World Arabia

AT THE START OF THE COMING YEAR, the ME Hotel will host a photography exhibition showcasing the subjects of the “66 Russian-Speaking Entrepreneurs of the UAE” project. The esteemed Russian photographer, Slava Novikov, has captured the portraits of these individuals, who are instrumental in shaping the nation’s business landscape. The exhibition seeks to provide insight into the inner world of these entrepreneurs, highlighting their motivation and philosophies. Through Novikov’s lens, we perceive not only confidence and success but also a profound passion for their work, as well as the inner strength and richness that propel them forward. Each portrait illustrates a distinctive story of ambition and vision, reflecting individuals who are making a positive impact on the world.…

FOR HUMANITY, WHAT THE WAY IS is one of the sacred and invariably eternal questions of philosophy. In Ancient China, for example, the Way was denoted by the hieroglyph Dao, where the left part means “to go forward” and the right part means “paramount”. In other words, Dao (the way) is to follow the main road. Perhaps that’s why in Dubai they say, “It doesn’t matter where you came from; what matters is where you’re going.” Entrepreneurs have always been ahead of their time; their innovative and unconventional solutions have been changing the world for centuries. Today, the main indicator of success is not so much about money as it is about the meaning that underpins the company. If it’s packaging, it’s made from recycled materials (sustainable); if it’s a…

OUR COMPANY’S STORY begins with my husband’s grandfather, and now four generations have continued his legacy. First the grandfather, then the father, now my husband and I, and finally, our children. Our joint venture in England was founded in 2018, but there’s a long history preceding it. My husband was involved in dismantling transport vehicles and collaborated with the Discovery Channel. Hollywood films were even shot on their premises. Meeting my husband completely changed my life. We instantly knew we were made for each other. He proposed on the day we met. At the time, he was collaborating with a partner from Belarus, while I was studying at a university of foreign languages and working part-time as a tutor. That’s how our love story and joint business began. With my…

I AM MICHEL DAHER, a Lebanese national born and raised in Beirut. After completing my schooling in Lebanon, I pursued my dream of becoming a dentist by studying the craft in Russia and Ukraine. Upon returning to my homeland, I embarked on my dental career in earnest, eventually opening my own clinic and later expanding to establish a polyclinic housing eleven medical specialists. It was a proud achievement, the realisation of a long-held ambition. But alongside my dental practice, I nurtured another passion — a desire to create something that would bring joy and celebration to people’s lives. This took the form of organising charity festivals, an endeavour I undertook simply for the love of it. Little did I know that this modest side project would blossom into my life’s…

I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN DUBAI for 11 years now. Today, I have several companies, one of which is the Roasters coffee shop chain, co-owned with partners. I am a huge fan of quality products, and when it comes to coffee, I am principled about making the best in the best locations. Roasters has evolved from my hobby into a full-fledged business and a relatively large independent company. This is my second coffee enterprise; I sold my first one at the end of 2020. Following that, I spent a considerable amount of time searching for genuinely high-quality coffee in the city. Ultimately, I decided to import the finest beans from around the world and prepare the coffee myself. We rented a large commercial villa in the Jumeirah area on Al…

CHALET BEREZKA IN DUBAI is the result of our joint project with the renowned restaurateur Anton Viner, who owns numerous establishments worldwide. To mitigate risks, my friend and businessman Mikhail Karepin and I decided to invest in this restaurant together. It all began in 2016 when Anton proposed The Point location, owned by Nakheel Properties. The developer promised to transform this spot into a tourist attraction hub and organise the longest fountains in Dubai. We signed all the documents, but the construction was delayed for reasons beyond our control. The restaurant’s renovation took over a year due to Nakheel’s delays in connecting utilities. The talented Sundukov sisters created the restaurant’s design. Finally, we opened, but the promised fountain never materialised, and visitor numbers were low. The competition in Dubai is…