Crossing the Desert: how businesses are setting and growing in the Emirates
Crossing the Desert is the UAE's first reality show, where the central narrative follows an entrepreneur arriving in Dubai with the goal of launching a business. Each episode presents unique challenges and tests, creating a dynamic and unpredictable storyline. We ourselves do not know how our first season will end, because this is the real story of our host, and we experience it alongside him and our listeners! As our host navigates the journey of making decisions for his own business, he also engages with ambitious entrepreneurs who have already succeeded in Dubai with their small businesses. These conversations highlight how they are changing the world step by step, inspiring others to pursue their dreams. Podcast is hosted by Fortis: https://fortis.world  a company that assists entrepreneurs in starting their businesses, boosting sales, and building relationships with their customers.  Production by Hatch Up podcast studio: https://hatchupstudio.com Ambitious dreamers flock to the Emirates to offer the best of what they have — their ideas, their experience, their hard work — and gradually, they change the world. In our podcast, you'll discover how they conduct their business and what drives them. We are grateful to our heroes — all those who welcomed us into their lives, if only for a few hours. To record this podcast, we ventured into houses tucked away beneath tree canopies and into industrial zones, secluded from the world by towering fences. We listened to the multilingual chatter in Deira's bazaars, meandered through Satwa's maze of workshops, and captured the cries of seagulls in Jebel. We savored labneh cakes and soaked up the sun on Kite Beach. Everywhere we went, we encountered remarkable, enterprising individuals from all corners of the globe: India, Pakistan, Palestine, Egypt, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Russia. Even though we all speak different languages, we always manage to find a common one. This story is just beginning — it's hard to imagine what else we have to discover, who we'll encounter along the way. We hope that you'll journey with us on this path.
Latest Episodes
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Season 2 – Trailer – Crossing the Desert
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
Get ready for another thrilling journey in Season 2 of Crossing the Desert! This time, our host isn’t just finding his footing—he’s making bold moves, taking bigger risks, and facing tougher challenges as he continues his mission to launch a business in Dubai. With new obstacles aroun...
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Ep8 – How to outsource manufacturing – With Botanist’s Simona Sotirovska – Crossing the Desert – Fortis
AUGUST 01, 2024
In this episode, Isaac discovers that to own a home care products brand, you don’t need your own production, equipment, or even your own formulas. In the modern world, you can own a restaurant without having a kitchen or a dining space. You can own a bakery without buying flour or hiring baker...
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Ep7 – How To Sell If You Are More Of A 'Product Person' – With Skin Concept’s Aisha Chishti - Crossing The Desert - Fortis
JULY 18, 2024
Budget numbers, big sales that can ruin a business, story about scummers, and tips on how to find suppliers – in this episode Isaac talks to Aisha Chishti. Aisha runs Skin Concept, a brand of handcrafted self-care products. It is very important for Aisha that everything is made by hand and fro...
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