Scale faster. Open up the GCC market strategically. Experience business exchange at the highest level.
5 days of Dubai Mastermind for entrepreneurs
Get to know Dubai from an entrepreneur's perspective. Spend five intensive days in Dubai with other entrepreneurs, owners and managing directors from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Work together with experienced specialists on the strategic development of your business, your plans or possible exit strategies, and find out whether Dubai and entering the GCC market are right for you: honest, practical and exclusive.
How does a company enter the market in Dubai and the GCC?
A successful market entry in Dubai does not begin with setting up a company alone.
What matters is an offer that is relevant to the region, clearly defined target customers, personal relationships, suitable sales channels, a realistic entry model and structures that allow the business to be managed internationally.
The Dubai Mastermind for entrepreneurs brings these factors together in five intensive days: with market knowledge, strategic work on your own company, personal contacts, experienced experts and a concrete 90-day roadmap.
Our vision:
The Mastermind we always wished we had
We know from our own experience why many classic masterminds disappoint: a lot of selling, little substance. Big promises, hardly any real results.
That is exactly why we designed this Mastermind the way we always wished we had found one.
The five days follow a clear principle: focus and freedom. Structure and energy. Working on the business and a conscious distance from everyday life.
The first half of every day is always devoted to focused work on the participants' business topics. In clearly led workshops, moderated group formats and selected input from experienced entrepreneurs and experts, individual goals, challenges and growth areas are worked out and systematically translated into concrete steps that are ready for implementation.
The second half of every day is deliberately different: out of the day-to-day operations, out of routines, into new perspectives.
Dubai offers the ideal setting for this, with its international dynamism, its spirit of new beginnings and an energy that inspires and moves.
The programme is complemented by selected, high-quality experiences and an exclusive evening programme. They are a deliberate part of the concept: to clear your head from everyday life, to gather new impulses, to get to know the country and its people and to noticeably recharge your entrepreneurial motivation.
This creates a space in which entrepreneurs do not just plan, but move into implementation with clarity, energy and real drive. Long beyond the five days.
No sales event, no hidden fees, no empty networking.
You can expect five days of systematically focused workshops, inspiring keynotes, luxurious experiences and an exclusive evening programme in the special setting of Dubai. Everything is combined in a well-thought-out Mastermind programme that delivers insights you can put to use immediately and enables personal exchange on an equal footing. By entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. All services are included, without the (subsequent) extra costs for experiences, chauffeur services, speakers, meeting rooms or shared dinners that are common elsewhere.
Our aim:
This Mastermind is not a seminar. It is a catalyst for your development that offers you real solutions, strategic clarity, new ideas and valuable contacts in the DACH region and the GCC.
You leave your comfort zone, rethink your products and business models and return with an invaluable package of knowledge, experience, inspiration, network and new friendships: things nobody can take away from you.
The new centre for entrepreneurial growth
The GCC: a market for the future
Dubai and the GCC: a region of exceptional dynamism
- United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
The six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman) are among the most strategically interesting economic regions for internationally oriented companies.
Dubai plays a special role here.
The city combines international accessibility, modern infrastructure, capital, technology, entrepreneurial speed and access to decision-makers from numerous markets.
For companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Dubai can be both a market in its own right and a hub for other GCC states.
However, the region is not a single uniform market.
Customers, decision-making paths, business culture, regulation and sales models differ by country and industry.
That is why it is not enough to simply set up a company or collect a few contacts.
What matters is developing the right market, the right offer and a realistic entry path for your own company.
Who is the Dubai Mastermind for?
Owners from the DACH region
Entrepreneurs, owners (before or after an exit), managing directors and founders from Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH region)
SMEs, mid-sized companies, start-ups
Family businesses, fast-growing mid-sized companies and innovative start-ups that want to open up new markets and business areas in the GCC and MENA region or are looking for access to well-capitalised venture capital and private equity networks.
Entrepreneurs interested in the GCC market
Entrepreneurs from the DACH region who are planning to enter the GCC market, in particular Dubai and the UAE, want to accelerate their growth, digitalise or transform their company, or are preparing an exit or have already completed one and see their future in the UAE.
