Celebrating Local Business Success
A Newport Business Awards Nomination
My Salah Mat has been shortlisted for the Newport Business Awards 2026 in the category of International Business of the Year.
The recognition is a proud moment for the company and for its founder, Kamal Ali, who has always been open about the importance of his roots in Newport. The awards celebrate businesses that contribute to the city’s economic growth while making an impact beyond the local community.
Alongside My Salah Mat, the shortlist includes several impressive organisations: Inspired Business Media, Industrial Automation & Control, and KLA. Each company represents different sectors and scales of operation, highlighting the diversity of business success emerging from Newport.
The awards are supported by Newport City Council, which continues to champion local enterprise and recognise businesses that contribute to the city’s reputation both nationally and internationally.
A Moment of Reflection
When Kamal first saw the shortlist, he admits he had a brief moment of doubt. Competing alongside companies of such scale can feel intimidating.
But then he remembered something important.
These are the Newport Business Awards.
And for Kamal, that means something deeply personal.
A Story Rooted in Newport
Growing Up in Pill
Kamal’s journey begins in Pill, Newport, where he grew up and attended Pill Primary School, later continuing his education at Duffryn High School and University of South Wales.
Today, Newport is still home. Kamal lives in the city with his family, and his children attend local schools. The connection to the community has remained constant throughout his journey as an entrepreneur.
For Kamal, being shortlisted is not just recognition for a business. It is recognition for a journey that began locally and grew outward.
Building My Salah Mat
My Salah Mat began with a simple idea and a clear problem to solve: helping families learn Salah at home in a way that is simple, engaging, and free from screens.
In the early days, the project was modest: one person, one product, one mission. But the idea resonated with many families.
Over time, the company expanded beyond Newport, developing educational products used by Muslim families around the world.
Today, My Salah Mat has supported over 100,000 people globally, exporting to more than 40 countries. The company now operates with a UK team supported by a wider global network, with key markets in the United States, the Middle East, and Europe.
Education Beyond Products
Beyond sales and exports, Kamal emphasises that the core mission has always been education.
Through its products and free learning resources, My Salah Mat has helped hundreds of thousands of families learn and practise one of the pillars of their faith in their own homes.
This focus on accessible education remains central to the brand’s identity.
For Kamal, the nomination represents more than a business milestone. It is a reminder of how far an idea that started in Newport has travelled. Whatever the outcome of the awards, he remains proud to continue building a global educational brand from the city he still calls home, which becomes a proof that a local story can reach families all over the world.
FAQs
1. What are the Newport Business Awards?
The Newport Business Awards recognise companies that contribute to economic growth and innovation in Newport while making an impact beyond the local community.
2. What is My Salah Mat and what does it do?
My Salah Mat creates interactive educational products designed to help families and children learn how to pray Salah in a simple and engaging way.
3. What category was My Salah Mat shortlisted for?
My Salah Mat was shortlisted for International Business of the Year at the Newport Business Awards 2026.
4. How many countries does My Salah Mat export to?
My Salah Mat products are now used in over 40 countries, with strong markets in the USA, the Middle East, and Europe.
5. What is the mission of My Salah Mat?
The mission is to help families learn and practise Salah at home through engaging, accessible educational tools.
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