Entrepreneur, financier, television host and investor Kevin O’Leary joined "World of Travel: The Podcast" to discuss his deep ties to the Middle East and why he’s chosen to make the United Arab Emirates a part of his professional and personal life.

“I’m half Lebanese and half Irish, so I’ve grown up in that region for decades. I’ve lived in Cyprus and Beirut; I’ve been to Syria and Yemen — all of these places are part of who I am, where I grew up, and where I went to school,” O’Leary said.

“The Lebanese culture is very similar to the culture of the UAE in terms of how family and society work, and I think they felt very comfortable with me that way, embracing me. The country is only 53 years old. My father worked for the founder, helping build the water system in Abu Dhabi.”

O’Leary explained that his interest in the UAE initially stemmed from the nation’s rapid advancements in technology, particularly artificial intelligence. As a passionate watch collector, he also sees Dubai Watch Week as........

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