Excellence In Global Shipping With Varamar Dubai: Niraj Mehta

We recently had the opportunity to have an insightful conversation with Niraj Mehta, Managing Director at Varamar, Dubai. With a demonstrated history of working in the maritime industry, Niraj has a track record of delivering top-notch strategic solutions to drive business growth.

Varamar offers the best shipping solutions globally for all types of cargo, regardless of size or destination. Leveraging his strong experience in the field, Niraj Mehta plays an instrumental role in establishing Varamar as a dominant name as a global shipping operator.

Table of Contents

Spark Behind the Journey

We started the interview by asking, “What inspired you to start or lead this business, and how has the journey surprised you?”

Niraj shared, “I had a strong role model at home — my mother, who retired as a Senior General Manager at a leading multinational freight forwarding company. Watching her navigate this male-dominated industry with confidence and clarity inspired me to follow a similar path. What continues to surprise me about this industry is its constant evolution. You never truly master it — there’s always a new market, regulation, challenge, or innovation. Each surprise becomes a new learning curve, and that’s what keeps the journey dynamic and meaningful.”

Advice to Younger Self

We were curious to learn what Niraj Mehta’s advice would be for his own self, if he could travel back to the first year in this role.

He reflected, “I would remind myself that success in this business is built on people. Prioritizing the right team, nurturing strong relationships across the supply chain, and staying open to feedback are critical. Technical knowledge is essential, but it’s human connection and trust that drive long-term growth.”

Navigating through Uncertainties

We further asked, “How do you approach solving problems that don’t have clear solutions?”

“In our industry, ambiguity is the norm. When facing a complex challenge, I first step back and reframe the issue: what exactly is happening, who is affected, and what success looks like in this context. This clarity allows me to explore options from a fresh perspective. I also believe in engaging the team early — sometimes, the best solutions come from unexpected corners of the room,” explained Niraj.

Lessons Learnt throughout the Journey

A professional journey is filled with inevitable challenges, often leaving behind important lessons for a lifetime. To learn more about such experiences, we asked Niraj Mehta, “Can you share a unique experience that shaped the way you run your business?”

He mentioned, “There was a moment when a major trade route was suddenly closed, and we had to reroute a vessel on a significantly longer voyage. The real challenge wasn’t just adjusting the route — it was finding the right, freight-paying cargo to turn this situation into a profitable journey. That experience taught me the value of agility, strong market intelligence, and having a trusted network. Since then, that alternative route has become one of our regular trade lanes.”

Out-of-the-box Ideas for Success

At times, even the most unconventional and risky idea can unexpectedly lead to success. Intrigued to learn more about this aspect, we requested Niraj Mehta to share such ideas, if ever implemented by him at Varamar.

“We decided to share our internal vessel tracking system with select clients. At first, this felt risky — opening up our processes could expose us. But it ended up building a new level of trust and transparency with customers. They appreciated the access and real-time visibility, and it deepened our partnerships. Sometimes, openness becomes your biggest strength,” shared Niraj.

Staying Ahead of the Curve

By staying updated with the latest trends and adapting to the right ones, one can play a crucial role in the business growth. So, we asked, “How do you identify and seize the latest opportunities in your industry?”

Niraj explained, “We stay closely tuned to our clients — asking insightful questions, listening actively, and being genuinely curious about their evolving needs. In parallel, we monitor trade publications, port activity, and new contract announcements. Being proactive and adaptable is key. We don’t just wait for opportunities to come to us — we anticipate them and position ourselves early.”

A Resilient Leader

We asked Niraj Mehta to describe his leadership style in one word, and the reason behind choosing the same.

“Resilient. This industry teaches you to expect the unexpected. Every day brings a new challenge — sometimes external, sometimes internal — and resilience is what helps you respond with clarity, creativity, and consistency,” he added.