The Hospitality Majlis

On the eleventh episode, we welcome Omar Shihab, from leading Boca to earn a Michelin Green Star and receiving the Icon Award from the World's 50 Best Restaurants MENA, Omar has become one of the most influential figures driving change within the hospitality industry. In this episode, we sit down with Omar Shihab, Founder of Boca Dubai, to discuss sustainable business practices, industry leade...

On the tenth episode, we welcome Safwan Modir, Co-founder & CEO of Al Haboob and Camel Quest. From leading some of the world’s most respected luxury hotels to becoming one of the region’s most recognized camel racing pioneers, Safwan Modir has built a career defined by bold reinvention and unconventional vision. In this episode, we sit down with Safwan Modir, Co-founder & CEO of Al Haboob...

On the ninth episode, we welcome Mohamed Hilal, Founder & CEO of Mohamed Hilal Group and the creative mind behind some of the region’s most recognizable lifestyle brands, including Third Avenue Boutique, Ana Restaurant, Hind Al Oud, Anfasic Dokhoon, Khaltat, and HOB Luxury. With a portfolio of 100+ stores across the GCC spanning fragrance, retail, and hospitality, he continues to redefine how...

On the eighth episode, we welcome we welcome Chef Salam Daqqaq, founder of Sufret Maryam and Bait Maryam, whose cuisine is rooted in memory and shaped by experience. A MENA's 50 Best Award winner, MENA’s Best Female Chef, a Michelin Guide recognized restaurateur, Author, and Forbes 50 Over 50 honoree, she continues to redefine what it means to lead with authenticity. We discuss the legacy, cultura...

On the seventh episode, we welcome Claudia de Brito - a global hospitality journalist shaping how the world understands dining today. As Gulf Academy Chair for MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants and Middle East Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, she sits at the centre of one of the industry’s most influential rankings. We discuss influence, responsibility, and what defines true excellence...

On the sixth episode of the Hospitality Majlis, we sit down with Grégoire Berger, one of the Middle East’s most acclaimed chefs. Former Executive Chef of Ossiano at Atlantis The Palm, he helped shape one of the region’s most celebrated fine dining experiences. Now, as the founder of Monarch Events UAE and the visionary behind Kraken, he continues to push culinary boundaries. We explore his journey...

On the fifth episode of the Hospitality Majlis, we sit down with Kevork Deldelian, a hospitality leader who rose through F&B operations to CEO roles across the Middle East before taking the entrepreneurial leap. We talk grit, leadership under pressure, paying salaries from your own balance sheet, family, and what the future of hospitality in Dubai and the region really looks like. This is an h...

On the fourth episode of The Hospitality Majlis Podcast, we sit down with Faisal Al Nuami, a respected Emirati figure whose distinguished 30-year career has shaped some of the UAE’s most iconic institutions from Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan to his role on the Standing Board of Ajman Tourism. Rooted deeply in Emirati values, Faisal brings a thoughtful and grounded perspective on hospit...

On the third episode of The Hospitality Majlis Podcast, we sit down with Nazli Sonmez Vallee, the driving inspiration behind some of Dubai’s most celebrated dining concepts — from La Cantine du Faubourg and Mimi Kakushi to Kyma, Lana Lusa, Ninive, Tagomago, Alaya, Sucre, Madeleine et Marcel, Gigi Rigolatto, and Maison Revka — as well as the group’s acclaimed partnerships with Gault & Millau an...

On the second episode of The Hospitality Majlis Podcast, we were joined by Fahad Abdulrahim Kazim — a visionary Emirati leader who has shaped hospitality and real estate through senior roles at Meraas and Meydan, and is currently co-founder and CEO of Legacy Hotels Holding. With more than 20 years of experience driving growth, innovation, and sustainability, Fahad shares powerful insights into lea...

Motivation. Innovation. Education. For the very first episode of The Hospitality Majlis Podcast, we are honored to welcome a true visionary in the hospitality world — Yigit Sezgin, CEO & Founder of Clé & Partners. With over 30 years of global experience in marketing and communication, Yigit has held iconic leadership roles, including Global Chief of Brand & Commercial at Fairmont and C...