Souroush Helali balances two distinct careers in Dubai: by day, he’s selling luxury villas in Dubai Hills, and by night, he’s preparing for acting roles and auditioning for international productions. Both professions, he says, are equally real, though acting remains his passion. “Acting will always be a hustle,” he explains. “You never know when your next project is coming. Sometimes it’s five months of silence. Real estate keeps me grounded, but acting keeps me alive.”
Born in Iran and raised in Belgium, Helali has quickly become part of Dubai’s expanding creative scene. He believes the city offers a unique opportunity where financial ambition and artistic pursuits can coexist. “In acting, you get a lot of ‘No’. You wait for that one ‘Yes’ that changes everything,” he notes. “Real estate is the same. One deal can shift your life.”
Unlike many actors who flock to major hubs like Mumbai, Los Angeles, or London, Helali has chosen to build his career from Dubai. He sees the city as a launchpad, not a limitation. “Everybody told me I had an international face,” he recalls of his early days in Belgium. “They meant I could connect globally, not just locally. So I started auditioning internationally while living here.”
This decision has paid off. Helali made his streaming debut in Netflix’s Rough Diamonds, followed by the Saudi-US co-production Running Dry, and The Assassin on Amazon Prime. His latest project, Paradise, recently wrapped production and is set to premiere soon, with promotion centred around Dubai. “I work with my agent outside the UAE. We audition for productions in Europe, the US, the Middle East everywhere. Dubai is perfectly placed between these industries. It’s a bridge,” he explains.
Dubai as the Creative Hub of the Future
Helali moved to Dubai only six months ago, yet his faith in the city’s future is unwavering. “There is a very positive outlook on the creative sector here,” he says. “People from Europe, the US, and India are all coming for a better future. For production, the first thing you need is money. And there’s a lot of money here, a lot of vision.”
While some might believe that aspiring talent must leave Dubai to be discovered, Helali disagrees. “I believe a time will come when productions will move here. Dubai has already become a magnet for business, and entertainment will follow.”
Helali works with one of Dubai’s leading agencies, specialising in luxury villas in Dubai Hills one of the city’s most desirable neighbourhoods. He stresses that real estate is not just a backup plan, but part of his strategy for building financial independence while pursuing his creative goals. “Does acting pay my bills? Not always,” he admits. “Some projects pay well, but there can be months with no income. In real estate, if you are authentic and connect with people, you can build something solid.”
The Dual Demands of Real Estate and Acting
Shifting between selling luxury homes and acting in international productions requires a specific mindset. “In one world, I am advising high-net-worth individuals. In the other, I am building a character. But both require emotional intelligence, communication, and resilience,” he says with a smile.
Before diving into real estate and acting, Helali was a competitive martial artist, representing Belgium on its national jiu-jitsu team. “Martial arts teaches you to fall and stand up. That’s the whole philosophy,” he explains. “Rejection in acting, rejection in real estate it’s the same lesson. Fall. Stand up. Repeat.” Helali continues to train in Dubai’s MMA community, which helps shape his discipline and humility. “It keeps you humble and in control. When you have a black belt, you get instant respect, even when you walk into a new country.”
Building a Life Across Multiple Industries
When asked what it takes to juggle careers across different industries, Helali is straightforward: “First, be authentic to yourself. When you’re authentic, there’s always something new you bring. It doesn’t matter how many people are doing the same thing you will stand out.” His second piece of advice is simple but powerful: “Never, never, never give up. If you hit rock bottom, be happy. It means something big is coming.”
Finally, he reminds others of an essential truth: “Your body is your temple. Without your body, without health, you cannot hustle, you cannot earn, you cannot dream. A lot of people lose themselves in the veil of success. That is not real success.”
Having only recently relocated, Helali is already certain he has made the right choice. “When I first told people in Belgium I was moving to Dubai, there was a lot of judgment ‘Why would you go there?’ When I came, I saw 90% of that judgment was wrong. Dubai is what you make of it. I was looking for opportunity and I found it.”
As the conversation wraps up, it’s clear that Helali is not waiting for permission to succeed. “There is no limit here,” he says simply. “If you’re willing to work, Dubai gives you the platform to do anything.”
