In this episode of Real Talk Dubai, host George Hojeige speaks with Gosia Golda, founder of the MMG Group, about the evolution of Dubai’s creative industry and the business behind building a global talent ecosystem from the ground up.

Gosia shares her journey from arriving in Dubai as a young talent in 2003 to launching MMG Models, MMG Artists, and MMG Talent. The group has grown into a global creative powerhouse with operations across Dubai, London, Paris, and Miami. She explains how the city reshaped her ambitions, the early challenges of building a business with no safety net, and the resilience required to grow organically in a competitive and rapidly changing industry.

The conversation explores what it takes to run a specialist creative company in Dubai, from navigating misconceptions and industry pressures to balancing authenticity, leadership, and commercial expectations. Gosia reflects on rebuilding after setbacks, protecting company culture, and staying grounded in a world shaped by social media and constant visibility. The episode closes with honest advice for young women entering the creative and talent industries.

Timestamps (Chapters)

Connect and Next Steps

Dubai is a city where success, ambition, and personal style often intersect and few industries reflect this more clearly than luxury watch trading. In this episode of Real Talk Dubai, George Hojeige sits down with Dean Bramley, Founder of Bramley Luxury Goods, for an unfiltered conversation about luxury, risk, reinvention, and what it really takes to build a trusted name in Dubai’s high-value trading market.

Dean shares his journey from growing up in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK to working across Australia, Taiwan, and the Middle East in the automotive industry before making a bold and unexpected pivot into luxury watches. From working with global brands like Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, and McLaren to being made redundant with a family to support, Dean opens up about the turning points that forced him to rethink everything.

The conversation explores how trust can be both the biggest asset and the most expensive mistake in luxury trading, why cash flow—not profit—is the real challenge behind high-value deals, and how the watch market truly works behind the scenes. Dean breaks down common misconceptions around luxury watches as “investments,” explains how pricing and rarity actually drive value, and reveals the realities of scams, misinformation, and ethics in the industry.

From flipping his first watch on his parents’ sofa to building Bramley into a respected luxury goods brand with an upcoming flagship store in Dubai Marina, this episode offers honest insights into resilience, reputation, and building long-term credibility in one of the world’s most competitive luxury markets.

If you’re interested in founder stories, luxury trading, or the realities of entrepreneurship in Dubai, this episode delivers a raw and grounded perspective without the gloss.

Guest: Dean Bramley, Founder, Bramley Luxury Goods

Dubai is a city where image, confidence, and first impressions matter, and few industries reflect that more than aesthetic dentistry. In this episode of Real Talk Dubai, George Hojeige sits down with Dr. Karim Fekih, Doctor of Dental Medicine and Founder of Smile Design Boutique Dubai, to explore the real business behind premium dentistry in the UAE.

Dr. Karim shares his journey from studying dentistry in France to building and scaling high end clinics in Dubai, including the early risks, funding challenges, and strategic decisions that shaped his career. He opens up about the realities of running a medical business in a highly competitive market, the psychology behind patient expectations, and why trust and ethics matter more than trends.

The conversation dives into the evolution of veneers and cosmetic dentistry, common misconceptions around pricing and procedures, and how longevity and minimal intervention are shaping the future of aesthetic medicine. From launching clinics during financial crises to redefining what a “perfect smile” really means, this episode offers honest insights into entrepreneurship, resilience, and building a premium healthcare brand in Dubai.

If you’re interested in founder stories, healthcare entrepreneurship, or how niche businesses succeed in the UAE, this episode delivers a thoughtful and unfiltered perspective.

Guest: Dr. Karim Fekih, Founder, Smile Design Boutique Dubai

Host: George Hojeige, Group CEO, Virtuzone, an Ascentium Company

Timestamps

00:00 Dubai, confidence and the power of a smile

03:45 Karim’s journey from France to practicing dentistry in Dubai

07:30 Opening clinics during financial crises and early funding challenges

11:40 Building trust, ethics and patient relationships in aesthetic dentistry

15:55 The real cost of opening and scaling a dental clinic in Dubai

19:40 Veneers myths, pricing misconceptions and what patients get wrong

24:30 Psychology, confidence and why dentistry goes beyond teeth

28:10 Mistakes, contractors and lessons learned the hard way

32:20 The future of aesthetic dentistry, longevity and minimal intervention

36:10 What makes a perfect smile and final reflections

Connect and Next Steps

• Learn more about business setup and growth in the UAE: virtuzone.com

• Follow Real Talk Dubai for more conversations with founders and industry leaders shaping the UAE

Dubai’s cigar culture has grown into a sophisticated, fast-moving niche, and The Leaf Master has become one of the region’s most recognised names in this space. In this episode of Real Talk Dubai, George Hojeige sits down with Ra’ed Saqfelhait to uncover how a former CFO and global finance executive reshaped his life, stepped away from the corporate world and built a thriving cigar brand from the ground up.

Ra’ed shares the story of discovering New World cigars in New York, launching a business with just seven SKUs, the early challenges of entering a highly regulated industry and the persistence required to scale in a market where expectations are high and competition moves fast. He opens up about personal turning points, the realities of entrepreneurship in Dubai, navigating setbacks and the importance of passion, structure and long-term vision.

From corporate boardrooms to boutique cigar lounges, this conversation is a deep look at reinvention, resilience and what it truly takes to build a business in Dubai’s unique landscape. If you enjoy founder stories and honest insights into the industries shaping the UAE, this episode delivers a compelling and unfiltered perspective.

Guest: Ra'ed Saqfelhait, Founder and Managing Partner, The Leaf Master Tobacco Trading LLC

Host: George Hojeige, Group CEO, Virtuzone, an Ascentium Company

Timestamps

Connect and Next Steps

In this episode of Real Talk Dubai, George Hojeige speaks with Charbel El Hachem about the booming holiday home market and the intricacies of the short-term rental industry in the UAE.

