Kerala has one of the most remarkable stories in modern economic history. For decades, Malayali professionals and entrepreneurs have crossed the Arabian Sea and built thriving businesses across the Gulf — in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. They helped build the Gulf, and in doing so, they built Kerala too.
Visal K K, a digital marketing and SEO professional from Kochi, watched this story unfold with deep admiration. He saw small businesses — restaurants, salons, trading companies, service providers — working hard every day but struggling to get found online. In a region where word-of-mouth still drives discovery, these businesses deserved a better digital presence.
"I always admired how Kerala expats in the Middle East managed to thrive in a challenging environment, and still contributed to the economy back home. I wanted to build something that honoured that spirit and made their lives a little easier."
— Visal K K, Founder of MyMidlistInspired by the business legacy of visionaries like MA Yousuf Ali — whose journey from Kerala to becoming one of the Middle East's most respected entrepreneurs is a symbol of what is possible — Visal decided to contribute something tangible. He would build a free, accessible platform that gave every business in the region a real digital presence and a fighting chance to be discovered.
MyMidlist launched in 2022. What began as a simple listing directory has grown into a trusted resource covering 8 countries, 200+ business categories, and thousands of verified listings — all free to submit, all curated for quality.
