A city is more than its skyline. It is the welcome at a hotel door, the energy in a restaurant kitchen and the people who make a new place feel like home. Visit Dubaiis putting those personal connections in the spotlight with Beat of My Dubai, a storytelling project celebrating African talent living and working in the city.
Launched by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the project follows six personalities from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya through short films, portraits and everyday city moments. For South African travellers, it offers a different starting point for discovering Dubai: the people who bring a little of home to the places they help shape.
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South African Warmth, Served in Dubai
Food and hospitality sit at the heart of several stories. South African-born chef Kelvin Kelly, founder of OneLife Kitchen & Cafe, moved to Dubai in 2015. His approach centres on quality ingredients and cooking from scratch, bringing his own perspective to the city’s diverse dining scene.
At Moonrise, South African restaurant manager Ashley Jane Rosenberg brings the warmth and determination of home to a team shaped by different cultures. Meanwhile, Roux Willem Hattingh, a doorman at Mandarin Oriental Downtown Dubai, represents the human connection that can turn a hotel arrival into a lasting memory.
Their stories give familiar travel experiences a personal dimension. A restaurant is also a place where careers take shape; a hotel welcome can become a connection that continues across return visits.
Elizabeth Wambui works in events at the Museum of the Future. I
Media entrepreneur Yvonne Mtengwa is one of six voices in the project.
Roux Willem Hattingh represents the human side of a hotel welcome.
Chef Kelvin Kelly brings his culinary perspective to Dubai.
"Dubai has taught me that you don't have to leave who you are behind to find your place somewhere new"
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Creativity That Travels With You
The project reaches beyond hospitality. South African architect Shaun Killa, founder of Killa Design, first arrived in Dubai in 1998. His work has helped shape some of the places visitors associate with the city, including the Museum of the Future.
Zimbabwean media entrepreneur Yvonne Mtengwa connects audiences across Africa and the UAE through Travel Essence Magazine, communications work and curated travel experiences. Kenyan Elizabeth Wambui, an events organiser at the Museum of the Future, brings another perspective on the city’s cultural and creative possibilities.
The campaign also features photography by South African photographer Siphiwe Mhlambi, whose career began in Soweto. His contribution places an African visual perspective at the centre of the project, connecting individual stories with the city around them.
Discover the People Behind the Places
Watch the short films and explore the featured personalities throughBeat of My Dubai. Let their stories add context to the restaurants, cultural spaces and architecture on your next itinerary.
#HelloRecommends: Pick one story that speaks to your interests, whether food, design or culture, and use it as a starting point for exploring the city. Check each venue’s current opening hours and booking requirements directly before visiting.
For another perspective on the ties between the UAE and South Africa, read our feature on A Dubai Invite.
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