Dubai: What makes Dubai magical?For Indian national Marion Mendes, it’s when different worlds meet. She has experienced it over and over again, in the city’s co-working spaces and cafés, where she has met and become friends with people from completely different backgrounds.One such moment occurred when she was working on her laptop at a hotel in Dubai, and started a conversation with a woman at the next table: “It actually started with a very girly conversation. We were admiring each other’s outfits, and laptops. As we started talking more, she told me that she was from Kyrgyzstan and shared a little about her country, the culture and the kind of work she does. She works in a field that is much more software and tech-related, which is completely different from my world of marketing. That’s when I had this little realisation. I would never have imagined having a friend working in such a different field, from such a different part of the world, and yet here we were, sitting next to each other in Dubai and instantly connecting. I think that’s exactly what Dubai is about.”Starting over in a new cityMendes has been in Dubai for just eight months, but she has already found her groove, and is working hard to Dubai-it every day. Picture credit: SuppliedMendes, who arrived in Dubai in December 2025, is discovering the magic of serendipitous encounters in the city, as she builds her own business.Originally from Goa, India, Mendes grew up in Kuwait and returned to India for higher studies. She became an engineer in electronics and communication, but soon realised it was not a field she wanted to pursue long-term. Following her love for writing and storytelling, she moved into marketing instead.She started her own marketing business in India right after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and she ran it successfully for five years. Then, she decided to switch things up again: “After five years, I felt like I needed a new chapter. I came to Dubai on Christmas Day last year, in 2025. The decision to move came from a place of wanting to grow again. Living in Goa, I had reached a very sweet comfort spot. I had my family, my friends, and a lifestyle I loved. Everything was a little too comfortable.”Mendes knew if she wanted to grow, she had to step out of her comfort zone. So, she chose the GCC – specifically, Dubai.She said: “Dubai felt like the right place for a fresh start – a new place, new energy, and a completely new chapter. I’ve always been inspired by Dubai’s own growth journey. How in such a short span of time, it has grown into a place that is recognised and talked about all over the world. I think there’s something incredibly inspiring about being in a city that is constantly building, growing, innovating and reinventing itself. That was exactly the kind of energy I needed around me when I decided to start this new chapter of my own life.”Since her arrival, Mendes has been working hard on her personal branding agency, Brag House, where she is a personal branding strategist for founders and C-suite level positions, helping people “find their stories, own them, and talk about them unapologetically. Bragging doesn’t have to mean putting yourself above anyone else. It can simply mean owning your story, recognising how far you’ve come, and being confident enough to share your journey with the world.” A networking experience like no otherMendes, who arrived in Dubai in December 2025, is discovering the magic of serendipitous encounters in the city, as she builds her own business. Picture credit: SuppliedIt’s when Mendes started networking for her new venture that she realised how unique Dubai’s multicultural environment truly is.She said: “What surprised me initially was just how open people are. You walk into a room and everyone is building something of their own, but they’ve all come from completely different parts of the world and somehow chosen Dubai as the place to build it. There are so many people here starting something new, and there are also people who have already built something from scratch and made it incredibly successful in a relatively short span of time. Being surrounded by that kind of energy makes you want to believe and build something too.” The way people network in the city has been an education, in itself. Mendes said she realised that in the past, all her networking experiences were “short-lived and agenda-driven”. In Dubai, however, networking is more about building relationships.She explained: “You might go out expecting to have a quick coffee with someone, and then suddenly, as you start talking, you learn about their story and what they’re building. You realise that parts of their journey align with yours, or that you share similar ambitions and experiences. Before you know it, a simple coffee turns into a much longer conversation, and eventually, a genuine friendship.”Mendes has had multiple experiences like this. Recently, she said she struck up a conversation with a businesswoman and enjoyed it so much that “what was meant to be a short meeting turned into a two-hour conversation, which then turned into a late-night dinner. Now, we attend each other’s events, stay in touch, and she even invited me to celebrate Onam (a south Indian harvest festival) with her. That’s what I mean when I say you can go out expecting just coffee or dinner and come home with a new friend and sometimes, even a potential collaborator.”Such meet-ups and developing friendships offer a sense of belonging, especially for newcomers to the city.Mendes now has a group of friends from different parts of the world, who meet often: “I regularly message to ask where everyone is working from that day. We’ll meet up at different places, sit together and work on our individual projects, go out for lunch, and just spend time together. It almost feels like having your own little family of builders. Everyone is working on something different, but at the same time, everyone is hyping each other up. And that’s probably my favourite part.”The fact that small wins “like closing a client, passing a test, or achieving something you’ve been working towards are no longer things you celebrate alone,” add to the magic of Dubai’s encounters.Dubai-it through curiosityAlthough there are special opportunities and experiences waiting for everyone in the city, Mendes said you have to be pro-active if you truly want to Dubai-it (the city’s philosophy of achieving excellence and fulfilling ambitions in record time).She said: “You have to be quick on your feet. You have to look for the next opportunity, figure things out, and learn how to do what you want to do. You cannot sit around and wait for things to happen. I honestly don’t think you can come to Dubai expecting to bring the exact same version of yourself from wherever you came from and expect everything to work out. Dubai has a way of humbling you, challenging you, and forcing you to become a better version of yourself.”Nearly a year into her new chapter in Dubai, Mendes has already found her groove and gotten used to the pulse of the city.She shared advice for newcomers, and for people who are looking to grow their own social and professional circle, just like she did: “Just get out of your comfort zone. Join platforms like Luma and Meetup, and be active on LinkedIn and Instagram. You’ll find so many networking events happening around the city. Even if you’re alone, just go. That’s honestly how it starts. Don’t let small things stop you. Most events are accessible by Metro, so you don’t need to drive or spend a lot on cabs if that’s not within your budget. Learn how to use Google Maps, take the Metro, show up, and start talking to people. Your network will grow 10 times over, without you even realising it.”Most importantly, she advised staying curious, in a city that’s always moving fast.Mendes said: “For me, curiosity is what helps you step outside your own bubble. Keep asking questions, and be open to learning from people outside your own world. Sometimes, the best opportunities start with simply being curious enough to ask: ‘So, what do you do?’”The answer may lead to something magical.
