Crossing the Desert: how businesses are setting and growing in the Emirates

Budget numbers, big sales that can ruin a business, story about scummers, and tips on how to find suppliers – in this episode Isaac talks to Aisha Chishti. Aisha runs Skin Concept, a brand of handcrafted self-care products. It is very important for Aisha that everything is made by hand and from scratch, all products are sustainable and at the same time very bright and beautiful. Her soaps and shampoos look like cupcakes and ice cream. Aisha says she is a product person. But Aisha is also good at planning a strategy. In this episode, she shares how she built a profitable business from her passion.

Aisha’s yummy and all natural soaps, shampoo’s, skin care and other things you can find on the website 

This podcast is presented by Fortis

We offer you POS and CRM solutions that we made specially for small business needs. It’s easy to start with, it combines everything you need in a small device so you save precious space, and it helps to work with clients personally – the way only small businesses can. 

Our social networks:

YouTube

Linkedin

Facebook

X (Twitter)

Instagram

Production by Hatch Up Podcasts

Showrunners — Alexandra Volkova, Elena Volkova

Host — Isaac Dalonin

Producer — Darya Sannikova

Editors —  Alexandra Volkova, Elena Volkova

History consultant — Alyona Podnebennaya

Sound Engineer — Mikhail Vasilev

Composer — Ksenia Kazantseva

Cover Illustrator — Dina Sami

Lidia has developed her own method of teaching Arabic. It turned out to be so good that native-speaking Arab teachers invited her to teach it to them, and the students began to speak after the third lesson.

In this episode, Lidia shares insights into transforming her teaching method into a thriving business, detailing her processes for hiring, onboarding, and supervising teachers, attracting students, and maintaining high retention rates.

To start speaking Arabic yourself, join the Arabiatee school.

This podcast is presented by Fortis

We offer you POS and CRM solutions that we made specially for small business needs. It’s easy to start with, it combines everything you need in a small device so you save precious space, and it helps to work with clients personally – the way only small businesses can. 

Our social networks:

YouTube

Linkedin

Facebook

X (Twitter)

Instagram

Production by Hatch Up Podcasts

Showrunners — Alexandra Volkova, Elena Volkova

Host — Isaac Dalonin

Producer — Darya Sannikova

Editors —  Alexandra Volkova, Elena Volkova

History consultant — Alyona Podnebennaya

Sound Engineer — Mikhail Vasilev

Composer — Ksenia Kazantseva

Cover Illustrator — Dina Sami

There was a time when Hannah’s business had three directions at once: furniture production, a clothing brand for children, and events for children and their moms. And all of it while being a mom to three kids. It’d been too much so she had to prioritize and rebuild her business. Now her family and her business are growing together in synergy.If you want to join Hanna’s  weekly play sessions for children and social time for moms visit her brand Mumz and Munchkinz.

This podcast is presented by Fortis: https://fortis.world/

We offer you POS and CRM solutions that we made specially for small business needs. It’s easy to start with, it combines everything you need in a small device so you save precious space, and it helps to work with clients personally – the way only small businesses can. 

Our social networks:

YouTube

Linkedin

Facebook

X (Twitter)

Instagram

Production by Hatch Up podcasts 

Showrunners — Alexandra Volkova, Elena Volkova

Host — Isaac Dalonin

Producer — Darya Sannikova

Editors — Alexandra Volkova, Elena Volkova

History consultant — Alyona Podnebennaya

Sound Engineer — Mikhail Vasilev

Composer — Ksenia Kazantseva

Cover Illustrator — Dina Sami

In the fourth episode of Fortis’s Crossing The Desert, Isaac is joined by Levant's Wajda Khalidi.

Wajda shares her journey of balancing a demanding office career while slowly building her business step by step. She discusses the importance of patience and persistence, the challenges of maintaining product quality, and how she turned personal challenges into opportunities. Tune in to learn how you can successfully manage a side business without sacrificing your day job.

If you want to see the beautiful bright blue bottles we talk about in the episode, or try delicious Palestinian products – visit Levant Food 

This podcast is presented by Fortis: https://fortis.world/

We offer you POS and CRM solutions that we made specially for small business needs. It’s easy to start with, it combines everything you need in a small device so you save precious space, and it helps to work with clients personally – the way only small businesses can.

Our social networks:

YouTube

Linkedin

Facebook

X (Twitter)

Instagram

Production by Hatch Up podcast studio 

Showrunners — Alexandra Volkova, Elena Volkova

Host — Isaac Dalonin

Producer — Albert Olkhovikov

Editor — Elena Volkova

History consultant — Alyona Podnebennaya

Sound Engineer — Mikhail Vasilev

Composer — Ksenia Kazantseva

Cover Illustrator — Dina Sami

“So I sad: this is not your design, this can’t be right. And the guy said: what are you going to do about it?”

I am Isaac, an entrepreneur who just moved to Dubai. In this episode, I interview Omar and Dina, the owners of the brand Tica’s . They will tell you what happened when they found their products being copied and the innovative business idea that emerged after they had to shut their shop for three weeks.Our conversation in Dubai’s Art District was the only good thing that happened to me this week — and changed my approach to challenges completely!Don’t miss this inspiring story of resilience and creativity.To see Tikas beautiful products, visit www.thenestegypt.com/collections/ticas and follow them on Instagram @ticasegypt

The podcast is brought to you by Fortis, the omnichannel platform that integrates POS, CRM, orders, payments, and loyalty programs for small and medium-sized businesses.

Our social networks:

YouTube

Linkedin

Facebook

X (Twitter)

Instagram

Production by Hatch Up podcast studio 

Showrunners — Alexandra Volkova, Elena Volkova

Host — Isaac Dalonin

Editors — Elena Volkova, Livia Stevaux

Producer — Albert Olkhovikov

History consultant – Alyona Podnebennaya

Sound Engineer — Mikhail Vasilev

Composer — Ksenia Kazantseva

Cover Illustrator — Dina Sami

“If you respect city it respects you back” In this episode, Isaac interviews Danny, founder of the DK Hot Sause brand, and his wife Maria. Denny will tell you how he opened a business after working at Jimmy Choo and Armani, what working on an international cruise ship taught him, and how Covid had changed his life. Maria will tell how she created a visual for the brand and what she advises for SMM. In this episode, good friendship brings investors, the best design comes from someone who understands you, and hard work and discretion pays off.

All the sauces, amazing recipes, and the brand visuals we talked about in this episode are on the site and Instagram

This podcast is presented by Fortis: https://fortis.world/

We offer you POS and CRM solutions that we made specially for small business needs. It’s easy to start with, it combines everything you need in a small device so you save precious space, and it helps to work with clients personally – the way only small businesses can.

Our social networks:

YouTube

Linkedin

Facebook

X (Twitter)

Instagram

Production by Hatch Up podcasts 

Showrunners — Alexandra Volkova, Elena Volkova

Host — Isaac Dalonin

Editor — Alexandra Volkova

Producer — Albert Olkhovikov

Sound Engineer — Mikhail Vasilev

Composer — Ksenia Kazantseva

Cover Illustrator — Dina Sami

“Our focus is always that that thing that will happen, but there it's just an imagination. You need to focus on today”. I am Isaac, an entrepreneur who just moved to Dubai. In this episode, I interview Simy, sustainable fashion designer and founder of the brand Sustainably U. She’ll tell you why every business should be sustainable, and how the ideas that led to the creation of her brand are rooted in generations of her family. This conversation in Simy’s beautiful garden has changed my life.

To see Simy's luxary and sustainable fashion visit www.sustainablyu.com/  or Instagram @sustainably.uThis podcast is presented by Fortis: https://fortis.world/

We offer you POS and CRM solutions that we made specially for small business needs. It’s easy to start with, it combines everything you need in a small device so you save precious space, and it helps to work with clients personally – the way only small businesses can. 

Our social networks:

YouTube

Linkedin

Facebook

X (Twitter)

Instagram

Production by Hatch Up podcast studio 

Showrunners — Alexandra Volkova, Elena Volkova

Host — Isaac Dalonin

Editors — Elena Volkova, Livia Stevaux

Producer — Albert Olkhovikov

Sound Engineer — Mikhail Vasilev

Composer — Ksenia Kazantseva

Cover Illustrator — Dina Sami

Welcome to “Crossing the Desert” podcast by Fortis. Here we tell stories of how businesses are setting and growing in the Emirates. 

You are gonna listen to Isaac's story; when he first came to Dubai he was impressed with it’s business spirit and huge projects. But he believes it’s not only about it. Ambitious dreamers come to Emirates to bring here the best they have – their ideas, their experience, their hard work –  and they change the world step by step. In the following episode, you’ll discover how they make their business and what drives them.

Isaac is also one of them, his story is just about to begin, and we have no idea what will happen next week - this story will unfold before your eyes.

If you don’t want to miss the first episode, follow our podcast or add it to your favorites.

See you! 

The podcast is hosted by Fortis a company that assists entrepreneurs in starting their businesses, boosting sales, and building relationships with their customers. 

Production by Hatch Up podcast studio 

Showrunners — Alexandra Volkova, Elena Volkova

Host — Isaac Dalonin

Producers — Albert Olkhovikov, Darya Sannikova 

Editors — Elena Volkova, Livia Stevaux

Sound Engineer — Mikhail Vasilev

History consultant — Alyona Podnebennaya

Composer — Ksenia Kazantseva

Cover Illustrator — Dina Sami