Entrepreneur, financier, television host and investor Kevin O’Leary joins “World of Travel: The Podcast” to discuss his deep ties to the Middle East and why he chose to make the UAE a part of his professional and personal life.
O’Leary said, “I’m half Lebanese and half Irish, so I’ve grown up in that area for decades. I’ve lived in Cyprus and Beirut; I’ve been to Syria and Yemen – all of those places are part of who I am, where I grew up and where I went to school.”
“The culture of Lebanon is very similar to the culture of the UAE in terms of the way family and society works, and I think they felt very comfortable with me that way, embracing me. The country is only 53 years old. My father worked for the Founder, helping build the water system in Abu Dhabi.”
O’Leary explained that his interest in the UAE initially stemmed from the country’s rapid advances in technology, particularly artificial intelligence. As a passionate watch collector, he also sees Dubai Watch Week as a global hub for his industry.
When O’Leary was asked about reports that he had obtained UAE citizenship, he clarified, “It’s actually a residency golden visa. You have to get that first. I’m trying to get my full citizenship next.”
He said their growing involvement in AI was another important factor in establishing a presence in the Middle East.
“If you look at AI as a new area, which I think is going to be huge, No. 1 in spending is the US, No. 2 is China, and No. 3 is the UAE,” he said. “This is something very few people know. They specialize in agents, which is basically taking yourself and turning yourself into a version of yourself so you can be everywhere all the time. My wife thinks it’s pretty scary.”
For O’Leary this concept is not theoretical. “Now we’ve actually got an AI Kevin, and we’ve done it in Abu Dhabi!” he explained. “I’m going back there in a couple of weeks to train the model even more.”
Their enthusiasm reflects a broader reality – Dubai and Abu Dhabi have established themselves as global testing grounds for innovation. For O’Leary, the appeal seems to rest on the country’s willingness to experiment.
While filming “World of Travel” in the UAE, we experienced that spirit of experimentation firsthand. From skydiving on the beach to swimming with sharks at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo – located in the middle of The Dubai Mall, to exploring coral reefs and desert dunes, our team encountered a country that is constantly pushing the boundaries of what can be created or imagined.
Yet even amid the futuristic architecture and adrenaline-fueled thrills, it was the country’s forward-looking mindset that stood out most.
Our mission as filmmakers is not to market destinations, but to explore what defines them. The UAE offered a glimpse of how vision and identity are shaping a nation that is still writing its own story.
Editor’s Note: Lindsay Granger and Colin Boyd are co-creators of “World of Travel,” a series that explores the past, present and future of extraordinary places around the world. You can watch our most recent episode on UAE Here And Future episodes air every Wednesday at 4pm EDT The Hill’s YouTube page,
Lindsay Granger is the co-host of “Rising”. Colin Boyd is a film director based in Washington, D.C.
Tune in to the free podcast every Thursday at 4pmThe Hill’s YouTube channel,
,The “World of Travel: UAE” episode was sponsored by Skydive Dubai, Al Boom Diving, Shangri-La Palace Hotel, Five Palms Jumeirah Hotel, Tabu and Amelia.
