TV to capture fight for successful businesses

An Arab reality TV show will be launched in Dubai that will film candidates hoping to become successful entrepreneurs.

The programme will broadcast 13 episodes on Infinity TV.

The show, titled CEO, will aspire to be a top draw for entrepreneurs. Arabic-speaking graduates and executives already in the workforce who are younger than 35 and want to take part in the show are invited to submit a start-up business venture.

Five women and five men will be selected to compete against each other by completing assignments given by two businessmen, one of which will be Mishal Kanoo, deputy chairman of the Kanoo Group. The other is yet to be announced.

"TV is the best medium to help people make something of themselves. The region is dominated by family-owned businesses, which don't help entre-preneurs grow. I really want to help young people who want to enter the business world," Kanoo said.

The series will seek to recognise genuine business talent in the Arab world and encourage leadership skills, he said. The show will be hosted by Feras Zeidan and is due to start filming once casting is complete.

"Businesses in the Gulf are 90 per cent family owned. People need to be enlightened so they can bring out their best," Zeidan said.

The series will be filmed in locations such as schools and business establishments in Dubai. There will be a male and a female winner, who will each get $250,000.