Indholdsfortegnelse for Autumn 2024 i 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.…

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…

THE PROJECT STARTED WITH THE IDEA of creating a space where people from different social strata could come together around hookah. This place was originally conceived as a kind of club where news, cryptocurrencies, cars — everything that might interest a modern person — were discussed. The first establishment opened in the centre of Moscow, surrounded by prestigious universities. The setting was simple: a few tables placed close together created an atmosphere where everyone could hear their neighbours’ conversations. Within a month, the establishment acquired its unique atmosphere — a club uniting people of different statuses. Hookah became the unifying link. Today, we continue to develop this concept. We’ve added an excellent bar and exquisite cuisine — we even worked with a Michelinstarred chef from Dubai. However, all this remains…

They say that a crisis is the best time for growth. Our experience fully confirms this. Yes, building a global banking service from scratch is difficult and risky. But if you believe in your idea and work hard, anything is possible. THE IDEA FOR CREATING 3S MONEY came to me in 2018 when I encountered a problem opening an account for my company in the Netherlands. Imagine: a sunny May day in Amsterdam, I walk out of the notary’s office with a stack of documents about the company registration. Full of hopes and plans, I enter the first bank I come across — ING. I fill out a heap of papers, hand over the contracts, and then they ask me to present my passport. The employee’s face changes: “Sorry, we…

FINEX was founded by my father in 2001. It is a family business built on the experience of several generations. My grandfather, Ivan Melekhov, was an outstanding scientist in the field of forestry and the first director and founder of the Institute of Forestry in Russia. My uncle also pursued scientific activities, and my father, Evgeny Melekhov, continued studying forests and held a doctorate in biological sciences. The emergence of the FINEX brand was a natural continuation of family traditions: invaluable experience and a serious scientific foundation formed the basis of the company and its proprietary production technologies. Over 23 years in the market, I have managed to lead the company to become an industry leader. By partnering with the world’s best designers and architects, we have completed over 300,000…

KSENIA GABLIYA: In the business world, where each day brings new challenges and opportunities, our story began over 15 years ago. In Moscow, as independent professionals, Anastasia and I met and united thanks to the city. For two years now, we have been working in tandem, creating and developing a company that has become our shared endeavour. ANASTASIA MOISEENKO: Dubai has become our new home and a platform for realising ambitious projects. Our company has been here for two and a half years, but the experience and skills accumulated over the previous years have become the foundation of our success. In this city, we understood each other’s strengths and learned to support and develop them. Our first clients in Dubai were Muscovites who had moved, with whom we had worked…

ROMAN CHERTKOV: Dubai is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic cities on the planet today, attracting not only tourists but also those seeking work, business opportunities, and an escape from the winter chill. It’s a place where an environment is being shaped that inspires both living and investing. ALEXEY KURATCHENKO: Our first experience working in Dubai was about a decade ago when a client requested that we design and implement an apartment project. It’s a fairly standard situation in our profession. By that time, we already had experience working in European countries, but no projects completed in Dubai. We developed the design, arrived, supervised, and built. However, along the way, we encountered all sorts of pitfalls, from working with local teams to the peculiarities of local regulations and meeting deadlines.…

I WAS BORN AND RAISED in the very heart of Moscow, on Stary Arbat (Old Arbat), attended nursery school in the alleys of Arbat, graduated from MGIMO University with a degree in International Relations, and began a diplomatic career — working at the embassy in Paris, then at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Moscow. It seemed like my life path was predetermined. But everything changed with the birth of my son. Motherhood didn’t just turn my world upside down; it completely transformed my life priorities and aspirations. I suddenly realised how important it was for me to provide my child with the ideal environment for development and growth — the way I envisioned it myself. I left diplomacy and returned to my hometown nursery school in Sivtsev Vrazhek…

SMBAT ALIKHANYAN: I worked in public service from the age of 20 to 30, then left when I realised my presence there had lost its meaning. That’s when I understood I wanted to become an independent businessman, making my own decisions about my fate and life. The entrepreneurial skill was first formed in Russia and then in the Arab world. I came to understand that even in the most difficult situation, like in the desert, it’s always possible to extract water. ANARA MALAKHOVA: Originally, I’m an accountant by education, with three honours diplomas from different universities, including studying at Cambridge. I worked in the “Big Four”, was the CFO of Fendi and Monster Energy. But I dreamed of my own business. My first entrepreneurial experience was at the age of…