Owners, managing directors
Executives who are looking for genuine exchange on an equal footing, inspiring encounters and access to established, reliable German- and English-speaking networks in the UAE and to high-quality HR networks, in order to develop personally and as entrepreneurs.
What can you expect?
Your concrete added value:
Top benefits
Mastermind workshops & culinary refreshments
The Mastermind and workshops take place with a view of the impressive backdrop of the Dubai Marina. During the sessions, varied culinary refreshments are provided in the breaks.
Roadmap for the GCC market
Clear, actionable steps, timeline, costs, roles and responsibilities for entering the UAE/GCC market
Top speakers with many years of UAE experience
During the five days, selected, experienced German-speaking entrepreneurs and experts who have lived and worked in the UAE for many years will speak. They bring practical insights into the following core topics:
- Taxes, relocation & legal framework
- Business structures & business models
- Market entry, market & business culture in the GCC
- Marketing, PR & market development in the UAE
- Financing, investors & living in the UAE
Company formation service for your Freezone LLC included
As a Mastermind participant, you receive services for the strategic planning and formation of a Freezone company, free of charge and on a one-off basis, tailored to your individual business goals.
- Support service for a lifetime visa (if available), Emirates ID, medical & biometrics
- Help with choosing an account and opening it
- Advice and support when applying for a standard or Golden Visa in Dubai
Cross-Cultural Playbook
Negotiation styles, expectations, decision-making paths and partner models in the Arab world
Access to established networks
As a member and partner of the official business representations, the Austrian Business Council, the German Business Council and the Swiss Business Council, we have excellent connections to decision-makers in the region. In addition, we are co-founders of the exclusive Founders Dubai and Founders Abu Dhabi clubs and are therefore very well connected in the investor and VC scene. We are happy to make targeted introductions that speed up your market entry.
Real contacts
Personal introductions to investors, Business Councils (Austrian, Swiss & German), experienced partners and service providers
Every participant gets their own “Hot Seat”
Your central topic or biggest challenge is worked on in a targeted way by experts and the group: no theory, but solutions you can use straight away.
Further support
- 50% discount on lifetime membership of the exclusive Business Evolution Institute >>
- Monthly online follow-ups on reaching your goals after the Mastermind
- Regular live webinars on strategic development
- Invited experts and speakers
- Regular online masterminds
- Access to an exclusive chat with trends, innovations and technology insights
Financial benefits
100% tax deductible
Regardless of whether you are resident in Germany, Austria or Switzerland: by their nature, the costs of the Mastermind are structured as consulting services and can generally be claimed in full as business expenses that reduce profit.
Up to 80% eligible for funding
The Mastermind and the consulting services it includes serve to build entrepreneurial know-how and to develop your company internationally. In Germany and Austria, suitable funding programmes are available for this. We are happy to check your eligibility and to support you with the application and processing, subject to your company's individual funding requirements.
Operating Stack
Recommendations for systems to scale and manage your company remotely.
Product and offer adjustments
Prices, packages, compliance and localisation for B2B/B2C in the GCC
Growth plan
Your top priorities for the next 90 days in sales, partnerships and marketing, including KPIs and owners
Premium service
Admission to the Dubai Mastermind for Life Club
As a participant in the Dubai Mastermind, you receive preferential terms for future exclusive entrepreneur events and retreats worldwide.
VIP chauffeur service
We take care of all transfers and accompany you personally from the airport to the events and back. The included VIP chauffeur service ensures a straightforward, comfortable and smooth experience.
Opening yacht trip with networking
For getting to know each other personally, nothing suits better than a shared sunset tour around the impressive artificial island archipelago of the Palm Jumeirah.
On a sporty yacht, music, culinary refreshments and cool drinks create a relaxed setting for high-quality networking.
The group of participants is complemented by selected guests, curated by us in advance, who fit the participants in terms of content and industry and enrich the exchange in a targeted way.
Culinary accompaniment in the evening
Dubai stands for diversity and excellence. For the Mastermind, we have put together a selection of extraordinary restaurants that we visit on the shared evenings.
From bustling Downtown to authentic desert ambience, everything is on offer.
