logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2021
45m 36s

“When it comes to homegrown concepts in ...

Amaeya Media
About this episode

This week Hashem caught up with Sandy El Hayek, the newly minted General Manager of Dubai’s Time Out Market which launched in April in collaboration with Dubai mega developer Emaar. A veteran of Dubai’s F&B scene, Hashem and Sandy talked about her childhood as the daughter of Lebanese immigrants in Halmstad, Sweden, how her family dynamics influenced her passion for work (and good food), and the rudimentary 7-star wine service experience in Dubai that led Sandy to pack her Scandinavian bags and expand her career in the UAE. They also discussed Sandy’s particular interest in homegrown concepts & why she sees organizational culture as an integral part of her career path.

Up next
Oct 17
“The day I stopped being a ‘Googler in Dubai’ and started being ‘Lynn, who happens to work at Google,’ everything changed.”​
Lynn Hazim, founder of Middle Child and creator of popular food blog @nosoupforyou, shares her journey from corporate life at Google to building her own restaurant in Dubai. The episode explores her early love for food, the roots of her inspiration, and her bold pivot to entrepre ... Show More
42m 47s
Sep 10
“It’s not enough to just have good taste.” Rajat Malhotra on building the last major independent festival in the GCC
Raj Malhotra, co-founder of Sole DXB, shares the story behind building one of the GCC’s last major independent festivals — a cultural platform born from minimal capital yet lots of passion and grit. The episode traces his journey to meeting co-founders Hussain Moloobhoy and Joshu ... Show More
39m 16s
Jun 2025
"I’m competing with white space”: Heba El Gabaly on designing the future
Heba El Gabaly, co-founder and CEO of Efreshli, discusses her journey from corporate to entrepreneurship, scaling a tech-driven design-led business, and the importance of blending online and offline experiences. The episode explores her unique blend of leadership, what it felt li ... Show More
1h 2m
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2020
Leaving the UK to risk it all in Dubai - Dubai Stars Podcast - Episode 2 - Jade Morrison
<p>Meet Jade Morrison who left the UK during a tough time in her life, to take a job with no salary in Real Estate working on commission only.<br/><br/>She was given a car and accommodation at a Real Estate agency that didn&apos;t even pay their bills and closed down in the first ... Show More
56m 31s
Sep 2023
#S2 E1 Setting up a Business in Dubai
We're back with season 2 and instead of having a guest on our show like we would usually, the hosts Annie and Hollie are discussing all things about setting up a business in Dubai. They share their experience since launching their own business and share their tips on motivation, ... Show More
37m 6s
Dec 2023
Hala Al Shammari | By Hala
Hala Al Shammari, raised in Dubai, is a fashion designer and founder of homegrown fashion label BY - HALA. With a dream of pursuing her own clothing line. Hala's journey started in university, shaping HALA's unique identity with the creation of an eight-look collection Hala took ... Show More
45m 43s
Apr 2024
Sole DXB: Bringing Street Culture to Dubai | Rajat Malhotra
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/raj9714/" target="_blank">Rajat Malhotra</a> — partner at Sole DXB: Dubai's annual footwear, music, art and lifestyle festival — comes on the afikra podcast to talk about bringing street culture to his home city. He shares what it was like st ... Show More
1h 1m
Jun 2023
S1E8: Finding Balance in Dubai's Luxe Lifestyle | Rob Donker
On this episode we are going to delve into the world of Dubai's opulent lifestyle from an expatriate's point of view in this captivating podcast episode. Rob Donker will be sharing his point of view on expats who have chosen to make Dubai their home as they share their experience ... Show More
35m 34s