FROM A YOUNG AGE, I was captivated by science, particularly neurobiology. Questions about the human brain and its optimisation always piqued my interest. Health, in general, was a crucial topic for me. So, when the opportunity arose at Caltech (California Institute of Technology) to present a business idea, I couldn’t let it slip through my fingers. One of the angel investors, Bill Gross, offered a hundred thousand dollars for the best idea. I already had a concept that emerged during the pandemic, and I decided to take the chance. The California Institute of Technology, or Caltech, became more than just a place of study for me; it became a true home for realising my ambitions and dreams. Here, among a small student body, I found the opportunity for productive interaction…

I ARRIVED AT THE IDEA OF A HEALTHY BODY as the basis for a happy life together with two business partners. We were engaged in the retail sales of various beauty accessories, opening small islands in Moscow shopping centres. While immersing ourselves in the study of manicure tools, additional care products, masks, and creams, we became acquainted with cosmeceuticals from BB Laboratories (Japan) and developed an interest in this direction and everything related to Japan. This is how we learned about Japanese products that caught our attention at a local exhibition in Kyoto, where one of my companions had travelled. The video demonstrating the gut and the impressive before and after results, displayed at the manufacturer’s booth, intrigued us and made us wonder: why was a company associated with the…

IN 2010, I BECAME A PARTNER in our family jewellery house, founded and led by my sister, Ksenia Podnebesnaya. She is our creative director. In the early years, we focused on marine pearls, sourcing the finest specimens from Australian auctions and entire harvests of rare Japanese golden pearls from Amami and Biwa. For many years, we have remained leaders in the Russian jewellery market in selecting marine pearls and producing the highest quality pearl-adorned pieces. Today, we have established a full-cycle production facility in Moscow with a large team of skilled craftsmen and a jewellery boutique at the Lotte Hotel Moscow. 2014 was pivotal for us — we launched jewellery production and ventured into coloured gemstones, for which I took full responsibility. It took me several years to delve into…

ELENA PULCHEVA: The story of the ADAMARIS brand began with my personal journey — with that very first dress that marked the beginning of an entire brand. At that moment, I was the bride. I wanted my wedding day to be remembered by my loved ones and me as a celebration of love and beauty, and I dreamt of being the most beautiful bride in the world. After visiting numerous salons and spending several months searching, I realised that my idea of the perfect dress did not match the offerings of Ukrainian and global brands. That’s when I decided to create my own regal look. In collaboration with the best technologists, we developed an unusual transformative silhouette based on my sketches and adorned it with hand-crafted jewellery inlays — silver,…

BE BOLD BE BRAVE DO BANYA WHEN WE OPENED DUBANYA in 2022, I realised that I had finally found true happiness and was living my passion — it had completely consumed me. In my line of work, every detail matters: I am intimately familiar with the intricacies of our banya’s operation, including each colleague’s concerns. I do not refer to them as employees — they are my team. Russian banya embodies soul and love. Without it, it is impossible to provide proper care and attention to guests. When you genuinely offer care and attention, a person cannot leave unhappy. For me, the measure of success is not money, although that is important too, but rather the happiness of people. The banya represents harmony, balance, and a sense of comfort. The key…

MY STORY OF CREATING THE ANJANA SPA network began in an exciting and unexpected way — during the Covid pandemic. My family and I spent this difficult time travelling: first six months in Thailand, and then we moved to Turkey when it was still closed to tourists. Realising that the situation could drag on, we decided to settle in a hotel where we usually stayed with the children. Previously, I had never used spas in hotels — I came for a short time and was busy with other things. But now, realising that we would have to stay for a long time, I finally decided to visit the local spa. What I saw did not impress me at all. After assessing the situation, I talked to the hotel owner and…

EIGHT YEARS HAVE PASSED since my husband and I opened the salon in Dubai. I didn’t plan or dream of it; it just happened. Before that, there were women’s clothing stores in Ukraine; apparently, there’s an entrepreneurial streak in my blood. I faced difficulties on the way to work. Having come to Ukraine from Uzbekistan at the age of five, I had no home, no registration, no passport. Employers were in no hurry to hire me without documents. I started singing in a club for a token fee — the musical education came in handy. During the day, I washed entrances. Then I got a job selling eggs. But one quality helped me survive — the ability not to spend money. Collecting every penny under the pillow, I felt real…

