Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Why I am in Dubai

Dubai, Tuesday

OK, so what's a nice Jewish boy like me doing in a place like this??

I have been wondering the same lately. But, as it turns out, I am busily engaged in launching a sports media business in the UAE and have been having a ball doing it. If all goes well, by the end of summer, we will have launched a sports daily newspaper, website, and mobile platform targeting sports fans in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and elsewhere in the Gulf region. How we are going to do this is the reason I have been hired as COO of the venture. Though skeptical about our ability to execute on all three platforms simultaneously, I am trying to move the development and investor efforts into high gear. So far so good.

Will blog about the launch from time to time, without divulging all the fun details at this point (wait for my book!! haha). Am getting access to the A-list content talent in the region and top ad execs, media buyers, and sales firms. And getting another lesson in the value of business relationships, which is a universal factor but especially so in the Gulf region. The UAE is small and, yes, somewhat in-bred, but for this project the hierarchical structure of the business and political worlds here (and, by the way, EVERYTHING is political in the UAE) is helping to move matters forward at lightning pace. Luckily for me and this project, the founder is a scion of a very successful luxury goods, fashion, and beauty retailer and distributor in the Middle East. Best outcome so far: we get our phone calls returned right away. OK, not a sufficient condition for success by any means, but it sure helps !

Working like a dog from early to late at night but have not been so energized in years. Am sure I'll collapse in a heap by the time I go home this weekend. Yet, adrenaline is an amazing stimulant. And the food is terrific, too !!

Stay tuned.

1 comment:

  1. YESH YESH YESSSSS!!! Adrenalin's got to be the most powerful all-time drug!!! And it definitely feels so darn good to be running on it!!! Big big hand shake for getting yourself into this most enviable position! Go conquer!!

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