Our people
Who we are.
Zurani was founded on the belief that the art world deserves greater clarity. Our team brings together expertise across fine art, investment, private wealth and law, and operates with the independence and discretion our partners deserve.
Benjamin Tomkins
Benjamin brings more than a decade of experience at the intersection of finance and art. He served as Managing Director at advisory firm Arthur Avery, which later became Zurani. He co-founded and led sales at Intent Gallery, Dubai. Most recently, he has taken on a leadership role at Penbriar while continuing to guide Zurani’s strategy and growth. He sits on the Advisory Board of a single-family office and is Managing Director for Art & Alternative Investments at Mirai Capital Global.
His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and completion of the Alternative Investments programme at Harvard Business School Online. He also holds professional credentials from Sotheby’s Institute of Art and Christie’s Education in Art Finance and Investments, Art Law, and Market Economics. He has completed AML/KYC training with industry specialists.
As the art market becomes an increasingly important part of multi-generational wealth, Benjamin’s mission is to bridge art, capital, and legacy through careful stewardship and informed decision-making.
Pranav Jyoti
Pranav Jyoti co-founded Mirai Capital Global and Miraj MAC to advise sovereign families in the Middle East and Southeast Asia on multi-generational investment and succession. Raised in a family of educators and engineers, he studied at Michigan State University and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and views education as a lifelong social obligation. He serves on Purdue University’s “Victories & Heroes” steering committee, where he helps design executive programmes for family offices, and advises Blue Origin on aligning space and innovation agendas in the GCC, India, and Japan.
Over more than twenty years, Pranav has led or advised on initiatives across venture capital and private equity, family office strategy, and infrastructure projects spanning AI, fintech, energy, real estate, and smart mobility. He bridges the public and private sectors, bringing together sovereign funds, ministries, and corporates to build regional ecosystems.
He also serves as a board adviser on Japan–UAE capital relations, acts as Executive Director for Strategic Alliances at a royal private office, and contributes to regional policy initiatives on climate finance, ESG investment, and technology regulation.
George King
George King is a seasoned art advisor recognised for connecting collectors with exceptional artworks. He spent four years at Artsy, leading private sales on the world’s largest online marketplace for buying and selling art, contributing to its global expansion and helping connect collectors with outstanding pieces.
At Zurani, George specialises in developing and refining collections of emerging and blue-chip artworks, utilising deep market insight and a broad network to source rare works. Passionate about increasing access to art, he guides collectors through the market, identifies promising talent, and ensures each acquisition aligns with their vision.
His reputation for expertise, integrity, and personalised service makes him a trusted partner for collectors seeking to build and enrich their collections.
Professor Dahlia Mahmoud
Professor Dahlia Mahmoud is an expert in the cultural and creative industries and a higher education strategist. She is Professor of Visual & Experience Design at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences in Dubai, where she teaches creative digital storytelling in the MENA and GCC academic contexts. Her career spans research and development, entrepreneurship, and outreach initiatives; she has integrated interdisciplinary pedagogy with practical skills and has provided consultancy to advertising and management firms.
Professor Mahmoud has collaborated with government bodies, including the UAE’s Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture & Youth, and has led R&D projects centred on digital transformation and cultural promotion.
She serves on advisory boards including the Middle East PR Association, Hamzat Wasl, and the Culture & Heritage Academic Committee for Shindagha Museums, and frequently participates in international conferences, including Expo 2020 and Dubai Design Week.
Latifu Mumuni
Latifu Mumuni is a marketing and AI strategist with over ten years’ experience helping global organisations build audiences and navigate changing markets. His work sits at the crossroads of technology and culture, blending data-driven marketing skills with an in-depth understanding of how AI is transforming the art world, from how collectors find and acquire artworks to the rise of AI-generated art as a significant market force.
He supports collectors, investors, and cultural organisations in understanding this shift and remaining at the forefront.
Senior Architectural Designer
Luke Boncey
Luke brings over a decade of experience collaborating with leading interior design studios across the United Kingdom and the Middle East before founding his Dubai-based practice, Aureate 1.61. His work spans ultra-luxury private residences, hospitality destinations and high-end retail.
His portfolio includes commissions for members of the Dubai and Abu Dhabi Royal Families, alongside a number of high-net-worth private clients. Notable projects include the renovation of At.mosphere on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, the Mandarin Oriental Residences in Beverly Hills, and Four Seasons Resorts and Spas across Asia and the United States.
Through Aureate 1.61, Luke pursues a design philosophy rooted in the Golden Ratio and the classical principles of proportion. His work emphasises materiality, light and precision of detail. Interiors are composed for endurance rather than trend, with every element considered with intent. At Zurani, he contributes to curation and art consultancy, guiding the architectural integration of significant works within private and institutional environments.
We’d welcome the chance to introduce the right person.