John Hanafin

author
With over 25 years of experience in Dubai, John Hanafin has built a reputation as an entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist. He has played a pivotal role in launching and scaling a number of startups across finance, tech and real estate. John is also an advisor in wealth management and international business strategy, guiding high-net-worth individuals and companies through complex financial landscapes. Working with a number of Dubai-based charities, he is a strong supporter of initiatives that drive social impact.
Opinion

Built for whatever comes next: how the Gulf navigates an uncertain horizon

Nobody can say with confidence how long a period of geopolitical disruption will last. That uncertainty is not a failure of analysis –

Read More
Opinion

Crisis readiness versus crisis reaction: How the UAE gets it right

Most of the conversation about how governments handle disruption focuses on their response. How quickly did they act? How well did they communicate?

Read More
Opinion

Why some economies pause during crises – and others don’t

Somewhere in the world today, a decision is being deferred. Not because the underlying numbers changed, not because the business case shifted, but

Read More
Opinion

What global investors look for during times of uncertainty

When geopolitical tensions rise, inflation shifts direction, or interest rates begin moving unpredictably, the tone of global investment conversations quickly changes. Capital rarely

Read More
Opinion

Security in the Gulf: Stability as strategy in an unstable world

Security in the Gulf is often framed in terms of exposure. The region sits near contested waterways, rival powers, and active conflict zones.

Read More
Opinion

The Gulf’s late entry into the automotive industry is, actually, perfect timing

For more than a century, the global automotive industry has followed a relatively stable geographic logic. Engineering leadership sat in Europe and Japan,

Read More
Opinion

Why high-net-worth founders are moving their companies to Dubai

Dubai’s reputation as a destination for the world’s wealthy is nothing new. For years, the emirate has served as a hub for affluent

Read More
Opinion

Getting it right: What the world can learn from Dubai’s business model

Dubai’s rise as a global business hub is not accidental. Nor is it the result of geography, timing, or spectacle. Dubai is studied

Read More
Opinion

Why the best setup is one foot in Europe and one foot in Dubai

The world is increasingly powered by mobility, flexibility, and global opportunity. But whether you can access these benefits depends on where you are

Read More
Opinion

Casinos in the UAE: what will legalised gaming mean for the economy?

For a long time, the idea of casinos in the UAE was just speculation. The scenario quickly changed, though, following a surge in

Read More