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Faye Bradley

Contributing Online Editor, Style by SCMP


There is no rose without a thorn!

Forever Rose entrepreneur Ebraheem Al Samadi joined Dubai Bling’s 10 millionaire cast members for the reality TV show’s first season, giving a glimpse into the ultra-extravagant lives of the UAE’s super-rich – with, of course, plenty of hell-raising drama.
He stars alongside Loujain Adada, Kris Fade, Brianna Fade, DJ Bliss, Diva Dee, Farhana Bodi, Zeina Khoury, Lojain Omran and Safa Siddiqui.

Ever since Netflix released the show in late October, reality TV fans have gone wild for these OTT socialites and the sensational dynamics between them. But one particular bachelor has won some hearts (and inevitably, haters).
So habibis, what do we know about Mr Ebraheem Al Samadi?
His early life

Al Samadi was born in 1988, in Kuwait, and raised in the US. His father is a wealthy Kuwaiti hotelier and his mother is American. Al Samadi was raised in Florida with his mum after his parents split up when he turned 13, per Global Citizen.
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The youngest of five siblings, young Al Samadi bid his early luxurious life goodbye when he moved in with his mum in her one-bedroom flat, and began saving to start a business when he was just 14 years old, according to multiple reports.
An eBay king

The budding businessman saw his career blossom when he launched his first entrepreneurial empire: an eBay resale operation that earned him about US$40,000 by the time he reached 15, per Global Citizen.
“I had a very good understanding at a young age of what to sell to who,” he told Arabian Business.

When he realised he was restricted under US child labour law to work no more than 20 hours a week, he wrote to the Florida senator requesting to test early for his high school diploma. He told Arabian Business that his appeal was granted and he passed his test with flying colours. The Arab-American turned 20 hours into 80 hours a week, working jobs from a lifeguard and rose-seller to an assistant buyer at a department store.
The world’s longest-lasting roses

After several more business ventures, the go-getter went on to obtain his master’s in business administration at the University of Aberdeen in London. Then he moved to the City of Gold, Dubai, in 2010, where he established Al Samadi Group. He later merged this with his family’s hospitality enterprise and went on to acquire Forever Rose London, growing it into a US$21 million empire in under a year, according to Al Samadi’s website.
The florist, which was known for bringing bouquets to London’s Buckingham Palace and Brussels’ Egmont Palace, was quickly expanded and now operates seven stores in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Ebraheem’s website says.

That wasn’t enough for Al Samadi, however. In 2020, he opened UAE’s first 2D cafe, Forever Rose Café, which now has two branches in Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai.
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According to his Instagram, Al Samadi is also involved in a scent business, Forever Oud, which has been dubbed the “world’s longest-lasting perfume”. Clearly, he’s got a recurring theme.
The family group also runs restaurants like Big Smoke Burger and The Chickery, and has the Middle Eastern rights for Amika hair products, among others.
Mummy’s boy

It’s pretty clear from the show that Al Samadi is a true mummy’s boy, from working to support his family at a young age to showcasing his close relationship with her on social media.
An eligible bachelor

The CEO is the only one of his siblings who isn’t married yet, he said in the show. But based on his recent dates, it looks like he’s on the lookout!

Al Samadi has also faced speculation from netizens about his sexuality, but he hasn’t addressed any of the rumours so far.
Inside Dubai Bling star Lojain Omran’s luxury life
Gym bunny

Talk about fitspo! “The Blooming Man” – Al Samadi’s handle on his website and Instagram – often takes selfies at the gym, showing off his toned physique, and has mentioned Oxygen Gym O2 Fitness as one of his go-to fitness spots on his Instagram profile. He’s also been seen horseback riding in several of his posts at Dubai’s A3yan Stables.
The rich life

A quick scan through Al Samadi’s social media will show his uber-wealthy lifestyle, which involves constant jet-setting and dining at the hottest spots in town. The most expensive thing he owns? His Mercedes G63 2022 AFG, which costs around US$270,000.
His most prized possession, meanwhile, is his US$500,000 watch collection, he told Masala. He bought his first Rolex watch – without “daddy’s money” – at 17, per Arabian Business.
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But is he the richest cast member of Dubai Bling? Apparently so, according to several media outlets. Thanks to his savvy business acumen, he’s worth about US$50 million, reports Women’s Health Magazine.
Want more stories like this? Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.


