The Dubai Reset: 17 Years in the "Wild West" & Surviving the 2026 Economic Shift

In this deep-dive episode of Provocateurs, we sit down with Kieran Lindsay, a 17-year Dubai veteran and founder of the Be More Than Group. Moving to the Middle East at just 23 years old—long before it was the global "influencer" hub it is today—Kieran witnessed the evolution of Dubai from a "Wild West" startup town into a global powerhouse . Kieran shares the unfiltered reality of his early days in commission-only financial sales, which he describes as "Wolf of Wall Street-esque," and how those high-pressure "smash and grab" tactics formed the foundation of his business empire . We discuss the current "massive reset" happening in Dubai, the challenges of managing the Dubai World Cup during unprecedented floods and regional "boom booms," and why he believes the industry has temporarily "lost its soul" . Key Takeaways The Early Days: Moving to Dubai in 2009 when it was "frowned upon" and the world was in a credit crisis . Wolf of Wall Street Beginnings: The grueling reality of cold calling, power hours, and selling the dream in an unregulated market . The Post-COVID "Steroid" Era: How the hospitality industry exploded after 2020 and why the current slowdown is a necessary reset for the city .Managing Crisis: The logistics of the Dubai World Cup, dealing with $12 million stakes, licensing issues, and 2,000 trucks on the road for flood control. The "New School" vs. The OGs: Why the younger generation of partiers prefers "bougie" beach clubs over traditional all-inclusive value . The Power of the Pivot: Kieran’s philosophy on business survival: "I would rather have 10% of something than 100% of nothing". 00:00:15 – Intro & The Dubai World Cup: Discussion on the prestige of the event and the $12 million prize for the winner . 00:01:20 – The 5-Month Struggle: Dealing with the Dubai Racing Carnival and the logistical nightmare of managing 4,000 people during floods . 00:02:45 – Surviving the "Boom Booms": Navigating regional unrest and licensing issues during the project's peak . 00:03:50 – Financial Reality: Scaping through the project without losing money in a high-risk environment . 00:05:50 – Moving in 2009: Arriving at age 23 during the global credit crisis when moving to Dubai was "frowned upon" . 00:07:05 – The "Millionaire by 30" Dream: Being sold the vision of international success at a Heathrow seminar . 00:07:45 – The Wolf of Wall Street Era: The "smash and grab" reality of cold calling and commission-only financial sales . 00:10:00 – Be More Than Group: Overview of the five divisions: Events, Agency, Entertainment, Families, and Dance . 00:13:30 – Pre-COVID vs. Post-COVID: The transition from niche, local clubs to the "Super Club" era of White and Zero Gravity . 00:14:45 – The "Steroid" Era: How the industry exploded after the 2020 reset and the rise of massive festival brands . 00:16:15 – The New School Crowd: Why the younger generation prefers "bougie" beach clubs over traditional all-inclusive brunches . 00:18:00 – Losing the Soul: Why the industry has lost the community support that existed between 2016 and 2019 . 00:20:30 – The "Massive Reset": Why the current economic and political slowdown is a necessary "cleansing" for the city . 00:22:45 – Pivot, Pivot, Pivot: The importance of adapting business models to residential community venues rather than tourism . 00:25:30 – Trusting the System: Why the Dubai government’s $1 billion injection into hospitality is a game-changer . 00:28:15 – Safety Perceptions: Addressing the UK press’s "World War III" narrative versus the reality on the ground . 00:32:00 – Regulation Growth: Moving from the "Wild West" to high-standard health and safety on construction and event sites . 00:36:15 – The Power of Partnership: Why Kieran would rather have "10% of something than 100% of nothing". 00:40:00 – Final Advice: Encouraging hospitality owners to gamble on new concepts to keep the money flowing . Kieran Links https://www.instagram.com/followkieran/ https://www.instagram.com/bemorethanevents/ https://www.bemorethanevents.com/ Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@provocateurspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarah.moxom/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPmCQvMWLaLTayKshPyGOEg/