Born on 18 November 1954 in Mombasa, Kenya, Prof. Esmail Harunani is a distinguished dental surgeon, healthcare entrepreneur, academic, and community leader. He is married to Mariam and has four children and eleven grandchildren. His family reflects strong professional values, with two daughters registered pharmacists, one son a practising solicitor, and another a dental surgeon with a special interest in oral surgery.

Arriving in the UK in 1974, he qualified with a BDS from the University of Bristol in 1979 and has since attained numerous postgraduate qualifications, including MFDS (RCS England, Edinburgh and Glasgow), MFGDP, DPDS with distinction, Diploma in Restorative Dentistry, FFGDP (UK), and an MSc in Clinical Leadership from the University of Glasgow. He is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Nairobi and a former Clinical Teacher at King’s College London, and has served as an examiner for multiple Royal College examinations.

Starting from humble beginnings, he opened his first NHS dental practice in 1986 and went on to found Dentistry For You, now a group of over 20 practices with more than 300 staff, providing NHS and private care with exceptional patient satisfaction. He is CEO of Harunani & Co Group, encompassing healthcare, property, education, and charitable ventures, including Dentac and the Harunani & Co Charitable Foundation.

His leadership has been widely recognised through major awards, including Professional Businessman of the Year (2014), Leadership Excellence in Dentistry (2018), and multiple national awards in 2025. Internationally, he has expanded into Saudi Arabia with Oasis Clinics and serves as a director of World of Hospitality.

A lifelong advocate of NHS access, ethical leadership, faith-driven service, and community welfare, Prof. Harunani has created over 120 jobs, pioneered inclusive care models, and led extensive charitable and community initiatives locally and globally.