THE NAME OF OUR COMPANY — Triple A Advisory — symbolises the highest grade in the British education system, akin to Oxford and Cambridge. It represents top-tier expertise and a striving for perfection. The three ‘A’s in our company logo, like three mountains, reflect three fundamentally important points for our company: Yerevan, Dubai, and Moscow. The logo, with its delicate thread, symbolises the path we carve out for our clients, guiding them through every stage of negotiations and meetings. We place particular emphasis on collaboration with the Arab world. Since 2014, we have built trusting relationships that allow us to represent our clients with confidence. Before entering negotiations, thorough preparation is conducted to ensure both parties understand the goals and proposals. In the Arab world, it is crucial to articulate…

ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN an integral part of our lives. From an early age, I absorbed this love by observing my mother successfully developing her jewellery business. I practically grew up at jewellery exhibitions, immersed in beauty and luxury. Perhaps it was then that my passion for the exquisite was born, which would later lead us into the gallery business. My mother has always been a source of inspiration for me. Since childhood, I watched how gentleness, femininity, beauty, and business acumen could be combined in one woman. It truly impressed me. Even at university, when asked about my source of inspiration, I mentioned my mother. For me, she is always a reliable partner and a role model. After obtaining an economics degree in the United States, I returned to…

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…

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…

I AM A SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR, but my journey began in investment banking – this allowed me to be very strategic with my own business ventures. After running furniture factories in Russia, I became interested in agriculture. At that time, in 2019-2020, vertical farming was at its peak popularity. This technology, promising to save the world and help colonise Mars and the Moon, caught my attention — that is how I started experimenting with vertical farms in Moscow. We sold our fresh produce to “Azbuka Vkusa,” “VkusVill,” top restaurants, and even supplied the Kremlin. Then, in 2022, I compared the HoReCa markets in Russia and the UAE: it became clear that the CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of the Arab hospitality market stood at 10-17%, while only 7% in Russia. Thus,…

OUR BUSINESS LAUNCHED IN 2016. In 2015, I first joined the watch company LPI RUS (Weitnauer Group), where I worked for about a year. Before that moment, the world of watches intrigued me but was unfamiliar. By 2016, I realised that this business truly captivated me. At that time, I met a classmate with whom I had parted ways back in Volgograd. One of our mutual friends suggested we chat, noticing our shared passion for watches. We met and realised we were both obsessed with this topic. The meetings became regular; it was a sort of underground club of conspirators because the world of watches had consumed us both entirely. Alongside our careers, we took the first steps in our 316L Watch project, which later became 316 Watch. We created…

MY JOURNEY BEGAN with a profound interest in architecture and urban planning. I have always aspired to create not just buildings, but comfortable and functional spaces for living and working. This interest led me into the development business, where I could bring my ideas and principles to life. Every decision is grounded in a commitment to quality and convenience for our clients, which has become the DNA of our brand. Having lived in Dubai for several years now, I can attest that doing business here is indeed much easier compared to in Europe. The tax burden is minimal: corporate tax was introduced recently and is easily administered, while VAT stands at just 5%, significantly lower than in Russia or some European countries. When we established our real estate brokerage firm,…

SINCE 2011, I BEGAN MY JOURNEY in the development business. Moving to Dubai in 2022 was an important step in my development trajectory — not just a change of residence but a true revelation. Here, I realised how close and accessible the resources and people who could be part of project implementation are. This understanding did not come immediately; it took time to adapt. Practice has shown that the future does not arrive evenly, but it is already here, within arm’s reach. At the end of 2022, we launched the first design concept of a project, and six months later, we began construction. Thus, my development activity gained independence right here in Dubai. The company I founded is called New Heaven. We have three main directions. The first is development:…

LIVRICHY REAL ESTATE was established a mere year and a half ago, but I have been living and working in Dubai for 14 years. Previously, I managed a major company in Jebel Ali that dealt with general trading, where I catered to numerous VIP clients. Gradually, I realised that this experience could serve as an excellent foundation for a real estate business, since our clients frequently sought assistance with purchasing property. When the volume of such requests became too large, we decided to open our own real estate agency. Our expertise in dealing with VIP clients and deep understanding of the market allowed us to quickly secure leading positions. This venture has now become an essential part of my personal brand, and I plan to actively develop it in the…

