Landed back in Dubai!
In my 20s, I lived in many places around the world (NZ, Australia, New York and London ) before ending up in Dubai to start my first business.
I had never visited, even on holiday, but I was curious… (It was also my second London winter and by that point I was desperate to see the sun 😉)
And so, I packed my bags and moved. Youth is impetuous like that. In what feels like a blink of an eye, Dubai has now been one of my homes for 6 years. The UAE is always evolving which is one of the reasons why I think it’s kept me here; a magnet for talent, entrepreneurship and ambition. Adapting, changing, and finding ways to come out better off after global crises.
Every day, I’m having conversations across the globe about tech that will shape our tomorrow: the metaverse, AI, blockchain, FinTech, crypto, etc. Dubai is ambitious: it wants to become one of the top 3 economic cities in the world; wants to host one of the world’s top 10 metaverse economies; wants to be the happiest and smartest city in the world; it is a top tourist destination; it’s home to a ministry of AI; and the list goes on.
For external onlookers, it is a glitzy city known for its high rises, wealth and business opportunities, so it can be shocking when I tell people that what they’re seeing today was just a fishing village only 51 years ago…
Our wise leadership has always had the foresight for innovation. The late great Sheikh Zayed envisioned something more for his people, and through hard work and devotion turned the fishing village into a beacon of growth and human progress.
Dubai takes action. Disruption and innovation are a matter of “when” rather than “if”. And it inspires all of us who work and live here to be equally as ambitious in achieving greatness for ourselves and for this city we call home.