Charbel shares his unconventional journey from a 13-year tenure in the banking sector to the nightlife industry, and finally to hospitality. He discusses how casually renting out a room in his Beirut apartment on Airbnb sparked a passion for interior design and hosting, eventually leading to the creation of Dayf — a guest-centric short-term rental management company.

The conversation explores the transition from operating in Lebanon during economic turmoil to entering the hyper-competitive Dubai market. Charbel breaks down the business model of managing investment properties for ROI-driven owners, the challenges of inventory retention, and the operational intensity required to maintain "Superhost" status across a growing portfolio.

George and Charbel also discuss the importance of quality control over quantity, the emotional weight of guest reviews, and the future of the industry in the region, including expansion into Saudi Arabia. The episode closes with a humorous story involving a goat in an apartment and a candid reflection on the relentless pace and rewarding nature of building a business in Dubai.

Guest: Charbel El Hachem, Founder of Dayf

Timestamps (Chapters)

Connect and Next Steps

In this episode of Real Talk Dubai, George Hojeige speaks with Jeremy Loisel about the architectural lighting industry and the business behind delivering large-scale projects across the region.

Jeremy shares his journey from studying engineering and finance in France to moving to Dubai at 22 during the subprime crisis. He discusses how his early work in flooring led to the launch and growth of Switch Made Group, now operating across multiple markets and supplying lighting for major infrastructure and commercial developments.

The conversation explores what it takes to build and run a specialist company in Dubai, from operating in a highly competitive environment to balancing creativity, engineering, and commercial pressure. Jeremy reflects on entrepreneurship, leadership lessons, investment risk, and the realities of making decisions without the safety net of large corporate structures.

George and Jeremy also discuss the growing use of AI in lighting design, challenges around product quality and copy-paste solutions, cultural expectations in regional markets, and how Dubai has become a first-choice base for international entrepreneurs. The episode closes with an honest discussion on the personal and professional cost of building a business in the UAE.

Guest: Jeremy Loisel, CEO at Switch Made Group

Timestamps (Chapters)

Connect and Next Steps

Dubai’s sports and entertainment ecosystem is shaped by high-profile personalities, major transfers, and the relentless pace of big-ticket negotiations. But behind every headline deal, every intense contract discussion, and every “Dubai dealmaker” narrative lies a deeper story of pressure, resilience, accountability, and ambition.

In this episode of Real Talk Dubai, Saif Rubie, FIFA licensed football agent and Founder and Managing Director of FGSL Consulting, sits down with host George Hojeige to break down the realities of the global football agency industry. From his early hustle in London to building a 27-year career in athlete representation, Saif shares how he navigates Premier League transfers, manages player expectations, and operates under the scrutiny that comes with working at the highest levels of sport.

Saif also discusses the legal challenges that placed him under public spotlight, the false allegations that cost him years of his life, and the emotional strength it took to rebuild and move forward. This episode offers an unfiltered look into resilience, reputation, and the truth behind an industry few truly understand.

If you're interested in entrepreneurship, sports business, or high-stakes negotiations, this is an episode you should not miss.

Guest: Saif Rubie, Founder & Managing Director, FGSL Consulting

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Dubai’s football agency landscape

Connect and Next Steps

Guest: Walid Hajj, Founder & CEO, Lavoya Restaurants Group

Host: George Hojeige, Group CEO, Virtuzone

Timestamps:

• Learn more about business setup and growth in the UAE: virtuzone.com

In this episode of Real Talk Dubai, George Hojeige, Group CEO of Virtuzone, sits down with Nap Estampador, Group Director and Founder at MEA Finance, to uncover the real story behind one of the region’s leading voices in finance and business media.

From humble beginnings in the Philippines to becoming a respected name in Dubai’s financial world, Nap shares his inspiring journey of risk-taking, resilience, and reinvention. He opens up about what it takes to build credibility, navigate rejection, and create a lasting brand in one of the most competitive industries in the UAE.

We dive into Dubai’s finance and business media industry, exploring the human side of entrepreneurship, leadership, and storytelling, and how authenticity and trust continue to drive success in a fast-changing business landscape.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, media professional, or finance enthusiast, this episode is packed with insight, experience, and real talk from someone who’s lived it.

Host: George Hojeige, Group CEO of Virtuzone

Real Talk Dubai brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with founders, creators, and leaders who are shaping the UAE’s business future — no filters, no fluff.

Dubai’s F&B and nightlife scene has become a global benchmark for innovation, luxury, and experience. But behind every full house, flawless show, and Instagram-perfect venue lies a story of hustle, risk, and resilience.

In this episode of Real Talk Dubai, Rabih Fakhreddine, CEO and Founder of Seven Management, joins George Hojeige to share his journey from Beirut to Dubai and how he built one of the region’s most successful hospitality groups behind some of the city’s most iconic venues including February 30, The Theater, and YUBI.

Rabih opens up about his early beginnings, the challenges of scaling during Lebanon’s economic crisis, and how he bet everything on Dubai, launching six venues in just 18 months during the pandemic. He also discusses why reputation is his greatest investment, the sacrifices behind success, and how homegrown brands from Dubai are now expanding globally.

This episode goes beyond the glamour to reveal the real business behind hospitality in the UAE. If you’re passionate about entrepreneurship, brand building, or the F&B world, this is a must-watch.

Guest: Rabih Fakhreddine, CEO & Founder, Seven Management

Host: George Hojeige, Group CEO, Virtuzone

Timestamps

Connect & Next Steps