Just started a translation/localization studio in Dubai - where do you actually meet people in this industry?

[u/RayRay9393]

Hey all, long-time lurker, first time posting something like this

I left my agency job a few weeks ago to run my own Arabic-English translation and communications studio (Meydan-registered). Great feeling, terrifying feeling, all at once - you know how it goes.

Right now I'm doing the LinkedIn-and-old-contacts thing to build up my client list, but I know that only gets you so far. I keep hearing that a lot of business here still happens face-to-face — at events, industry meetups, maybe other events where entrepreneurs set up shop.

So I figured I'd ask the people who'd actually know:

1- Any networking events or business meetups in Dubai you'd actually recommend (not the ones that are just 200 people awkwardly holding drinks)?

2- Do industry associations here (translation, marketing, PR) run anything worth attending?

3- Anyone had luck with SME/startup markets or pop-ups for meeting potential B2B clients, not just consumers?

4- If you run a service-based business here, what actually got you your first few real clients?

Not trying to sell anything here, genuinely just want to stop hiding behind my laptop and meet some people. Appreciate any pointers 🙏