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Fame and celebrity

Who is Dubai Bling’s richest cast member, Ebraheem Al Samadi? He made US$40,000 from eBay resales by age 15 and built his Forever Rose empire – now he splurges his millions on Rolex and Mercedes

Ebraheem Al Samadi stars on Netflix’s Dubai Bling reality TV show. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Ebraheem Al Samadi with Dubai Bling cast members. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Ebraheem Al Samadi goes under the Instagram handle, The Blooming Man. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Ebraheem Al Samadi was born in Kuwait. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Ebraheem Al Samadi lives a lavish lifestyle. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Ebraheem Al Samadi worked his way up the career ladder. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Forever Rose London says it provides the “world’s longest-lasting roses” on the market. Photo: @foreverroselondon/Instagram

Ebraheem Al Samadi acquired Forever Rose London. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Ebraheem Al Samadi’s mum is American. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Dubai Bling’s Ebraheem Al Samadi has shared his business tips on Forbes Middle East. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Ebraheem Al Samadi posted this photo in February with an unnamed woman, sparking romance rumours. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Ebraheem Al Samadi promoting a gym in Dubai, as well as a gym gear brand. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Ebraheem Al Samadi in his Mercedes car. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Ebraheem Al Samadi often shares photos of himself horseback riding. Photo: @thebloomingman/Instagram

Who is Dubai Bling’s Zeina Khoury, the ‘Queen of Versace’? The Lebanese Netflix star moved to the UAE in 2006, scored a sales job for the Palazzo Versace Dubai hotel and is now a real estate CEO

Real estate CEO Zeina Khoury stars on Netflix’s Dubai Bling and is known as the “Queen of Versace”. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury has become the stand-out figure from Dubai Bling’s first season. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury says Dubai is special to her for what it has given her in life. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury worked hard to gain even more qualifications after leaving her home country of Lebanon to move to Dubai. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury graduated from London Business School in July. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury has been dubbed the “Queen of Versace” not just due to her work with the company’s Dubai properties, but because she loves wearing the brand. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury is a hustler who became one of the top salespeople in her first role in Dubai almost immediately. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury is currently the CEO of High Mark Real Estate Brokers in Dubai. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury joined Netflix’s Dubai Bling this year. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury shares two kids with her husband Hanna Azzi, named Joe and Alexa. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury has been married to her husband Hanna Azzi for over a decade. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury says that the most “bling thing” she’s done is star in Netflix’s Dubai Bling. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

Zeina Khoury is a fashion icon who dons designer all day, every day on Instagram. Photo: @thezeinakhoury/Instagram

How Bling Empire’s Kane Lim is building his own empire: Rihanna made him a face for Fenty, he joined Selling Sunset’s Oppenheim Group … just don’t ask about his rich family

Here’s a catch-up on what Kane Lim has been up to, ahead of Bling Empire season two. Photo: @kanelk_k/Instagram

Kane Lim at a the Dolce & Gabbana dinner event. Photo: @kanelk_k/Instagram

Kane Lim at the Roberto Cavalli Haute Couture presentation. Photo: @kanelk_k/Instagram

Kane Lim enjoys living the high life. Photo: @kanelk_k/Instagram

Kane Lim won’t let go of Bling Empire – for now. Photo: @blingempires/Instagram

Kane Lim. Photo: @kanelk_k/Instagram

Kane Lim is a Fenty ambassador hand-picked by Rihanna. Photo: @kanelk_k/Instagram

Christine Chiu and Anna Shay’s Bling Empire 3 jewellery, compared – how do the millionaire style rivals’ diamonds and pearls stack up this season, from Jean Paul Gaultier sets to bespoke bracelets?

getty images, @christinechiu

Bling Empire’s two most powerful women, Christine Chiu and Anna Shay ... but who has the most stunning jewellery in the TV show’s latest season? Photos: Getty Images

Christine Chiu is a star and producer of the Netflix reality TV series Bling Empire that documented a group of affluent Asian-Americans living in Los Angeles as they balance modern life with traditional cultural values. Photo: @christinechiu/Instagram

Anna Shay, one of the ultra-wealthy stars of Netflix’s Bling Empire. Photo: @annashay93/Instagram

Christine Chiu is a red carpet queen. Photo: @blingempirenetflixfans/Instagram

Bling Empire’s resident heartthrob, Kevin Kreider. Photo: @kevin.kreider/Instagram

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend? Anna Shay definitely seems to think so. Photo: @annashay93/Instagram

Anna Shay donning her signature diamond choker. Photo: @annashay93/Instagram

Christine Chiu is one of the world’s youngest and most prolific collectors of haute couture and high jewellery. Photo: @blingempirenetflixfans/Instagram

Anna Shay is a Boucheron fangirl who appears to prefer a more classic style. Photo: Netflix

Christine Chiu wears a pair of oversized black Schiaparelli earrings featuring a lock design with gold borders during Paris Fashion Week, on January 24, in Paris, France. Photo: Getty Images

Anna Shay is too haute to handle. Photo: @annashay93/Instagram

Christine Chiu stunned in an elegant diamond jewellery set and a wine red silk dress. Photo: Netflix

