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.

Crossing the Desert: how businesses are setting and growing in the Emirates