Hashem is back this month with the ever-inspiring Rami Al Ali. Together, they explore the evolution of Arab couture, from breaking stereotypes to redefining luxury on a global stage. Listen in as they swap stories about navigating tradition and modernity, and that unforgettable moment Rami realized the world was ready for a new wave of Arab designers.
Jun 11
"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
Apr 15
“I saw a massive gap in institutionalizing the real estate process. And I wanted to take a crack at it.“ Abdullah Alajaji on identifying market gaps in real estate and playing the long game
This week on The Lighthouse Conversations, Hashem sits down with Abdullah Alajaji, Founder of Driven Properties, to discuss his meteoric journey in real estate. Tune in as they discuss taking personal risks, how he spotted a gap in the UAE real-estate market, and how Driven Prope ... Show More
1h 7m
Mar 2025
"People walk in as strangers and leave as family. That is what Bait Maryam is all about." Chef Salam Dakkak on honoring her mother’s legacy through every single dish.
@hashem is back this month with Chef Salam, the Chef-Operator of one of the UAE’s most popular restaurants, Bait Maryam. Chef Salam shares the journey behind her success and how she slowly built up her business from the ground up while honoring the legacy of her late mother. She ... Show More
47m 29s
Sep 2023
Preserving the Past, Enriching the Future: A Conversation with Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori
On this week's episode, we chat with Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, founder of the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum (CCM) in Dubai. We unpack the importance of preserving the Arab narrative through art, history, enlightenment, and meticulous documentation. The museum aims to promote ... Show More
23m 19s
Oct 2024
Making Arabic Art Great Again | Gaith Abdulla, UAE / Lebanon
Discover the vibrant world of Arab art with Gaith Abdulla, co-founder of Bayt Al Mamzar, an independent gallery and art residency in Dubai. In this captivating episode, Gaith shares his journey from art enthusiast to gallery owner, offering invaluable insights on how anyone can s ... Show More
50m 31s
May 2024
Hala Auji et al., "The Arab Nahda as Popular Entertainment: Mass Culture and Modernity in the Middle East" (I. B. Tauris, 2023)
What was popular entertainment like for everyday Arab societies in Middle Eastern cities during the long nineteenth century? In what ways did café culture, theatre, illustrated periodicals, cinema, cabarets, and festivals serve as key forms of popular entertainment for Arabic-spe ... Show More
41m 24s
Aug 2022
Souk El Tayeb | Kamal Mouzawak
In this Matbakh event, we talked to Kamal Mouzawak about how he founded the first farmers market in Lebanon, leading a social and environmental change and transformation. Kamal, through Souk El Tayeb, had the vision of celebrating food and traditions that unite communities and pr ... Show More
28m 53s
May 18
Blending Saudi history, fashion, and business with Qormuz founder Abdulrahman Alabed
In this episode, Abdulrahman Al-Abed, founder and creative director of Qormuz, joins us to discuss how he fuses Saudi Arabia’s rich history and culture with contemporary fashion and lifestyle design. He shares his journey from law graduate to fashion designer, the inspiration beh ... Show More
49m 41s
Feb 2025
Yuval Ben-Bassat and Johann Büssow, "Late Ottoman Gaza: An Eastern Mediterranean Hub in Transformation" (Cambridge UP, 2024)
Today, when we think about Gaza we think about the war, the destruction of the city and the constant movement of its population. In contemporary public discourse, Gaza tends to be characterized solely as a theatre of the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Howev ... Show More
1 h
Apr 25
Palestinian Ingredients Through Time & Space | Fadi Kattan
This special episode of Matbakh is the first in a series of talks and special menu events called "dawaween al diwan" at restaurant, louf, in Toronto. Franco-Palestinian chef, Fadi Kattan, and Salma Serry, a doctoral researcher specializing in food history in West Asia and Egypt, ... Show More
57m 41s