Of course, this is already included in the scope of services.
Adventure & experiences
The Mastermind deliberately creates space for energy and distance from everyday life. After the workshops, selected excursions and exclusive experiences await you every day, allowing you to immerse yourself intensely in the vibrant world of Dubai. Look forward to special moments, inspiration and surprising perspectives.
Discounts on accommodation
We recommend accommodation nearby, from practical and comfortable to luxurious, to suit the individual preferences of participants. All recommended hotels are in the immediate vicinity of the venue and benefit from a Mastermind discount agreed in advance.
The exclusive programme of the Dubai Mastermind for companies:
5 days and one evening of inspiration, strategy and network
Day 1
Market overview & strategy in Dubai
You get a comprehensive insight into market opportunities, current trends and entry models in the GCC (e.g. Freezone or Mainland). In the Hot Seats, we work together on your individual growth strategies.
In the evening, at a welcome mixer in an exclusive bar in the DIFC, the financial heart of Dubai, you meet local entrepreneurs, investors and advisers.
Day 2
Market and product fit, company formation, law & taxes
In workshops with experienced experts, we cover all the important topics around company formation, visas, banks, taxes, IP and compliance. In further Hot Seats, we discuss your pricing, contract design and regulatory questions. We round off the day with an exclusive dinner in a special setting with a spectacular view.
Day 3
Sales, partnerships & digitalisation
We show you proven sales models, partner networks and quick approaches to digitalisation and automation (CRM & tools). The Hot Seats focus on your sales pipeline, offers and growth opportunities. In the evening, we enjoy an exclusive dinner at a selected top restaurant.
Day 4
Investment, talent & company culture
Topics include investor expectations, recruitment and leadership in the GCC, and intercultural management. In Hot Seats, we address concrete questions on team building, financing and scaling. Optionally, we organise a joint desert safari as a networking highlight from late afternoon.
Day 5
Your roadmap & closing session
On the last day, you work out your individual 90-day plan (KPIs, budgets, responsibilities) with our experts. In the Deal Room, targeted contacts are made and the next steps are defined. To close, there is a round for feedback, goals and commitment.
Experts & network
During the Mastermind, you benefit from experienced specialists from all areas relevant to entering and growing in the GCC market. Depending on the focus topic, digitalisation and automation consultants are available who give insights into modern CRM, ERP and AI solutions. The programme is complemented by company formation and tax experts from the UAE, who share practical tips on company set-up, visas, banking and compliance. Sales experts from the GCC share current insights on enterprise sales, building partnerships and procurement processes.
You also gain access to international investors and major venture capital firms, many of which have been successfully active in the region for decades. Exchange with family offices on topics such as funding, pitching and local particularities is also part of the programme.
Results & deliverables
During the Mastermind, you develop:
- 1an individual checklist for your market entry (e.g. entity, licences, visas, banking),
- 2a personal 90-day growth plan with concrete priorities for sales, partnerships, marketing and key milestones,
- 3an automation starter kit (including templates for processes, onboarding and reporting),
- 4an overview of relevant contacts, recommendations from the network and personal introductions,
- 5and a summary of the most important sessions, decisions and next steps.
After the Mastermind, you know the market and the region well enough to make well-founded, forward-looking decisions for your company back home. You return with a broader professional reach and a network of valuable contacts and companions: people and relationships that nobody can take away from you.
Practical information
- When:
15 November 2026 (arrival + get-together evening)
16–19 November 2026 (the Mastermind itself)
and further edition:
31 January to 4 February 2027
- Where:
Dubai, UAE (exclusive location, yacht and desert experience in the programme)
- Language:
German & English
- Group size:
Limited to max. 10, to ensure personal Hot Seats, intensive exchange and high quality
- Investment:
The programme includes workshops, Hot Seats, expert input, networking, a premium supporting programme and all materials. Excursions, catering during the day and limousine service are included (excluding flight/hotel; recommendations on request). Early-bird and team rates available.
Why the GCC… or if only I had known then
We are Matthias and Lana Schneider. We are passionate entrepreneurs ourselves, and have run companies with a long history and strong teams in Austria and Germany. But two years ago, as a family, we took the leap and moved our centre of life entirely to Dubai. It was a big step, but we have not regretted it for a second.