I COME FROM A VERY SMALL VILLAGE in the Krasnodar region, and for me, it has always been crucial to create global projects. Since childhood, I have felt the limitations of the physical world in a small village, and this feeling has had a significant influence on my personality. I always wanted more — larger spaces, more significant opportunities, and interesting, large-scale people around me. This motivation has been a driving force behind my self-realisation in my work. All my projects, whether it’s Lectera or the WE Council, are about this — helping people achieve scale and providing them with that scale through online solutions. Lectera was born out of a very personal challenge. While researching modern media for my PhD, I found that the landscape was evolving faster than…

WITH THE ACCUMULATED KNOWLEDGE and experience in litigation, I decided to enter the international market at the end of 2022, opening offices in Turkey and the UAE. Today, my company, Family Line Consult, provides comprehensive legal and financial support for businesses and individuals, focusing on effective risk management and legal protection at all stages of activity. We quickly transitioned to serious legal work: registering companies and developing shareholder agreements. In the UAE, where the business environment is dynamic and international, such documents play a crucial role. In the coming years, I expect an increase in corporate conflicts among businesspeople from the CIS. Many partnerships here are built on a “50-50” principle, creating ideal conditions for deadlocks — situations where disagreements between partners paralyse company management. The East is a delicate…

IN 2018, MY DREAM BECAME A REALITY — I founded the 7MARCH agency. The name came about spontaneously but perfectly reflected our philosophy. The seventh of March is what we call the mood that arises in anticipation of an important day. That special feeling when the final touches remain, when you run through the scenario of the next day in your head and eagerly await its arrival. In the early years, we actively developed in Russia, working with streaming platforms and film distributors. We created posters, trailers, organised special projects and events — everything related to promoting new releases in the film industry. Our slogan was “Experts in Cinema”, and it was true. Years of working in the industry gave us a deep understanding of the market and its processes.…

NO BUSINESS IS BUILT IN A DAY. Business is hard daily work, not a couple of hours a week. If it’s not a scam or a bluff, it’s impossible to do business for an hour a day and expect everything to go well. Without constant progress — daily, weekly, monthly — competitors will quickly overtake you. About 10-12 years ago, I started a medical device distribution business worldwide and that’s how I met my future partner for the clinics in Paris. We have our own French brands, one of which is called Aesthe-cure. The clinic in Dubai opened in January this year. The process was complicated: we were let down by contractors and had to change them several times. Finding a suitable premises was also not easy. But the most…

I NEVER PLANNED TO GO INTO BUSINESS, but I was always obsessed with freedom of action. I got my PhD in periodontology, completed two residencies, and planned to be a lecturer at the Department of the Stavropol Medical Academy. However, fate had other plans, and in 2013, in the city of Armavir, Russia, within a span of just one month, without finances or any support, I opened my first dental clinic, “Painless Dentistry”. At that time, I was already working in three clinics as an employee, and on weekends I travelled to a fourth clinic in another city. Every 2-3 years, I licensed new premises, increasing the number of clinics expanding their real estate. I bought out neighbouring flats and expanded the clinic, purchasing adjacent buildings for clinics. Everything I…

KARINA ROSS: Almira and I first met 10 years ago in a French Cafe in our hometown in Kazan. Shortly afterwards we travelled together to our first trip to Milan. And from this point on an everlasting friendship started. Soon after we visited Paris together. The glance and beauty of Paris was an endless source of inspiration. The inspiration for creating a brand. ALMIRA SHNAIDER: We felt the wish, the need to do something on our own. A vision materialised. We wanted to create a brand that stands for beautiful and high-quality things. We wanted to create clothes with a perfect fit for everyone and every size. K.R.: Size and fit was a driver in our vision. At the time it was hard for both of us to find dresses…

WHEN I WAS IN THE 10TH GRADE and 17 years old, I had a dream — to go abroad for an internship or programme that would cover all expenses. For six months, I checked groups with internship announcements daily, but all the opportunities were only for those who were already 18. One day, I came across an announcement for a Youth Summit on Sustainable Development in Berlin for participants aged 15 and above. In 2013, I knew absolutely nothing about sustainable development. Unfortunately, the deadline for applications had already passed. But from somewhere, a confidence was born that this was precisely my opportunity. I wrote to all the organisers I could find, requesting an extension of the deadline. They agreed. I presented two projects: one on sustainable development related to…

