Hashem Montasser co-founder of The Lighthouse

Hashem Montasser, co-founder of The Lighthouse: Montasser is yet another finance veteran who took the plunge after 15 years in the industry to set up his very own restaurant/concept store, The Lighthouse, in Dubai. With credentials from finance powerhouses Merrill Lynch and J.P Morgan in New York and London, the transition to hospitality might not have seemed sensible at first. But a passion for both good food and design drove Montasser to create The Lighthouse in 2017 with co-founder Hany Bassiouny and lead chef Izu Ani. The space, which is located in Dubai’s design district, sells books, furniture and high-end artisanal gifts— they even have their own podcast.