After cancer diagnosis, UAE expat Mauro Cirelli found a new purpose in hiking
A health crisis in 2022 prompted British expat Mauro Cirelli to rethink the long hours he had devoted to his career. He later founded Lost, also known as The Lost Hikers, an outdoor community in the UAE built around time in nature, shared experiences and respect for local traditions.
Layla Haddad
The health warning that changed his priorities
Cirelli had put off getting medical advice about a hoarse voice for months because he was busy with work. Chest pains finally brought him to a doctor. Doctors discovered a cancerous growth on his vocal cord and warned that he faced the risk of a heart attack.
He was hospitalized immediately and received a stent. The cardiac treatment meant doctors had to delay a biopsy of the vocal cord growth for three months, leaving him uncertain about the diagnosis. When the biopsy could finally be performed, it confirmed the growth was malignant.
The experience made him question his habit of treating stress, long hours and relentless effort as evidence of professional commitment. "There is a fine line between passion and self-harm," he told Gulf News. His advice now is: "We should be working smart, not hard."
"My posture changed, my values realigned. I got the message and this is when I decided I wanted to live happily, every day," he said.
Building a career in the UAE
Cirelli's connection to the country began with a business trip in 2012. As director of franchise operations for an Italian coffee shop brand, he visited Abu Dhabi after the company opened a store there. He liked the capital enough to want to return, and in 2014 he accepted a job in the UAE.
He credits the country's merit-based culture with helping him advance into leadership positions at locally based companies. "The UAE is an open book and what you write into it is what you get out of it," he said. Working across different environments with colleagues from diverse backgrounds also shaped his personal and professional outlook.
His LinkedIn profile lists 23 years and 8 months of professional experience. His senior positions have included Regional Director of Operations at Independent Food Company and two roles at Majid Al Futtaim: Head of F&B (Leisure & Entertainment) MENA and Head of F&B for KSA.
In a December 31, 2025, LinkedIn post, Cirelli said he had left his corporate roles in 2024. He called 2025 a "transition year" and described himself as "very happily unemployed" by choice after years in senior food and beverage roles.
From a personal change to a hiking community
Cirelli's decision to pursue a healthier, happier life developed into Lost. Exploring the UAE outdoors gave him a sense of freedom, enjoyment of the present and connections with people who shared his interests.
"I had finally swapped a corporate office for a tent in Wadi Shawka and a suit for shorts and boots," he said.
By the time of his December 2025 LinkedIn post, he reported that The Lost Hikers had attracted more than 120 people representing more than 30 nationalities and had held more than 30 events. Building the community had been a focus of his transition year.
Cirelli sees the group as more than a way to arrange hikes. He wants participants to have a welcoming place to break from their routines, get to know others and experience the benefits of being outdoors. The community also aims to create employment opportunities and encourage responsible outdoor activities.
Respect for the country and its outdoor traditions
For Cirelli, contributing to the UAE begins with personal values and respect for the country he has called home since 2014. "Giving back is a personal, inward journey before it is a philanthropic venture," he said.
He said recent geopolitical issues had not led him to consider leaving. Instead, he made a point of thanking people he encountered in military uniform by shaking their hands.
That sense of responsibility also informs the group's hikes and camping trips. He asks participants to keep outdoor areas clean, care for nature and respect local customs, including in their encounters with farmers and rural residents. He hopes to collaborate with organizations on projects that offer practical benefits to the wider community.
Another ambition is to help residents and newcomers understand the UAE's outdoor traditions through Emiratis who have enjoyed its landscapes for generations. Rather than approaching those places only as visitors, he encourages participants to learn from local people, whether families gathering for barbecues, children playing outside or groups spending time in the wadis.
He points to family gatherings in Wadi Shawka as an example: "There is nothing more 'local' than a family making a BBQ in Wadi Shawka."