Today we not only successfully run companies remotely, but are also actively involved in companies in Saudi Arabia, Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Iraq. Our family has flourished here, our network has grown and new opportunities have opened up that we would hardly have dared to dream of before.
We want to inspire other entrepreneurs to take this step boldly as well, and to show you what we ourselves would gladly have known much earlier.
Lana Schneider
An entrepreneur for over 13 years and a strategic shaper of business development. As a certified business graduate (Diplom-Betriebswirtin) with an MBA in IT and a BA (Hons), she combines business clarity with technological understanding and international experience. Her career includes entrepreneurial independence and strategic roles in international corporations such as Mercedes-Benz, Q-Cells and EvoBus.
With the catalytic approach she has developed over many years, she helps companies deliberately develop existing structures, business models and market positions, and enables new growth from what already exists. As founder and initiator of the Business Evolution Institute, she creates clarity in complex decision phases and supports sustainable development.
She has lived in Dubai with her family for several years and stands for an international path that naturally combines performance, foresight and personal balance.
Matthias Schneider
An entrepreneur, investor and strategic companion to growth-oriented companies for over two decades. Entrepreneurially active since the age of 19, he has built, developed, sold or still runs companies in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.
His focus is on scaling, automation and the strategic use of artificial intelligence. As the developer of the world's first interest-graph-based AI network, he has for years connected people and companies across different markets.
Today he lives in Dubai with his family and moves between Europe and the GCC region. As Digitalisation Ambassador of the State of Tyrol, member of the Austrian and Swiss Business Council and co-initiator of Founders Dubai, he connects entrepreneurs, investors, venture capital, private equity and family business structures across national and cultural borders.
Frequently asked questions about the Dubai Mastermind (FAQ)
A successful market entry begins with examining the target market, target customers, offer, sales model and relevant relationships. Only after that should you decide which local presence or company structure is needed.
Not necessarily.
Depending on your activity and target customers, the market can first be tested through conversations, pilot projects, direct sales or local partners.
All programme items, meeting room, workshops, speakers, catering during the day, excursions (e.g. VIP chauffeur service, yacht trip, desert safari, networking evening events, soft drinks, menu selection), business lunches and airport transfers within the official agenda are provided by us and included in the price. Exclusive special requests or alcoholic drinks at evening events (e.g. à la carte dinner) are not included and are ordered individually and paid for on site.
Yes, all Mastermind workshops, Hot Seats and daytime programmes take place in inspiring, modern locations. Catering during the day (e.g. break snacks, soft drinks, coffee/tea, business lunch) is included.
We deliberately keep the number of participants low (max. 10 people) to guarantee genuine exchange, individual Hot Seats and personal networking. During the Mastermind and beyond, you receive personal advice and targeted guidance.
Yes.
If it turns out that your own company makes sense, Freezone and Mainland models can be put into context and the next steps prepared.
For a simple Freezone structure, we can coordinate the support.
For more complex questions, we connect you with specialised contacts.
Yes.
The network includes investors, venture capital partners, capital partners, family offices, CEOs and entrepreneurs.
Suitable conversations and introductions are prepared depending on your plans.
The Mastermind is meant as the beginning of a long-term connection.
Participants can be included in further events, discussion groups and network activities.
For more complex questions, we connect you with specialised contacts.
Team and partner places are available by arrangement. Please ask us about discounted group rates.
You receive an invoice (in euros) that can be used for tax purposes, so that you can claim the costs as training / a business expense.
No, you book travel and hotel individually. We are happy to help with hotel recommendations and logistics.
Our Mastermind is tailored to entrepreneurs and decision-makers with concrete responsibility. If you have a particular interest, please send us an individual enquiry.
Dubai Mastermind
Ready for your next big step?
Let us create genuine growth, new friendships and lasting success together, in an exclusive group of entrepreneurs who live family, trust, drive and openness.
Register now for a personal introductory call, and let us find out together whether the Dubai Mastermind is right for you.
We look forward to getting to know you!