Creating Systemic Change for People and Planet













BRIDGING WORLD CLASS IDEAS WITH THE MARKETS THAT DEFINE THE FUTURE

we are a disruptive advisory firm

We connect global ideas and companies with the most influential public and private stakeholders and capital across the UAE, GCC and selected Africa markets. We translate world-class ideas into regionally resonant strategies in alignment with national and regional development priorities.  We help clients grow faster and scale impact by combining strategic positioning, cultural fluency and trusted relationships.

Our model is bespoke, senior-led, and discreet

This approach governs every engagement that merits priviledged access, from first conversation to final outcome.

strategic positioning, opportunity design

We integrate regional intelligence, strategic positioning, narrative and reputation design, opportunity structuring, and curated senior-level engagement into a single, outcome-oriented advisory model.

Cultural Precision

We transform global strategies and brands into locally grounded propositions that align with regional values, institutional norms, and national development agendas.

PRIVILEGED ACCESS, CURATED INTRODUCTIONS

We provide endorsed access to senior decision-makers across governments, regulators, family offices, corporates, and institutions. Clients are not “introduced”—they are contextualised, positioned, and trusted.

structured execution

All mandates are handled at senior level, with discretion, clarity, and long-term relevance as guiding principles. We often co-ordinate third party advisors to ensure coherence across strategy, legal execution and commercial engagement.

built on trust. defined by access. driven by regional intelligence

We have spent decades operating inside the institutions, markets, and decision-making environments of the UAE, the GCC, Europe, and beyond. Our experience spans governance, finance, brand strategy, growth, and market entry—giving us a holistic understanding of how organisations evolve, scale, and endure. We work differently by design. We engage personally, selectively, and with long-term intent.

ROBERTA CALARESE – Co-Founder

ANNA MARIA ALOE – Co-Founder

UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT GAP

Many companies enter the region with strong offerings but limited visibility into how culture, institutions, and decision-making actually operate.
This gap—not capability—often slows progress and limits scale.

our services bridge the context gap

Market Entry & Expansion strategy

Strategic Communication & cultural positioning

business development, curated introductions & Partnerships

access to capital and Fundraising Support*

Legal, Regulatory & Governance Strategy*

Trade Missions & Market Access Delegations

OUR CLIENTS ARE THOSE WHO RECOGNIZE THAT ACCESS AND INSIGHT ARE AS VALUABLE AS CAPITAL

We work with international companies entering or expanding across the UAE, the GCC, and Africa—high-growth ventures with ambition and credibility, and established global brands seeking reinvention or repositioning. We also collaborate with the regional ecosystem that shapes opportunity: government and semi-government entities, family businesses and family offices, large corporates, innovation platforms, and trusted advisors.

All enquiries are reviewed personally.
Engagements are subject to purpose and strategic alignment.

CONTACT

The Meadows, DUBAI, UAE
contact@ghayaadvisory.com
+971 561199886

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ROBERTA CALARESE - Founder & CEO, GHAYA | Board Director | Strategic Business Development Advisor | Fractional CLO

Roberta Calarese is a senior strategist, board director, and trusted advisor with three decades of experience at the intersection of law, capital, governance, and market access across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. A UAE national, she is deeply committed to the sustainable growth and long-term development of the UAE, and is the Founder and CEO of GHAYA, a high-trust strategic advisory and gateway platform enabling global companies, investors, and institutions to enter, scale, and build meaningful presence in the UAE, GCC, and Africa.

Known for combining institutional credibility with privileged access, Roberta designs and positions high-value business opportunities aligned with sustainable development priorities and national agendas, helping clients achieve relevance, secure decision-maker access, and form transformative, mutually beneficial partnerships. Her work goes beyond traditional consulting or networking, integrating strategic positioning, culturally attuned narrative adaptation, and curated introductions across both public and private sectors.
Roberta is widely recognized as one of the architects of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), where she helped shape its legal and governance framework. She later served as Group Chief Legal Officer and Executive Committee member at Majid Al Futtaim, leading multi-billion-dollar transactions and embedding values-based governance at scale.

Beyond her advisory work, Roberta is the founder of World with Purpose, a global platform convening governments, corporates, investors, and thought leaders to advance sustainable development, purpose-led leadership, and impact aligned with national transformation agendas. She serves on the Advisory Board of Zayed University for the Colleges of Interdisciplinary Studies , Prosperar Advisory, and YAO Risk Management Services.

Roberta also spent over 12 years as Vice President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the UAE, where she played a key role in strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and institutional relations. She has also held board roles including Art Dubai, Majid Al Futtaim Finance, and the UAE Tennis Federation. Fluent in five languages, she brings a global, interdisciplinary lens to governance, strategy, and business development.

ANNA MARIA ALOE - Founder & CEO, Aloe Advisory | Strategic Marketing and Communications Advisor | Fractional CMO

Anna Maria Aloe is a senior marketing and communications strategist with over 25 years of international experience shaping purpose-driven, commercially effective brands across the entertainment, media, luxury publishing, and digital sectors. She joined GHAYA driven by a strong belief in purpose-led leadership and in the power of strategic marketing to support sustainable value creation aligned with long-term impact.

Anna Maria is the Founder of Aloe Advisory, a strategic marketing and communications consultancy established in 2018. Based between Dubai and Milan, she works primarily across the Middle East, advising organizations on how to clearly define their ambition and translate it into responsible, measurable communication and growth outcomes that balance performance with purpose.

Acting as a fractional Chief Marketing Officer, Anna Maria partners closely with CEOs and C-suite teams to translate corporate vision into clear, actionable marketing, brand, and growth strategies. Her expertise spans marketing, PR, and strategic communications, with a particular focus on partnerships, sponsorship platforms, and ecosystem collaborations that enhance visibility, unlock new revenue streams, and accelerate market expansion.

Her advisory portfolio includes regional and international clients such as Art Dubai Group (Saudi market entry and high-end audience development), Hakawati Entertainment KSA (strategic partnerships), Shahid–MBC Group (fractional CMO, positioning new IP and original productions), Webedia Arabia (growth collaborations and sponsorship initiatives), Flint Cultural Communications UK (Middle East market entry), and Mashfrog Italy (strategic expansion).

Previously, Anna Maria served as Vice President of Marketing at OSN TV, where she led multi-platform marketing strategies and large-scale campaigns across the Middle East and North Africa. She began her career in Italy, holding senior marketing roles at SKY Europe and Einstein Multimedia, managing integrated campaigns and partnerships for global entertainment brands including BBC, HBO, Disney, Netflix, and Warner Bros. She has also worked with leading publishing groups such as Condé Nast, RCS MediaGroup, and Feltrinelli, supporting digital transformation across iconic titles including Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, GQ, and La Repubblica.

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