The red carpet was rolled out as The Final Pitch Dubai made its glittering premiere, uniting the worlds of entrepreneurship and entertainment in a unique celebration of innovation and ambition.

Presented by Meydan Free Zone, the premiere at Volante Club in Business Bay showcased the city’s entrepreneurial energy on a global stage, where visionary founders, investors and cultural influencers converged for an evening of inspiration, connection and cinematic flair.

Set against the backdrop of Dubai’s skyline, the night began with a red-carpet reception followed by the premiere screening. Guests included a cross-section of business leaders, investors, media personalities and digital creators – all reflecting the spirit of a city built on ambition and opportunity.

The event served as a curtain-raiser to The Final Pitch Dubai’s 10-episode run on OSN and OSN+ from 17 November through to 15 December, with two episodes dropping weekly.

The Final Pitch Dubai brings to life the stories of 16 ambitious founders as they pitch their ventures to a panel of renowned investors led by Sami Khoreibi and Jigar Sagar.

The series merges the familiar pitching format with the power of real-world mentorship by domain experts, and enables the founders to visit the investors’ businesses where they get exclusive mentorship and introductions to extensive networks.

Hamed Ahli, Head of Meydan Free Zone, said: “Dubai has become a place where ideas move quickly and people aren’t afraid to build something new. The UAE now ranks among the strongest environments in the world for entrepreneurs, and you can feel that energy every day – from early-stage founders to established businesses pushing into new territory. The Final Pitch Dubai captures that spirit. It brings together the ambition, creativity and collaboration that define this community, and shows what’s possible when people are given the space and support to grow their ideas.”

The Final Pitch is produced by Dragon’s Nest LLC-FZ and is the brainchild of media entrepreneur founder and host John Aguilar. The show has successfully produced 11 seasons on CNN in Asia before making its Dubai debut.

Aguliar added: “Dubai is the perfect setting for the show. The unique format gives the founders and audiences across the region a front-row seat to Dubai’s vibrant business ecosystem – filming in locations such as Expo City, DIFC, Dubai Marina and the Meydan Grandstand – and shines a light on the entrepreneurial spirit of the city.”