AS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM ONCE SAID, “The bigger your vision, the bigger your achievement will be.” In 2013 I was living in Spain, a place that beckoned with its beauty and allure. However, the company I worked for operated in both Spain and the UAE, so my move to the Emirates was non-negotiable. I arrived in Dubai with more than a little skepticism. Sand and stereotypes were all I expected. But the moment I stepped into Dubai International Airport’s glittering Terminal 3, my entire perspective shifted. I felt as though I had been transported into a scene from Avatar—everything was dazzlingly new, futuristic, and utterly unlike anywhere else in the world. This wasn’t just a city; it was a glimpse into the future. In four years, I…

IRINA: The turning point came when I went to Karina and said, “Let’s do it.” That moment didn’t change my life drastically, but it did change my attitude towards it. We opened Sage in Dubai quite recently, in April-May of last year. We decided to choose a detached villa because, initially, the project was not conceived as a commercial one. It was important for us that people felt at home, could relax, and spend a lot of time in a safe and friendly environment. To create an oasis amidst the chaos of the city, which is beautiful and technologically perfect, but sometimes one craves something natural and soulful. KARINA: We needed to come up with a name for this space. We had many naming options that we could use. But…

MY FIRST STEPS IN THIS DIRECTION happened in 2013, when I was still working in the banking sector. Even then, I felt the desire to have my own business, and my choice fell on the wonderful world of the beauty industry. My first project was a nail studio in a shopping centre in Krasnodar. Gradually, driven by client requests, I realised that nail services alone were not enough. I wanted to grow and provide a full cycle of services. Two years later, I opened a full-fledged salon. Many of our guests note that DONNA DANA has a soul, no pretension; we are very open to people. This is a project with a soul, made primarily for beautiful women. Our main goal is to make the process of creating beauty as…

RESULTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY GUIDING STAR. My professional skills were honed during my tenure in the Moscow government, where I led a subsidiary of the Department of Transport and worked alongside the Mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin, and the Deputy Mayor for Transport. Together with my colleagues, we navigated the path from crafting transport reform strategies to implementing numerous significant projects within the Moscow government. Concurrently, I completed an Executive MBA programme at Skolkovo School and ventured into my own business in 2018. Moving to Dubai encourages one to think on a global scale rather than being confined to specific regions within a single country. Living here allows me to continue developing my business in Russia, where I enjoy operating. However, I also have opportunities to expand into markets…

KAMILA: Our story began on a warm autumn morning in 2019 in foggy London. My meeting with Anastasia sparked the idea of creating an intellectual project with a special philosophy and deep meaning. Anastasia’s thought about Plato’s Academy, as one of the greatest educational institutions spreading the ideals of humanism among the enlightened minds of the European intelligentsia during the Renaissance, enchanted us. We wanted to embody the best features of such an institution in our Akademy, using their principles and the diversity of disciplines studied. Our programme covers not only misty Albion but also scorching Dubai and sunny Miami, while field trips provide an opportunity to experience the history and culture of France and Italy. ANASTASIA: At the core of our philosophy lies the principle “Never Stop Learning”. In…

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…

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…

IT WAS IN LATE 2020, amidst the global upheaval of the pandemic, that my partner and I decided to embark on a new venture. We turned our gaze to the burgeoning field of agrotech, specifically focusing on innovative farming solutions. Our goal was ambitious yet clear: to adapt non-native trees to the UAE’s unique climate and make them viable for local planting. Thus, Treelogy was born — a name that encapsulates the three-layered approach we take to our business. At its core, our company operates on three distinct levels: the laboratory, where we nurture plants from cells; the greenhouse, where we create specific weather conditions tailored to each plant’s needs; and finally, the nursery, where our trees gain the strength required for planting in the open. Our primary focus quickly…

MY PATH WASN’T PREDETERMINED. I, an economist-lawyer by education, worked in the Ministry of Economy, the Red Crescent, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 2013, my husband and I planned to move to Canada and submitted our documents. To avoid wasting time, we decided to temporarily settle in Dubai — for six months, a year at most. We had only $3,500 with us. We sold our car and everything we could, not wanting to depend on our parents. Dubai greeted us harshly: our funds proved insufficient, and we had to look for work. My husband got a job as a salesman in a watch shop, and I — in Damac. This happened by chance: the girl from whom we rented a flat worked there and agreed to pass…

IT BEGAN IN MY EARLY CHILDHOOD, when I was often left home alone in our 36 square metre flat. Imagine this: 20 m2 — kitchen, bathroom, hallway and one 16 m2 living room that was also a bedroom, study, and dining room where the three of us — mum, dad and I — managed to live in peace and love. Even then, I always tried to adapt the space, organise my own corner, so I frequently rearranged the furniture in search of the optimal solution. In 2014, difficulties began in Donetsk, the ground was slipping from under our feet, and all plans were collapsing. I had just finished renovating my own large flat but had to leave and start over. At that moment, I was at a loss and decided:…

