Landshuter works for Expo 2020: White Sausage Breakfast in Dubai
Landshut – After secondary school, Felix Hübner (26) has only one wish: He wants to train as an event technician at Bayerischer Rundfunk. It is not taken there. Instead, he is training to be an event technician at another company in Munich. He then doesn’t have much to do with Bavaria, because: Felix Hübner, who was born in Landshut, now works and lives in Dubai.
In 2015 he said: “I could never live here”
In 2015, Hübner’s apprenticeship took him to the emirate with its many skyscrapers. At that time he still said: “I could never live here”. After his work is done, he flies back to Munich, works there and throughout Europe. After completing his training, he works permanently in an event location in Munich. It’ll soon get boring for him. “I was looking for challenges. That’s why I went to the boss and said I want to get out again,” said Hübner. That is why he will be traveling to the Expo in Kazakhstan for four months in 2017 to work there. “It’s sometimes minus 30 degrees. I thought I could get on with my German winter jacket. I thought wrong,” remembers the young man and laughs. His work also takes him to Moscow and then back to Dubai.
Stay there for one project, then the pandemic breaks out across the world. “We were able to continue working there. The consideration was: What would happen in Germany? Nothing. That’s why I stayed,” he said.
Expo: Felix Hübner works as a director
Hübner has lived in Dubai for around two years, initially working as a project manager for the Expo, and now even as a director. He is responsible for around 150 employees from over 20 countries. His company looks after everything to do with events and entertainment there. Hübner: “At first it was of course difficult because you didn’t know anyone, I didn’t have my own apartment and only slept in accommodations or hotels. Now I have my own apartment and have friends here – even a friend from Landshut.” He feels comfortable in Dubai. Hübner enjoys the nightlife, yacht parties and the energy of the city. “Dubai is a very fast city and like a huge playground for experiments,” he says. He is fascinated by how many different cultures live side by side there: “There is a church here next to a mosque, and nobody has a problem with it.”
Regular veal sausage meeting in Dubai
In the meantime, many colleagues from Germany and especially Bavaria also live near Hübner. He has found connection. That is why they meet regularly for the veal sausage breakfast. Where do the sausages come from? “You can find them in every second supermarket here,” he explains. Nevertheless, it is above all the Bavarian cuisine that Hübner sometimes misses. “There are 600 to 700 restaurants that I can choose between here, but a Schwabenpfandel that tastes best in Landshut,” says the 26-year-old.
He also misses his family and friends. For this he comes to visit regularly. “I miss the people and nature – especially the forest. We don’t have anything like that in Dubai,” said Hübner.
Dubai has become his second home
Nevertheless: Dubai has become his second home. He feels good and is enjoying the exciting time of the Expo, which runs until March 31 of next year. Hübner can imagine staying in Dubai for the time being. But: “Who knows what the future will bring?”