Putting their heads together are supermodel Naomi Campbell and the former CEO of PrettyLittleThing Umar Kamani with big plans for Dubai. While the name of their enterprise is still under close wraps, they’re planning on opening a talent management business in Dubai.
Why you may ask, here’s Kamani’s take on the venture:
“We feel there is an opportunity to bridge some gaps in the current talent management world. Countries in the Middle East are aggressively pursuing talent and signing them to big deals, but sometimes it feels very transactional. The talent comes in just for the money and leaves without truly experiencing the culture.”
For Kamani, Dubai is home, and so he wants people to come to the city, not just for the money but also to appreciate the culture. He envisions a scenario where visitors go beyond arriving in the city for a booked job, finishing the job, and then just leaving.
That’s why, through the talent management business, Campbell and Kamani will leverage their knowledge and expertise to ensure that any talent visiting Dubai will leave the city with a yearn to come back and explore it further.
Just as Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia, Kamani craves that for Dubai, “I see people like Will Smith coming in and out, but you want all these big profiles, brands, companies, celebrities, the best biotech experts and doctors and whatever else.”
A talent management company in Dubai can be exactly what’s needed to draw in talent, which will positively impact the economy and foster creativity. We cannot wait to see its launch and the major talent pool it’ll attract.