Dubai is a city of leaders. The tallest, the largest, the most luxurious. Yet amidst the gleaming facades and dizzying ambitions, there is a palpable need for something greater and deeper.
This was keenly felt by the founder of Vision Club, Alexey Nakazny, when he arrived in 2021 with the aim of building a community that transcends superficial connections. Lara Palmer spoke with him about the philosophy behind it.
Alexey Nakazny: I remember joining my first business community after university, where I felt energy and thirst to create and improve the world. It struck a chord within me and made me realise that everything I saw in front of me was created by entrepreneurs. If I wanted to impact this world, I needed to unite and empower them. I have been in the business club sector for ten years. The first five years were about social responsibility as an entrepreneur, the next five about creating a professional community. I understood the power of connections — the magic that happens when people with shared values and goals come together. But I also knew that a true community requires more than just events. It requires trust, openness, and a shared vision of something greater than oneself. Together with my wife Daria, we decided to create Vision Club. One evening in the desert, I watched the sun set behind a dune, painting the sky in vibrant orange hues. The sun was beyond my immediate sight, symbolising something better on the horizon. What if we named the club Vision, as a reminder to look beyond the present, beyond difficulties, towards a brighter future? Vision Club offers more than 25 events per month. Residents have access to an app and chat bot, a personal business manager, and various formats including Cinemalogy and longevity practices. Our flagship monthly event is a grand gathering in luxurious surroundings where people network and listen to talks by renowned speakers. The Peer-to-Peer format brings participants together in consistent groups of ten that meet monthly with a moderator, fostering deeper relationships. These stories are not unique — they are the heartbeat of Vision Club. I recall Ivan and Konstantin, who met at the club’s first meeting and subsequently established the thriving Roasters coffee chain. There’s Leonid, who dreamt of building a unicorn company — this dream materialised as YallaMarket, where initial investors were fellow club members. We believe in the power of circles — of trust, influence, and support. Every morning, I wake up driven by a force greater than money — combating loneliness among entrepreneurs. They often reach the pinnacle only to find themselves in isolation. This community reminds each other that we are not alone in our ascent.