“It’s not enough to just have good taste.” Rajat Malhotra on building the last major independent festival in the GCC

Raj Malhotra, co-founder of Sole DXB, shares the story behind building one of the GCC’s last major independent festivals — a cultural platform born from minimal capital yet lots of passion and grit. 

The episode traces his journey to meeting co-founders Hussain Moloobhoy and Joshua Cox, and how their shared love for fashion, music, food, and design helped shape the DNA of Sole DXB. Raj reflects on the drive for excellence that fuels the festival each year, their commitment to empowering homegrown businesses in the UAE, and what it means to create a cultural space that can fuel the region’s growth.