OUR FIRST INTERIOR SHOWROOM opened on 19 May 2004 in Luhansk. 20 years ago, we started furnishing apartments and villas with premium furniture, lighting, and decorative items. It was a unique project, as the investment spent on it together with my three partners amounted to around $12,000. Perhaps nowadays, this is the amount people spend on a holiday, but at that time, it was a fortune for the four of us. It’s difficult to convey the challenges we faced during this difficult time, but the project’s powerful internal energy and our endless enthusiasm laid the foundation for a future successful venture. The path to the UAE market was filled with numerous events and transformations. The company developed and scaled. The number of showrooms increased and decreased, partners and even country…

YANA KUNAEVA: When Aisultan joined me as a business partner, it was also a completely new direction for him. But he quickly grasped the specifics of the market, and now we are developing our company, Aynaline Real Estate, together. I want to express my gratitude for the fact that he made the decision to join me very quickly and truly entered with full trust. In just 7 months, we have achieved impressive results: we reached the gold level with the largest developer Emaar, taking 54th place among all Aldar real estate sales agencies. For me, these are very important indicators, because the Abu Dhabi market has always been the focus of my interest. In the first half of the year alone, Aldar closed sales of 270 million dirhams to Kazakhstani…

OUR PROJECT “BALA-CITY” translates to “the city of happy children.” This city grows alongside our pupils and children. We did not view this project as a business; everything was done to create ideal conditions for the development and upbringing of our eldest son. Today, I take joy and pride in my students: the little ones who once sat on my lap are now teenagers preparing to enter top universities. My son Ayaz continues his education in England. I now have three children, but I often say that I am a mother not only to my three but to the thousands of children who have studied and are studying with us. In the new academic year, there will be even more children — we are opening BC Academy International School &…

WHEN I WAS STUDYING PHOTOGRAPHY IN ‘98, I was always told: if you want to develop well, do it yourself at home in the kitchen. Based on this rule, I created a craft manual development with an individual approach. We became quite popular in Russia, working with many magazines. I started doing development under pressure from clients — they asked to add this service to scanning. Then we launched printing, including manual printing. We opened a photo gallery for film photographers in test mode. It’s a very interesting place: you see what others are shooting and understand their capabilities. In addition to selling their work, you can recommend photographers to customers — similar to an agency. I moved to Dubai to be with my family — the children went to…

LILIA: This summer, Regale officially turned 5 years old, but in fact, we have existed for two years longer. It all started with a small clinic where our team worked without a name. We took a long time choosing a brand name — one that would embody us and not be a clichéd “dental” option. At some point, I read about the Regale lily — a noble, regal flower that symbolises purity and beauty. Everything fell into place — and we immediately obtained the trademark. Today, Regale is a big brand. We are not just a clinic, but an international network of innovative centres for dentistry and general medicine in Moscow and Dubai. Our clinic in the UAE opened this spring. Boris became a partner in the project just as…

THE DESIRE TO OPEN MY OWN CLINIC wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was a path I followed, developing in the profession, acquiring manual skills and experience. My specialisation is prosthetic dentistry, particularly focused on prosthetics and aesthetic prosthetics. This field always fascinated me. This journey leads you to become interesting both to yourself and your patients. The acquired knowledge and skills allow you to understand where and how to apply them to achieve an unparalleled level of quality in work. Patients receive results that have a wow factor. Therefore, creating your own project becomes essential for realising all ideas and approaches exactly as you envision them. In 2014, I opened my first clinic. It was during a time of crisis, which became a catalyst for us. In such periods, people…

FOR SEVERAL YEARS I have successfully worked on developing the brand of a historical district in Moscow, until I received an unexpected job offer I couldn’t refuse — the role of communications director at one of Moscow’s main theatres, the Gorky Moscow Art Theatre. This changed my field of activity dramatically — from something grounded and practical to something creative and elevated. After all, who hasn’t dreamed of working in a theatre? Here, I gained unique experiences working side by side with incredibly talented people. However, my greatest inspiration came from working with costumes. Creating stage outfits is a process that starts with the first rehearsal and conveys the mood and atmosphere of the play and the theatre itself. This excited and inspired me. When the theatre closed for renovation,…

