Four of Dubai’s industry leaders have been named as investor judges on the upcoming business reality television show The Final Pitch Dubai.
The panel brings together decades of experience in entrepreneurship and investment, with each judge representing a different sector, including digital transformation, real estate, financial technology, clean technology, sustainability, and venture capital for early to growth stage businesses.
The panel includes Bijan Alizadeh, founding partner of Cypher Capital and co-founder of Phoenix Group PLC; Dr Mohanad Alwadiya, chief executive and managing partner of Harbor Real Estate, known in the industry as “The Wolf of Real Estate”; Sami Khoreibi, founding partner of Incubayt Investments Ltd and described as an “entrepreneur turned investor turned entrepreneur”; and Jigar Sagar, founder and managing partner of Triliv Holdings, who is also known for his work as a strategic government adviser.
The Final Pitch, Asia’s longest-running business reality series, is set to make its Middle East debut in Dubai.
The show follows a format that supports founders through mentorship from sector experts, on-site visits to the investor judges’ businesses, and opportunities for funding and collaboration.
The investor judges will evaluate pitches from participating entrepreneurs, challenge them to refine their business ideas, and provide access to strategic networks and capital.
Applications are currently open to entrepreneurs based both in the UAE and internationally.
Selected participants will have the opportunity to present their businesses, receive mentorship, and potentially secure investment.
As part of the process, mentors will offer practical guidance while the investor judges will work closely with shortlisted entrepreneurs, offering them insights into their own operations and decision-making processes.
The programme concludes with a final pitch event, where founders will present their refined ventures.
Applications can be submitted through the show’s website, with a submission deadline of 27 May 2025.
Produced by the award-winning company Dragon’s Nest and supported in the UAE by local partner Ti22 Films, the series will be filmed entirely in Dubai across various locations in the city.
Ti22 Films is led by chief executive Reim El Houni, who will also serve as co-executive producer.
The show is scheduled to go into production in June 2025 and will be broadcast exclusively on OSN and OSN Plus in the fourth quarter of the year.
John Aguilar, creator and host of The Final Pitch and founder of Dragon’s Nest, LLC FZ, the firm bringing the show to the region, commented:
“Dubai is one of the most exciting places in the world to build and grow a business right now. Our mission has always been to spotlight visionary founders and connect them with real opportunities for investment and mentorship. With this first UAE edition in Dubai, we aim to contribute meaningfully to the country’s vision of fostering entrepreneurship, innovation and a knowledge-based economy, by helping build the next generation of business leaders.”
Featured image credit: The Final Pitch
