply security.
Diversified sourcing across local and international markets further reduces concentration risk, while investments in digital printing and customer technology enable faster response, customization, transparency and convenience.
Building Resilience through Disciplined Growth
One of Rikhy’s most significant challenges has been managing rapid growth while maintaining consistency across an expanding manufacturing network and a
For Rikhy, the journey has reinforced a clear leadership philosophy: sustainable growth depends on consistency, disciplined execution, adapt ability and, above all, people. His approach centers on creating an environment where individuals can grow, take ownership and translate organizational strategy into meaningful action.
Leadership Built on Clarity and Consistency
As UCIC has expanded through investments and acquisitions, Rikhy’s leadership approach has evolved from directing decisions to creating clarity, empowering people and maintaining consistency.
He believes in consistency over intensity, implementation over intent, simplicity over complexity attitude over intelligence, and finding solutions within the organization before looking outside.
These principles shape UCIC’s focus on customer service, quality, reliability, innovation and continuous improvement. While technology and AI can enhance efficiency, Rikhy believes that trust, relationships, judgment and leadership remain fundamentally human.
As information, analysis, criticism and AI-generated inputs continue to multiply, he places increasing importance on filtering the clutter and returning to simplicity, common sense and strong fundamentals.
Building an Integrated Regional Packaging Platform
The period from 2021 to 2026 has been one of significant expansion and transformation for UCIC. The company has developed an eight-facility manufacturing network across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with annual production capacity of approximately 500,000 tons. Its growth has been driven by organic development strategic acquisitions, diversification and backward integration.
At the same time, the packaging market is changing rapidly, driven by shorter lead times, customization, sustainability, e-commerce and evolving consumer expectations. UCIC’s strategy has therefore moved beyond simply adding capacity toward creating a more integrated and responsive packaging platform.
The company works closely with customers to develop solutions combining functionality, sustainability and visual appeal for modern retail e-commerce and point-of-sale appli-cations. Its acquisitions have expanded capabilities and geographic reach, while backward integration through its UAE containerboard mill has strengthened supply security.
Diversified sourcing across local and international markets further reduces concentration risk, while investments in digital printing and customer technology enable faster response, customization, transparency and convenience.
Building Resilience through Disciplined Growth
One of Rikhy’s most significant challenges has been managing rapid growth while maintaining consistency across an expanding manufacturing network and a
volatile external environment. Geo-political developments, changing customer behaviour, supply-chain uncertainty and rising expectations around lead times and sustainability have increased operational complexity.
As UCIC expanded, the organization focused on aligning processes quality systems, operating practices and performance measures across facilities. It also diversified container board sourcing to strengthen resilience.
The experience has reinforced Rikhy’s belief that growth creates value only when supported by the right people, systems, technology and discipline.
Challenges, in his view, should become opportunities to improve. In uncertain envi- ronments preparation, diversi -fication, disciplined execution and adaptability remain fundamental to sustainable growth.
Growing with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is creating opportunities for industrial development, localization, technology adoption and manufacturing excellence.
Since packaging supports sectors including FMCG, retail, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals and industrial production Rikhy sees considerable potential for the industry.
UCIC is positioning itself through organic investments and strategic acquisitions while expanding complementary packaging capabilities and strengthening its regional footprint.
Localization and supply security remain priorities, supported by its container board mill and diversified sourcing strategy. Investments in digital printing, automation, ERP, customer platforms and AI are also creating a more responsive organization.
Looking ahead, Rikhy’s vision is to build UCIC into a stronger, more integrated and future-ready packaging group through geographic expansion, comple- mentary packaging segments, organic investments and strategic acquisitions.
Innovation, AI, digital transformation and sustainable manufacturing will remain priorities, while people will continue to be central to its growth. Through capability building and its Skill Development Centre, UCIC aims to develop the talent and leadership required for its next phase.
Being recognized among the ‘Prominent Indian Leaders from the Middle East 2026’, Rikhy views the recognition not simply as a personal achievement, but as a reflection of the contributions of colleagues, employees, customers, suppliers, the Board and shareholders who have been part of UCIC’s journey.
Mohnish Rikhy, President and CEO, United Carton Industries Company (UCIC)
Mohnish Rikhy is the President and CEO of United Carton Industries Company (UCIC), where he has played a key role in driving the company’s transformation, expansion and technology-led growth across Saudi Arabia and the UAE. His leadership emphasizes disci- plined execution, adapt - ability, customer focus and people development.
As UCIC expanded, the organization focused on aligning processes quality systems, operating practices and performance measures across facilities. It also diversified container board sourcing to strengthen resilience.
The experience has reinforced Rikhy’s belief that growth creates value only when supported by the right people, systems, technology and discipline.
Challenges, in his view, should become opportunities to improve. In uncertain envi- ronments preparation, diversi -fication, disciplined execution and adaptability remain fundamental to sustainable growth.
Growing with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is creating opportunities for industrial development, localization, technology adoption and manufacturing excellence.
Since packaging supports sectors including FMCG, retail, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals and industrial production Rikhy sees considerable potential for the industry.
UCIC is positioning itself through organic investments and strategic acquisitions while expanding complementary packaging capabilities and strengthening its regional footprint.
Localization and supply security remain priorities, supported by its container board mill and diversified sourcing strategy. Investments in digital printing, automation, ERP, customer platforms and AI are also creating a more responsive organization.
Looking ahead, Rikhy’s vision is to build UCIC into a stronger, more integrated and future-ready packaging group through geographic expansion, comple- mentary packaging segments, organic investments and strategic acquisitions.
Innovation, AI, digital transformation and sustainable manufacturing will remain priorities, while people will continue to be central to its growth. Through capability building and its Skill Development Centre, UCIC aims to develop the talent and leadership required for its next phase.
Being recognized among the ‘Prominent Indian Leaders from the Middle East 2026’, Rikhy views the recognition not simply as a personal achievement, but as a reflection of the contributions of colleagues, employees, customers, suppliers, the Board and shareholders who have been part of UCIC’s journey.
Mohnish Rikhy, President and CEO, United Carton Industries Company (UCIC)
Mohnish Rikhy is the President and CEO of United Carton Industries Company (UCIC), where he has played a key role in driving the company’s transformation, expansion and technology-led growth across Saudi Arabia and the UAE. His leadership emphasizes disci- plined execution, adapt - ability, customer focus and people development.