In 2001, Huda Janahi embarked on her entrepreneurial journey by founding Global Cargo and Traveller Services in Muharraq, Bahrain, with just BD 1,000 in startup capital. At the outset, her application for a commercial cargo license was rejected because she was a woman—officials deemed cargo business “not for women.” Undeterred, she enrolled in the UNIDO entrepreneurship development programme, which helped her secure regulatory approval and business training. By 2001, she finally obtained her license and began formal operations. 

Within a few years, Janahi’s company thrived, handling niche and complex shipments—including live animals—and offering personalized services beyond standard cargo offerings. In 2008, she negotiated a US $3 million merger with Kuwait’s Global Logistic Company, expanding her footprint across the Gulf region. Today, her Global Group encompasses eight companies spanning services, retail, media, and manufacturing, with total staff around 85 people and a net worth estimated at US $25 million. 

Huda Janahi has received numerous prestigious awards:
• Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders (Best Arab Start‑Up, 2005) under the patronage of Dubai’s ruler. 
• Investor of the Year Award (Young Innovative Entrepreneur) at the OECD’s 2006 MENA Ministerial Meeting in Jordan. 
• GCC Young Entrepreneur Award, Women in Business Conference, Oman, 2008. 
• UNIDO Leader Entrepreneur Award, presented at the UN in Vienna, for transforming a homemaker into a multimillion‑dollar entrepreneur within seven years. 
• Named among the “50 Most Powerful Arab Women” by Forbes in 2008. 
• Designated UNIDO “Entrepreneurs Ambassador” in 2011, promoting women’s economic empowerment. 
• Honoured with the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshani Award (2015) for her contributions to women’s entrepreneurial advancement. 
• Winner of the IWEC International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge (2015) alongside another Bahraini businesswoman, recognized for global market access and social impact.