Richard Fitzgerald: How I Built Dubai’s Fastest-Growing Media Brand

What does it take to build a media empire in a region that historically never had one? Richard Fitzgerald did not just ask the question, he jumped on a plane to Dubai and spent the next three years living out of airports to find the answer.From launching Love in Dubai in 2015 to reaching a quarter of a million readers in the first month, Richard’s story is one of relentless hustle, trial by fire, and learning how to create demand where none existed. The early days were not easy. Selling ads was a battle. But persistence, the right incentives, and an unshakable belief in publishing the right stories for the right audience turned his vision into a brand millions recognize today.In this episode of In the Arena, Richard sits down with Dariush Soudi to share the highs, lows, and lessons of building a media company in the Middle East. They explore how hard work compounds over time, why systems matter more than luck, and whether Richard would ever sell the company he has built from scratch.What You’ll Learn in This Episode•⁠ ⁠How Love in Dubai became one of the region’s fastest growing media brands•⁠ ⁠Why building demand is about consistency and trust, not shortcuts•⁠ ⁠The hidden challenges of selling in a market that was not ready for you•⁠ ⁠How systems, incentives, and accountability drive long term success•⁠ ⁠Richard’s honest take on whether he would ever exit the businessHard work always pays but only if you are willing to keep showing up when no one else believes it will.00:00:00 – Introduction00:01:03 – Early Career & Move to Dubai00:02:21 – The Ambition to Build00:04:08 – From London to Dubai: Seeking Opportunity00:06:00 – The Hustle of Agency Life & Sales00:08:49 – The Genesis of "Lovin Dubai"00:10:06 – The Struggle & Bootstrapping00:14:25 – Pivoting from Agency to Media00:18:26 – Understanding the Media Landscape00:20:15 – Personal Journey: Conversion to Islam00:23:39 – Building a Media Empire00:32:02 – Platform Strategy & Dominance00:35:52 – Inbound Demand Creation00:37:09 – The "Leakage" Problem00:46:12 – Investing in Studios & Original Content00:48:33 – Funding & Future GoalsFollow Dariush:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariushsoudiofficial/?hl=enWebsite: https://dariushsoudi.comFollow Richard:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitzyrichard/ Linkedin: https://ae.linkedin.com/in/fitzyrichardX: https://x.com/fitzyrichard?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor