Dubai launches ‘The Final Pitch’: Top investors join new business reality TV show

Dubai is about to raise the bar for entrepreneurial ambition. Four of the region’s most powerful business minds are stepping into the spotlight as investor-judges on The Final Pitch Dubai, the Middle Eastern debut of Asia’s longest-running business reality TV show. The show promises to transform big ideas into funded ventures — and catapult bold founders into the next level of startup success.

With applications now open, startup founders from the UAE and around the globe are being invited to pitch their ventures before an elite panel of investors who bring decades of industry-defining expertise across digital transformation, real estate, fintech, sustainability, cleantech, and venture capital.

The high-profile investor-judge lineup includes:

• Bijan Alizadeh, Founding Partner of Cypher Capital and Co-Founder of Phoenix Group PLC

• Dr. Mohanad Alwadiya, the charismatic CEO of Harbor Real Estate, known as “The Wolf of Real Estate”

• Sami Khoreibi, the founder of Incubayt Investments and a seasoned entrepreneur-investor hybrid

• Jigar Sagar, strategic government advisor and Founder of Triliv Holdings

Each brings not just capital, but access, mentorship, and real-world experience — offering selected startups a golden ticket into Dubai’s fast-evolving innovation ecosystem.

In this Gulf News exclusive, we catch up with John Aguilar, Filipino creator and host of The Final Pitch, and founder of the show’s production company, Dragon’s Nest. He shares why Dubai is the ideal stage for the show’s next chapter—and what it takes for entrepreneurs to succeed.

“Bringing The Final Pitch to Dubai was a natural evolution. The UAE has established itself as a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and forward-thinking leadership—values that align perfectly with our show’s mission to empower the next generation of changemakers. Dubai’s energy, ambition, and multicultural ecosystem provide the ideal platform to elevate the region’s most promising startups to the global stage,” Aguilar says.   

For The Final Pitch, Dubai isn’t just a location—it’s a bold frontier for the next generation of changemakers.

Aguilar said: “Every pitch, negotiation, and investor tour is grounded in authentic business dialogue—where real money, real deals, and real guidance are on the line. Our investor-judges are handpicked not only for their impressive profiles but also for their active role in shaping the future of the ventures they invest in.

The Dubai edition introduces a fresh approach. Expect deeper mentorship, exclusive access to investor-judges’ businesses, and heightened pressure.

“Dubai offers a truly global stage, and we’re adapting our format to match that scale. In addition to the traditional pitches, we’ve introduced deeper mentorship episodes, immersive tours of our investor-judges' businesses—and even their homes—and new contestant experiences tailored to the MENA region. The diversity and ambition of our Dubai-based investors also bring a fresh intensity and global perspective to the competition,” says Aguilar.

“We’re looking for bold founders tackling real-world problems—especially in sustainability, fintech, AI, and consumer innovation. Our investor-judges seek visionary founders who are resilient, coachable, and laser-focused on execution. The best part? They’re open to startups at any stage, from idea to growth, with funding up to $10 million. It’s not about where you're from; it’s about how far you’re willing to go,” he says.

A proven format, now in Dubai

Set to begin filming in June 2025 across iconic locations in the city, the Dubai edition will retain the show’s high-stakes structure: aspiring founders must refine their pitches through mentorship, engage directly with the investor-judges inside their businesses, and ultimately deliver a final pitch in front of the panel for a shot at funding and partnerships.

The show is produced by the award-winning Dragon’s Nest, with Ti22 Films, headed by CEO Reim El Houni, joining as local production partner and Co-Executive Producer. The Final Pitch Dubai will air exclusively on OSN and OSN+ in Q4 of 2025.

Calling all visionary founders

Applications are now open at TheFinalPitch.world, with a submission deadline of May 27, 2025. Entrepreneurs at any stage — from early to growth — are encouraged to apply, whether UAE-based or international, for what could be a game-changing opportunity.

Each selected entrepreneur will benefit from one-on-one access to the investor-judges, insider tours of their business ecosystems, and hands-on strategic coaching — culminating in a live, high-stakes pitch that could open the doors to funding and scale.

As Aguilar puts it, The Final Pitch Dubai isn’t just another reality show — it’s “a launchpad for the next generation of business leaders.”