With MJP

Dubai promises opportunity, career growth and the chance to build a better life. But behind the success stories is a highly competitive job market where thousands of applications compete for the same roles, salaries can vary dramatically, and even experienced professionals struggle to get an interview.Zachary Beckett is the Founder and Talent Partner at Professional Pyramid, where he helps professionals secure jobs across the UAE and wider GCC. With experience in recruitment and talent advisory, Zachary has developed a close understanding of what employers look for, why candidates get rejected and what it really takes to stand out in a crowded market.From CV mistakes that can trigger automatic rejections to the growing role of AI in recruitment, Zachary breaks down the details that can make or break a job application. He explains why communication can matter more than technical skills, why LinkedIn is essential for senior professionals, and how reaching out directly to hiring managers can work when the right approach is taken.

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Dubai’s property market is changing, but is now the right time to buy, sell or invest? Michael Lahyani ‏CEO and Founder at Property Finder reveals what the data says about prices, rental yields, market uncertainty and where the biggest opportunities could lie.From building Property Finder into one of the region’s leading property platforms to navigating Dubai’s evolving real estate landscape, Michael shares insights on market corrections, off plan risks, and what he would do with a AED 3 million investment budget. He also reveals the entrepreneurial lessons behind building a successful business in Dubai.

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Jasem Al Nowais spent years on the investment side of business, learning how companies raise capital, manage risk, and turn money into growth. After senior finance roles at Etihad Airways and Aldar Properties, followed by leading his family’s business, he decided to take everything he had learned and apply it to a problem affecting everyday people. Now, as Founder and CEO of Zarah, he is building a financial wellness ecosystem designed to help UAE residents manage their money, save consistently, and invest with greater confidence.Living in Dubai can make it easy to earn more while saving less. Higher salaries often come with higher rent, more expensive cars, and a lifestyle that expands with every pay rise. Jasem explains why increasing your income is only half the equation, how lifestyle inflation keeps people financially stuck, and why your biggest financial mistake might be spending tomorrow’s earnings before they arrive.From building an emergency fund that covers six months of expenses to understanding the difference between saving and investing, Jasem shares the principles that shape his approach to personal finance. He explains why consistency matters more than the amount you save, how automating your savings removes emotion from the equation, and why investing in something you do not understand can leave you vulnerable when markets turn.He also breaks down the financial challenges facing both Emiratis and expatriates in the UAE, from managing family commitments to avoiding the debt trap. With Zarah preparing to launch in Q4 2026, Jasem reveals the thinking behind his new venture and why he believes financial management should be accessible to everyday residents, not just finance professionals or wealthy investors.Whether you are earning your first salary, building a family, or approaching retirement, Jasem’s message is simple: understand your numbers, keep your lifestyle under control as your income grows, and start building financial security today.

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Dubai has become a global business hub, but what makes it so valuable to multinational companies? John Hardy CEO of Panasonic Middle East and Africa, shares how Dubai serves as a gateway to markets across the Middle East, Africa and beyond, and why its government, infrastructure and diverse workforce play such an important role in Panasonic's regional strategy.Beyond household electronics, Panasonic operates across energy, advanced technology, aviation and professional broadcasting. John reveals the scale of the business that consumers rarely see, from aircraft entertainment systems to advanced projection technology, while explaining how changing consumer expectations and increasing competition are reshaping the industry.From navigating supply chain disruptions and logistics challenges to understanding the importance of trust and relationships in business, John offers an inside perspective on leading a global technology company in a diverse and rapidly evolving region. He also explains what makes Dubai a unique testing ground for new products and ideas, and why business success in the Middle East often depends on more than just logic.

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Byron James, UK barrister and partner at Expatriate Law, has made legal history as the first foreign lawyer admitted to the UAE Roll of Advocates, a position historically reserved for Emirati nationals.After five years of examinations and appearances across the UAE’s courts, from the Civil Family Court to the Court of Cassation, Byron James explains what this landmark move means for foreign lawyers, international disputes and the UAE’s rapidly evolving legal landscape.As Dubai and Abu Dhabi compete with London and Singapore to become leading global arbitration hubs, his journey offers a rare inside look at where the UAE’s legal system is heading and what opening its courts to international talent could mean for the future.

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Lauren is the Founder and General Manager of RIde Skipper, a Dubai based business built on a simple belief: when safety is the product, people should never be incentivised to rush.After a C-section left her unable to drive, Lauren experienced firsthand how inconsistent it could be to trust someone else behind the wheel of her own car. That frustration eventually became an idea, and then a business.Starting with just four drivers, Lauren built Ride Skipper around salaried employees, fixed shifts and a commitment to safety and consistency. But the journey was far from easy.From a failed mobile app and the pressure of payroll to searching for investment and refusing to compromise on the values behind her business, Lauren shares the reality of building a company from the ground up.

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Artificial intelligence is moving beyond answering questions and recommending products. It is beginning to understand what we want, make decisions on our behalf and eventually complete purchases for us. Daumantas Grigaravicius, Head of Middle East at Adyen, explains how AI is changing the way consumers in the UAE discover products, make payments and interact with businesses.The conversation explores the rise of agentic commerce, where AI could search, choose and purchase products with minimal human involvement, while raising a much bigger question: how do we make sure consumers remain in control? Daumantas also breaks down the growing threat of AI powered fraud, why traditional identity checks are becoming easier to fake, and how transaction patterns could become the new digital fingerprint.From the UAE's rapid shift away from cash to the 70% of consumers using AI in their shopping decisions, the conversation reveals just how quickly consumer behavior is changing. Daumantas also shares why he believes Dubai's speed, decisiveness and willingness to experiment could give the UAE an advantage as governments and businesses try to keep pace with AI.

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Ahmed Elnaggar, lawyer and legal expert, unpacks the UAE’s move to restrict social media for those under 15 and what it actually means beyond the headlines. From platform accountability to parental responsibility, the conversation reveals how regulation is evolving alongside behaviour, not behind it.With insight drawn from years in practice, Ahmed Elnaggar explores how the UAE is shaping its own legal framework while observing global shifts, and why digital exposure, especially for children, is becoming a serious legal and societal question.

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Ruby Barreau built her life around one thing. Creating. Raised in a family of entrepreneurs, business was never a choice, it was instinct. From launching her first venture at 15 to building March 14th, a concept beauty salon rooted in personal experience, her approach challenges everything people assume about starting and scaling a business.As Founder of March 14th, Ruby Barreau brings a different perspective to Dubai’s saturated beauty industry. Where others focus on aesthetics, she focuses on the why. From ingredients to customer journey, every detail is intentional, shaped by years of observation, trial, and a refusal to accept surface level standards. Her story is not about chasing trends, it is about solving real problems and building something that lasts.This conversation moves beyond the usual founder narrative. It explores what actually holds people back from starting, why most businesses fail before they begin, and how thinking smaller can be the smartest strategy. Ruby Barreau breaks down the mindset shift that separates ideas from execution, and why understanding your own story is the most powerful advantage any founder can have.

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From treating patients as an anesthetist to leading hospitals across the UAE, Oman, and Bahrain, Dr. Sherbaz Bichu, CEO of Aster Hospitals & Clinics – UAE, Bahrain & Oman, offers a rare perspective on modern healthcare from both the clinical and executive sides. His insights reveal how strong leadership, rapid decision making, and patient first thinking have helped transform healthcare across the Gulf. The discussion naturally moves through Dubai's rise as a medical destination, the growing influence of AI, lessons learned during the pandemic, and the everyday choices that can dramatically improve health and quality of life.

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