Anna Shay, the weapons heiress, inherited most of her wealth from her father, who was a successful American defence contractor. Photo: @annashay93/Instagram

Christine Chiu is known as a muse of many famed designers. Photo: @moreculture_lesspop/Instagram

Anna Shay showing off some old school glamour. Photo: @annashay93/Instagram

Inside Bling Empire star Mimi Morris’ crazy rich life – and net worth: the series’ wealthiest cast member lives in a US$8 million California mansion, hails from Vietnam and travels on her private jet

Mimi Morris is the richest cast member of Bling Empire ... but how did she make her fortune? Photos: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Mimi Morris takes a bow, aided by Dior bag and bikini. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Being understated is clearly not a concept Mimi Morris has much time for. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Mimi Morris and her husband Don Morris. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Mimi Morris joined the cast of Bling Empire in season two. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

As a successful influencer, Mimi Morris struts her stuff for a number of high-end brands. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Mimi Morris at home in her California pad. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Mimi Morris’ crystal-embellished grand piano has pride of place at home. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Mimi Morris keeps it real with a little yoga. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Mimi Morris, chilling with Chanel accessories. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Surf’s not up – but Mimi Morris isn’t going to let that stop her from rocking her Chanel board. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Mimi Morris poses with one of her three Rolls-Royces. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Mimi Morris, living the high life on board her private jet. Photo: @mimi_morris_/Instagram

Meet the 7 crazy rich Asians from Bling Empire: New York – billionaire heiress Dorothy Wang leads the pack alongside Hong Kong’s Stephen and Deborah Hung, and fashion influencer Tina Leung

Tina Leung, Dorothy Wang, and couple Stephen and Deborah Hung (left to right) are all set to star in Netflix’s Bling Empire: New York. Photos: @stephenhungofficial, @dorothywang, @tinaleung, @deborahhung/Instagram

Stephen Hung is a Hong Kong business tycoon. Photo: @stephenhungofficial/Instagram 

Stephen Hung (right) and his wife Deborah Hung (left) are Hong Kong socialites. Photo: @stephenhungofficial, @shamsi_photographer/Instagram

Deborah Hung is a famous face in Hong Kong’s socialite scene. Photo: @deborahhung/Instagram

Deborah Hung founded her own modelling agency, Dreamodels. Photo: @deborahhung/Instagram

Dorothy Wang has established herself as a reality TV queen. Photo: @dorothywang/ Instagram

Ezra J. William, Dorothy Wang, Crystal Kung Minkoff, Julia Sorkin and Liane Weintraub. Photo @crystalkungminkoff/Instagram. 

Tina Leung is a blogger and stylist. Photo: @tinaleung/Instagram

House of Slay founders Ezra William, Phillip Lim, Laura Kim, Tina Leung and Prabal Gurung. Photo: Handout

Richard Chang is one of the cast members in Bling Empire: New York. Photo: @chairman_chang/Instagram 

Richard Chang shares glimpses of his lavish life on his Instagram page. Photo: @chairman_chang/Instagram

Lynn Ban is a famous jewellery designer. Photo: @lynn_ban/ Instagram 

Lynn Ban’s Instagram post shows her love for New York. Photo: @lynn_ban/Instagram

Blake Abbie was born in Canada. Photo: @blakeabbie/Instagram

Blake Abbie (left) and his mum (right). Photo: @blakeabbie/Instagram

Magazines

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Celebrities

The Arab-American CEO stars alongside Loujain Adada, Kris Fade, Brianna Fade, DJ Bliss, Diva Dee, Farhana Bodi, Zeina Khoury, Lojain Omran and Safa Siddiqui on the new reality TV show
The self-made entrepreneur started working at 14 in Florida, then acquired London’s Forever Rose, which used to supply flowers to Buckingham Palace and Brussels’ Egmont Palace


He’s the richest cast member on Dubai Bling with a US$50 million net worth, but just how did Ebraheem Al Samadi build his enormous self-made empire?


Who is Dubai Bling’s richest cast member, Ebraheem Al Samadi? He made US$40,000 from eBay resales by age 15 and built his Forever Rose empire – now he splurges his millions on Rolex and Mercedes

His early life

Fame and celebrity

Middle East

Icons and Influencers

Fashion

Millionaires and billionaires

Reality TV

TV shows and streaming video

Netflix

eBay

Who is Dubai Bling’s Zeina Khoury, the ‘Queen of Versace’?

How Bling Empire’s Kane Lim is building his own empire

Christine Chiu or Anna Shay: who wore the best jewellery in Bling Empire 3?

Inside Bling Empire star Mimi Morris’ crazy rich life

Meet Bling Empire: New York’s 7 cast members, from Dorothy Wang to the Hungs