Entrepreneur, financier, television host and investor Kevin O’Leary joined "World of Travel: The Podcast" to discuss his deep ties to the Middle East and why he’s chosen to make the United Arab Emirates a part of his professional and personal life.
“I’m half Lebanese and half Irish, so I’ve grown up in that region for decades. I’ve lived in Cyprus and Beirut; I’ve been to Syria and Yemen — all of these places are part of who I am, where I grew up, and where I went to school,” O’Leary said.
“The Lebanese culture is very similar to the culture of the UAE in terms of how family and society work, 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 nation’s rapid advancements in technology, particularly artificial intelligence. As a passionate watch collector, he also sees Dubai Watch Week as a global hub for his industry.
When asked about reports that he had obtained UAE citizenship, O’Leary clarified, “It’s actually a residency Golden Visa. You have to get that first. I’m trying to get my full citizenship next.”
He added that his growing involvement in AI was another key factor in establishing a presence in the Middle East.
“If you look at AI as a new sector, which I think is going to be huge, No. 1 in expenditures is the U.S., No. 2 is China, and No. 3 is the UAE,” he said. “Very few people know that. They are specializing in agents, which is basically taking yourself and turning yourself into a version of yourself so that you can be everywhere all the time. My wife thinks that’s very scary.”
That concept isn’t theoretical for O’Leary. “We’ve actually got AI Kevin now, and we did it in Abu Dhabi!” he explained. “I’m going back there in a couple of weeks to train the model even more.”
His enthusiasm reflects a broader reality — Dubai and Abu Dhabi have positioned themselves as global testbeds for innovation. For O’Leary, the appeal seems to rest in the country’s willingness to experiment.
During our time filming "World of Travel" in the UAE, we experienced that spirit of experimentation firsthand. From skydiving over the coastline to swimming with sharks Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo — which, by the way is in the middle of the Dubai Mall, to exploring coral reefs and desert dunes, our team encountered a nation that constantly pushes the limits of what can be built or imagined.
Yet even amid the futuristic architecture and adrenaline-fueled adventures, it was the country’s forward-looking mindset that stood out most.
Our mission as filmmakers isn’t to market destinations, but to explore what defines them. The UAE offered a glimpse into how vision and identity continue to shape a nation still writing its story.EDITOR’S NOTE: Lindsey Granger and Kolyn Boyd are the co-creators of "World of Travel," a series that explores the past, present and future of extraordinary places around the globe. You can watch our most recent episode on the United Arab Emirates here and future episodes each Wednesday at 4 p.m. EDT on The Hill’s YouTube page.
Lindsey Granger is the co-host of "Rising." Kolyn Boyd is a film director based in Washington, D.C.
Catch complimentary podcasts every Thursday at 4 p.m. on The Hill’s YouTube channel.
"The World of Travel: UAE" episode was sponsored by Skydive Dubai, Al Boom Diving, Shangri-La Palace Hotel, FIVE Palm Jumeirah Hotel, Tabu, and Amelia.
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