Visionary Lebanese sisters and founders of Dubai-based Over the World, have transformed resilience into artistry and strategy into impact. Blending intuition, discipline, and daring imagination, they shape brands across borders, building not just a creative agency, but a legacy defined by courage, precision and purpose.
Can you both share your personal journeys, what led each of you into entrepreneurship? And what inspired you to build a business together as sisters?
NIDAL:
My journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t something I planned overnight; it evolved through different chapters of my life.
I began my career in hospitality, first in Lebanon, then Egypt, and later in Abu Dhabi, working with some of the region’s leading hotel chains. Hospitality taught me discipline, attention to detail, and how to create experiences that truly move people. It shaped my work ethics and deepened my understanding of what excellence truly means.
From there, I transitioned into the corporate world, joining a semi-governmental company as a Marketing Manager before being promoted to Group Marketing Manager. That period was transformative, it expanded my strategic thinking and gave me exposure to large-scale brand development, leadership, and high-level decision-making.
Yet even as I grew within the corporate structure, I felt a strong pull toward building something of my own. I wanted the freedom to create without limits, to build not just campaigns, but a vision.
I initially launched a company with a partner, but it didn’t prove to be the right long-term fit. Around the same time, I experienced one of the most difficult moments of my life: losing my brother. That loss profoundly shifted my perspective. It made me reflect on purpose, trust, and legacy.
With the encouragement of Mario, a close person at that time (now my husband) who believed in me and my vision; I realized that if I was going to build something meaningful, it had to be with someone who shared not only my ambition but also my values. That’s when my sister and I decided to build the company together. We share the same vision, understand each other instinctively, and have a deep level of trust that goes beyond business. For us, it’s not just a company, it’s a shared vision and a long-term legacy we are building side by side.
IMAN:
I began my career at The Gate / Kodak Lab for Film, where I worked closely with leading creatives and gained firsthand exposure to the inner workings of the industry. That early experience immersed me in highly creative environments and sharpened my understanding of how vision transforms into production. It was there that I built the foundation that would later guide my transition into the world of production.
I went on to become a Producer and later an Executive Producer, putting my managerial and operational strengths into action. I had the privilege of collaborating with some of the industry’s most respected names, including Said El Marouk, Emile Slaiby, Nada Allam, and of course Yehya Saade, who left a particularly profound mark on my career. Working alongside him, we built a strong creative presence, pushing boundaries and delivering projects that consistently raised the bar.
Over the years, I collaborated with major artists such as Najwa Karam, Ahlam, Nicole Saba, Myriam Fares, Carol Sakr, Assi El Helani, Haifa Wehbe, Adam, and many other prominent names. The productions I managed ranked among the highest in the industry in terms of budget scale, crew size, and overall production value. Excellence was never optional, it was expected.
After my brother Yehya passed away, a period that was profoundly difficult and deeply transformative, I chose to rise again, stronger, wiser, and with a renewed perspective on life. He and I shared a vision, and together with my sister Nidal, we committed to bringing that vision to life and carrying forward the legacy that shaped us.
In 2011, I relocated to the UAE and co-founded Over the World with Nidal, a creative agency that quickly carved out its place in the corporate landscape. Under my direction, and with a dedicated, passionate team who believed in our vision, the company delivered impactful projects across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other emirates.
What’s your secret blend as a sister duo, who brings the spice, who brings the sweet, and how does it make the whole operation irresistible?
We believe our secret blend lies in how we truly complete each other, both in character and in the way we work.
At any given moment, one of us is on fire, pushing boundaries, dreaming bigger, and challenging the status quo, while the other instinctively brings balance. That balance can appear in creativity, management, structure, or even just emotional energy.
People often call us “the two crazy sisters,” and we take that as a compliment. We’re relentless when it comes to quality, creativity, and deliverables. We challenge each other constantly because we come from the same school of art, share the same foundation, and the same obsession with excellence.
What has been the biggest transformational moment in your entrepreneurial journey so far?
To be honest, we don’t believe there has been just one transformational moment, because we’ve never thought the sky is the limit. For us, growth is continuous.
What truly transformed us over time has been our evolution, in both innovation and maturity. We began in advertising and graphics, then moved into exhibition stand design and build. As we gained confidence and experience, we expanded into full-scale event production, and eventually into interior projects as well.
Each expansion was intentional, rooted in a deep understanding of our strengths. We are a creative boutique, we’re not just “idea people.” What defines us is our ability to transform creativity into structured, well-managed reality.
What strengths do you admire most in each other as businesswomen?
NIDAL:
What I admire most about Iman is her strength. She’s an incredibly independent woman who has faced many challenges in her life, yet every single time, she rises again stronger, clearer, and more determined.
Professionally, she’s extremely organized and detail-oriented. That precision is one of our greatest assets. She has a sharp, critical eye that pushes everyone around her to raise their standards.
More than anything, I feel stronger knowing she’s by my side. We have a deep understanding between us. She often knows what I’m thinking before I say it, and she’s always there to support it, refine it, and push it further.
IMAN:
Nidal is one of the most creative people I have ever encountered. She is a strong and inspiring team leader, passionate, detail oriented, and absolutely relentless when it comes to achieving her goals.
She’s a natural problem solver who can turn any challenge into an opportunity. She believes deeply in her team’s abilities and supports them on both a professional and personal level.
To me, she is far more than a sister, she is my backbone, my source of positivity, and my earth angel. She lifts me through my lowest moments and celebrates my highest with unwavering support.
Where do you see Over the World in the next 3–5 years, and what innovations or new verticals are you planning to introduce?
As we always say, even the sky is not our limit. We truly believe in spreading our wings and continuously flying higher.
In the next three to five years, we envision Over the World growing not only in size but also in depth, with stronger teams, stronger collaborations, and clients who genuinely understand the value of creativity with purpose.
We live in a country driven by technology and innovation, yet our roots have instilled in us resilience, adaptability, and solution driven thinking. That combination defines us. It creates a balance between emotion and structure, art and execution, vision and practicality.
What first attracted you to start your business together in Dubai and what do you think sets your business apart from the rest of UAE?
After the loss of our brother in Lebanon, life shifted for us in many ways. At the time, Nidal was already working in the UAE, and we began reflecting seriously on where the right environment would be to build something meaningful. Dubai felt like the natural choice.
The UAE offers a market that is dynamic, ambitious, and full of opportunities. Dubai, especially, is a global stage where cultures, ideas, and industries intersect. That kind of diversity expands one’s perspective and elevates you creatively and managerially.
How we approach our work is what truly sets our business apart in such a competitive market. We invest deeply in understanding our clients’ vision. We don’t just execute a brief, we adopt the idea as if it were our own.
There is always a message behind our work. Some people decode it immediately, others experience it visually or emotionally, but either way, they feel something. For us, that emotional connection is the true measure of success.
What advice would you give to young female entrepreneurs in the region?
Our advice isn’t only for young female entrepreneurs, but for any young person in the region who dreams of building something of their own.
We started our company with a loan. There was no safety net and no shortcuts. We worked incredibly hard to reach where we are today. There were moments of doubt, pressure, and uncertainty, but our vision was always stronger than our fear.
One thing we always say is: don’t be fooled by the artificial world that makes success look instant and effortless. Real achievement is built through hard work, discipline, strategy, planning, resilience, and belief in your purpose.
DREAM and dream BIG. But don’t stop there. Plan. Work. Sacrifice. Turn that dream into structured action. When challenges come, don’t give up. Fight for it with clarity and consistency.
Success isn’t magic, it’s commitment.
