The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched ‘Beat of My Dubai’, a new storytelling project celebrating African talent, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that forms part of the fabric of Dubai and reflecting the city’s deepening ties with a range of markets in Africa.
Bringing together personalities from Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe, the project offers first-hand insight into the people behind the city’s energy, showcasing their everyday lives, careers and personal connections to Dubai.
Through a series of short films, portraits and city snapshots, ‘Beat of My Dubai’ explores what the city means to those who have chosen to make it their home, build their careers here, or return to it time and again.
Africa remains an important part of Dubai's diverse international visitor and resident community, with the city welcoming 897,000 visitors from the continent in 2025. This represented 5% of Dubai’s total international overnight visitation of 19.59 million, which represented a third consecutive record-breaking year for the destination.
'Beat of My Dubai', which will be published across DET’s social media channels, with each video shared as a collaborative post with the personality it features, builds on this momentum, spotlighting the people whose everyday lives connect Africa and Dubai.
Khalaf Alaleeli, Assistant Manager, International Operations at the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Visit Dubai), part of DET, said: “Dubai's success has always been driven by its ability to bring people, ideas and cultures together. African communities and visitors are an important part of that story, contributing to the city's economy, creativity and energy alongside people from every corner of the world.
"Through ‘Beat of My Dubai’ we are proud to celebrate the African talent that has chosen to live, work, create and thrive here, while welcoming visitors from across the continent to experience the city for themselves. Dubai is a city that embraces different cultures and perspectives, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen our connections with African markets.”
At the heart of the project are six African personalities representing different facets of Dubai’s economy: culinary talent, hospitality, media, culture and events, and architecture. Their stories demonstrate how the city provides a platform for people from different backgrounds to pursue their ambitions, build businesses, create experiences, and contribute to the city’s continued ›evolution.
The project features:
- Roux Willem Hattingh, doorman at Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai
- Chef Kelvin Kelly, founder of OneLife Kitchen & Cafe
- Shaun Killa, celebrated architect and founder of Killa Design
- Yvonne Mtengwa, media entrepreneur
- Ashley Jane Rosenberg, restaurant manager at Moonrise
- Elizabeth Wambui, events organiser at the Museum of the Future
Adding to the project is acclaimed South African photographer Siphiwe Mhlambi, who began his career as a teenager in Soweto, Johannesburg, before working with leading South African publications including Sowetan, City Press and True Love.
With a career spanning portraiture, fashion, documentary and cultural storytelling, Mhlambi brings a distinctly African visual perspective to the project, capturing the personalities and the Dubai they call home. Through portraits of each personality and spontaneous images capturing Dubai around them, his photography for the project creates a visual dialogue between the individuals, their African roots and the city they now call home.
South African-born Kelvin Kelly moved to Dubai in 2015 and has spent the past decade becoming part of the city's evolving culinary landscape. His approach to food centres on quality ingredients, honest cooking and dishes made from scratch, reflecting Dubai's increasingly diverse and sophisticated food culture.
“Dubai has given me the space to grow, to experiment and to build something that feels truly mine. The best part is that I get to bring a little bit of where I come from into a city that belongs to everyone,” said Chef Kelvin.
Ashley Jane Rosenberg is a South African restaurant manager at Moonrise, who brings leadership, energy and South African warmth to Dubai’s dynamic hospitality scene. Working at the heart of the restaurant alongside the chefs and team, Ashley embodies the fast-paced, multicultural energy of Dubai’s dining scene.
“Dubai has this incredible energy where every day feels like you’re part of something bigger. I bring my South African spirit and determination with me, every day to work. Here at Moonrise, I get to share that energy with a team and with people from all over the world. That’s the beat of my Dubai,” said Rosenberg.
For Zimbabwean-born Yvonne Mtengwa, Dubai has become both home and a platform for connecting Africa with the wider world. A multi-award-winning PR strategist, brand storyteller and media entrepreneur with more than 18 years of experience, she is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Travel Essence Magazine, a Dubai-based publication connecting audiences in the UAE and GCC with travel, tourism and hospitality opportunities across Africa and the UAE. She also runs a Dubai-based communications consultancy and curates African travel experiences through Travel Essence Getaways.
Having lived in the UAE for more than a decade, Mtengwa describes Dubai as a city that has opened avenues for both her personal and professional growth.
“Dubai has taught me that you don't have to leave who you are behind to find your place somewhere new. I carry Zimbabwe, I carry Africa, and I bring all of that with me into everything I do in this city,” said Mtengwa.
Kenyan Elizabeth Wambui, events organiser at the Museum of the Future, represents another dimension of Dubai's international creative community. Working at one of the city's most recognisable cultural and innovation destinations, her story reflects the opportunities Dubai creates for international professionals to play a role in shaping experiences that connect audiences with the future.
“For me, Dubai is about possibilities. Every day brings a new experience, a new person and a new opportunity to create something meaningful. That is what keeps my beat moving,” said Wambui.
South African Roux Willem Hattingh, a doorman at Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai, brings the audience into the world of impeccable hospitality, where the human connection is often the most memorable part of a visitor's experience.
“Hospitality is about making people feel welcome, and Dubai gives you the chance to meet the world every single day. I especially enjoy welcoming repeat guests and creating long-term bonds, and Dubai gives me a place to do exactly that,” said Hattingh.
South African architect Shaun Killa, Design Director and Founder of Killa Design, has played a significant role in shaping Dubai’s architectural landscape. Killa first arrived in Dubai from South Africa in 1998 and has spent almost three decades contributing to the city's architectural evolution. His portfolio includes some of Dubai's most recognisable landmarks, including the Museum of the Future, Dubai Opera, Address Beach Resort and Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab.
Killa Design was established in Dubai in 2015 and continues to focus on innovative, sustainable and expressive architecture. His connection to Dubai is particularly fitting for ‘Beat of My Dubai’, with his work helping to create some of the very places and experiences that many visitors and residents encounter every day.
“Dubai has always been a city willing to challenge what is possible. Coming from South Africa, I found that energy incredibly inspiring. It gave me the freedom to think bigger, to experiment and ultimately to help shape a city that is constantly reinventing itself,” said Killa.
Telling the stories of six African professionals and creatives, ‘Beat of My Dubai’ invites audiences to experience the city through a more personal lens: not only through its iconic skyline and attractions, but through the people who wake up, work and create in Dubai, welcoming visitors to the city and continuing to shape what it becomes next.
From the rhythm of a busy restaurant kitchen to the sharp precision of an architect's studio, from the warmth of a hospitality welcome to the energy of a cultural event, every story has its own tempo. Together, they create the beat of a city shaped by the world, and a partnership between Dubai and Africa that continues to grow stronger.