Our subsidiary’s offices are located in the Al Tayer AI Wasl building in the heart of Dubai. While their building is only four storeys high, the world’s tallest building – Burj Khalifa – is just a short walk away. For the past one and a half years, Zhanna Tukhvatullina, who comes from Kyrgyzstan, has been working here as an Event Producer for MFME’s consumer goods fairs. Their entire team works in an open-plan office, creating a very cooperative and productive working environment.
According to Zhanna, work moves much faster here than in her homeland: “In Dubai, the working world is fast-paced and constantly changing.” She loves the dynamic environment in which she can help to organise major events and work with diverse teams.
Before coming here, she was already working in the event industry as a project manager for a food industry trade fair. While she enjoyed her responsibilities and the industry itself, she felt that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) offered her more possibilities for her future. “I decided to move to Dubai because it is a dynamic and international city with a fast-paced business world – one that offers a wealth of opportunities for personal and professional development.”
What is it that distinguishes the subsidiary's multicultural environment? Zhanna says that it is openness, adaptability, and respect for everyone’s varied heritage. She sees her time at MFME as “a unique opportunity to get to know people from all over the world and work with them.” Her favourite place in Dubai? The beach: “I think it is the height of luxury – we have beautiful beaches that are just a 20-minute drive from where we live. It is the perfect place to relax and re-energise,” said Zhanna. Even so, she does not want to spend the rest of her life here.
Kostas Alexiou, Head of Fairconstruction at MFME, sees things differently. Kostas would like to stay in Dubai for the long term. Originally from Greece, he simply cannot imagine a better place to work than Dubai. Unlike in Europe or the USA, where he worked for a number of years, he believes that Dubai does more to promote diversity and equal opportunity. For example, there are numerous conferences focusing on Dubai’s vision for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Kostas always dreamt of working in the trade fair and event industry, so Dubai was the perfect place for him to go. As he explained, “with the event industry’s rapid growth and year-round demand, it is easier to get a start here professionally.”
MFME offers him a one-of-a-kind business environment that manages to reconcile tradition with modernity. As an example, Kostas says that while foreign staff are not obligated to wear traditional Emirati attire, they are still expected to be restrained and professional in their choice of clothing. It is normal to shake hands, but with women, it is best to leave the initiative to them as a sign of respect. He notes that, because many of his colleagues fast during Ramadan, it is also a sign of respect to refrain from eating and drinking in public during this time, adding that “we follow this quite strictly in our company.”
What does he particularly like about Dubai? “The architecture and skyline are breathtaking, and you only need to travel 20 minutes to visit the historical town of Deira. Here, you can experience a mixture of the past and the future. And the city’s culinary scene offers a huge range of dishes from around the world.”
As a local, Mohammed Almansoori, Government Liaison Director at MFME, is somewhat of an exception in Dubai, where more than 80 percent of the population are expats. He has only been with our subsidiary for six months. As Government Liaison Director, Mohammed is responsible for dealing with all government entities in the Middle East and for obtaining their consent for all of our events in this area. MFME has been working with him since the start of his career. For six years, our subsidiary was his largest customer during his time working for the Dubai World Trade Centre, a venue that MFME uses for its guest events.
For Mohammed, an outstanding feature of MFME is a culture that respects the different customs and conventions from around the world, and where no one is forced to comply with a particular form of etiquette. He views Dubai as “the city of life”, a place where the government has supported a wide range of new initiatives: “Here in Dubai, we actually have a “Ministry of Possibilities” – and that means that nothing is impossible in our city.”
Reena Robert, Head of Data Services at MFME, has been with the subsidiary longer than most, having already spent 14 years here. Originally from India, she came to Dubai more than 20 years ago and is proud of how she has been able to contribute some of her culture and heritage to this diverse and dynamic working environment. “Here, you have the chance to collaborate with experts from around the world, and that gives a new perspective about everything you do.”
As a newcomer, it is important to respect Islamic values and tradition, including the observance of the prayer times. Reena says that Islamic values and Emirati customs have been integrated into their processes in a way that is both balanced and respectful. During Ramadan the working hours are reduced for Muslims and non-Muslims alike so that people can observe fast. These values also strongly influence the company’s approach towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) like organizing a Ramadan Food Donation Drive to support families in need, encouraging staff to participate and contribute.
Reena particularly appreciates the way that these values serve to bring people together. A good example is the evening Iftar gatherings during Ramadan, where people break their fast. This fosters a strong sense of community and belonging. The balance between tradition and modernity is another thing that makes her work in Dubai and for Messe Frankfurt in particular, such a unique and enriching experience.
More Information
Established in 2002, our subsidiary operates at the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic and international business hub - Dubai. Every year, MFME organizes eleven trade fairs, including seven in the United Arab Emirates and four in Saudi Arabia. In addition to organising trade fairs, Messe Frankfurt Middle East is also a provider of services in such fields as trade fair construction and event management. From 9 June onwards the subsidiary will be in its new office, located in the HSBC Tower, right next to the Burj Khalifa.
More information on MFME can be found at:
ae.messefrankfurt.com