@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 also explores the evolution that led to her starting Sufret Maryam, the sister ... Show More
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
Apr 2025
“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
Jul 16
Umm Kulthum bt. Ali (ra): Daughter of Nobility and Tragedy
“O daughter of the noble ones!” This was the way to address the younger granddaughter of the Prophet ﷺ, Umm Kulthum bint Ali (ra).She was a woman of piety, like her mother Fatima (ra). In the glimpses we have into her life, we see her marrying Umar (ra) and then the sons of Ja’fa ... Show More
23m 14s
Jun 2025
Hasan ibn Ali (ra): The Beloved Grandson of the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ called his grandson a sayyid, and indeed, Hasan (ra) was a master among men.Explore the life and legacy of Hasan ibn Ali (ra) in rich detail: his joyous birth, the Prophet ﷺ’s love for him, his unique personality and generosity, his worship and many Hajj journeys, h ... Show More
1h 20m
Aug 12
Ubaydullah ibn Abbas (ra): The Rich Little Brother
He wasn’t a scholar like his brother, but he found his own way to serve.While Abdullah ibn Abbas (ra) became one of the greatest scholars of Islam, his younger brother Ubaydullah (ra) chose a different path: business, generosity, and support.In this episode, discover how Ubaydull ... Show More
21m 33s