THE JEWELLERY OF THE HOUSE of Sankhára serves as a precious symbol, designed to aid women in reconnecting with their true selves. The brand places significant emphasis on feelings and intuition. Women choose jewellery with their hearts; when a piece resonates deeply within, it becomes clear that it is meant for them. Beauty, Strength, and Love reside within each of us, waiting to be discovered. Our creations are intended to remind one of the importance of inner balance and harmony. They speak of overcoming doubts and fears, opening oneself to new paths in life, and choosing what truly brings happiness. They speak of freedom that belongs solely to you. It is vital to heed the heart’s call and follow it like a guiding star. The brand’s name, Sankhára, is an…

THE JOURNEY TO CREATING the Mayweather Boxing Club in Dubai began in Russia, where my partners and I planned to develop a network of clubs under this prestigious American brand. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a legendary boxer, one of the most titled undefeated champions in boxing history. His name is associated with professionalism, incredible work ethic, and the desire to be the best. It was an honour for us to represent this brand in Russia. We managed to open two gyms, but unfortunately, the geopolitical situation made things difficult. Having moved to Dubai, I saw great potential for opening a Mayweather boxing club here. This city lives an active and dynamic life; people value their time and strive to get the maximum result from their workouts in the shortest possible…

THE JOURNEY BEGAN IN 2014, and this year marks our 10th anniversary. It all started with the establishment of BSI Lifestyle, which was founded as an offshoot of the larger BSI UK, a leading tour operator in England. BSI Lifestyle is a concierge service club offering one unique service: a personal assistant available around the clock. The quality of service is paramount to us. We pay attention to details, thinking ahead for our clients and learning their preferences. When someone subscribes and becomes a member of the BSI Lifestyle club, they are assigned a personal assistant. This assistant will know that the client prefers to fly in the second row of business class by the window. Our staff won’t need constant reminders. The client simply needs to specify their travel…

MY LIFE FINDS MEANING through serving others, especially women. This journey began early: at 18, when my peers were dreaming of higher education, I already knew that my calling lay in the service sector. My choice puzzled my relatives, as in our Western Kazakhstan community, most aspired to become oil workers, engineers, or chemists. But my creative nature guided me from childhood. I interned at the reception of a large international hotel chain, and soon after, I headed the Front Office and then managed the entire hotel. My determination and enthusiasm allowed me to advance quickly up the career ladder. By the age of 19, I had earned the respect of my colleagues, who recognised my authority despite my young age. Managing 47 rooms, a fitness centre, and a restaurant,…

I WAS BORN IN TAJIKISTAN and dreamt of the skies from a young age. At 19, I began working as a flight attendant for local airlines. Two years flew by in an instant, but I always aspired for more. I constantly sent out CVs to international companies, studying their requirements and honing my English. Finally, the long-awaited response arrived: I was hired by Qatar Airways — a market leader, recognised as the world’s best airline for the eighth time this year by Skytrax! I was the first Tajik woman to be employed as a flight attendant by Qatar Airways. Later, I moved to Dubai and joined Fly Dubai. It was an incredible time! Working as a stewardess in your 20s is an adrenaline rush and an endless celebration of life.…

MY LIFE IS ONE OF CONSTANT MOVEMENT and transformation. I’m a one-woman orchestra, wielding different superpowers that I employ in various endeavours. My journey began in Kazakhstan, where over 12 years ago I opened the first international marriage agency. At the time, this was a completely novel field — we helped foreign men find life partners among Russian-speaking women. We had contracts with partners in Canada, the US, Japan, and China. Over time, it became clear that our clients lacked the preparation for serious relationships with foreigners. Thus, the idea for a training centre was born. We began offering classes on psychology, style, makeup, and public speaking. In those days, it was a real breakthrough. In parallel, I developed as a coach and therapist, helping people transform their lives on…

KATYA: Our community began with a simple neighbours’ chat. Gradually, we realised there was great demand for organising social life on the island. This became especially noticeable from February 2022, when the mass influx of Russian speakers to Dubai began. Whereas previously one or two people were added to the chat per week, now it was 5-10 daily. It became clear that people needed something more than just a channel for exchanging information. MARIA: Gulia played a key role in establishing our community. She had already lived in Dubai for 15 years and knew the answers to all questions — from where to buy nappies to the nuances of renting a car. For new expats arriving with a heap of questions and requests, she became a real treasure trove of…