01x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

There are over 700 agents.

To sell a property,

you need to pull out all the stops.

You have to stand out.

You have to be made for the job.

Dubai is an absolute leisure capital.

Fast cars.

Money doesn't make you happy,

but it gives you freedom.

At first, when you come here

you're taking some risks.

It's not necessarily an advantage

to be good-looking.

But it helps.

I just brought a 60-million villa

into our team.

That doesn't count?

I've got one month, otherwise I'm out.

Oh, my God. Okay.

"Okay, I'm on board, on an equal footing.

"Let's make a deal."

Valeria enjoys the spotlight.

There are many very ambitious people here.

You don't go for the bare minimum,

you go all out.

Everybody knows the same basics

and works with those.

I used to be nice, but not anymore.

Edwin, please leave, both of you.

-Yes! Get the Jet Ski.

-Take Sarah with you.

-Get me out of here.

-Yes.

I'm starting to see how fake

this snake is.

I'm Valeria.

Unofficially, I'm 34.

VALERIA

THE CELEBRITY HUNTER

Officially, I'm 27.

My forehead's shining. Is that a problem?

I've been in Dubai for three years.

I used to be a private jet

flight attendant.

I did that for over ten years.

I've been a real estate agent

with fäm Properties for one year.

People say I'm a celebrity expert.

I don't look for them, they find me.

I'd say, the goal is not only

to be the number one in my team,

but to be called up onto the annual

gala stage of all of fäm.

And to be on the red carpet,

where I belong.

LOUISA

THE NEWCOMER

One of my best friends, Louisa,

moved in with me.

She's new in Dubai.

Valeria is very important to me

and my closest friend here.

We're old friends.

She's kind of my role model

when it comes to real estate.

And I think I'm cut out for real estate.

I'm the newcomer here because I'm the one

with the least experience.

I'm 29.

The real estate business is so exciting.

It's all about the results.

Did you sell or not?

We live on commissions.

If you don't sell anything in six months,

you don't have an income.

But if you close a deal,

it can be a year's salary.

I studied Philosophy and Sociology.

Louisa and I work as a team.

I want to support her.

She still has a lot to learn,

but she's very ambitious

and goal-oriented.

Valeria likes to talk

and knows how to get

the best table in the restaurant.

I'm certain we'll make things happen

as a team.

-Hi, babe.

-Sweetie.

-Nice to see you.

-Yes.

-What do you think?

-It's awesome.

PURCHASE PRICE

25 MILLION EUROS

Today I'm showing my client

a villa for 95 million.

95 million dirham

is roughly 25 million euros.

LIVING SPACE

1,400 SQM

It has five bedrooms.

5 BEDROOMS - 12 BATHROOMS - 3 KITCHENS

2 LIFTS - 10 PARKING SPACES

Twelve bathrooms.

And it's totally hot.

PROPERTIES FOR SALE ARE CALLED

"LISTINGS" IN DUBAI.

The client's name is Raoul.

He's pretty young, very successful.

He's good-looking.

RAOUL PLICKA

CEO & FOUNDER CREATOR GROUP

-How are you? Long time no see.

-Good.

Nice to see you.

-This is Louisa.

-Hi.

-My pleasure.

-She's new.

-Yeah.

-She'll accompany us today.

I'd say that's my strength.

I've got strong social skills.

I'm communicative and outgoing.

Here's the living room.

12,500 SQM ITALIAN MARBLE

WORTH 3 M EUROS.

The living and lounge area.

That's my style. Yeah.

Is there a special someone?

Perhaps not just one.

Typical of Valeria.

If people don't know her, they think,

"What is she saying?" But that's just her.

I think some flirting is permissible.

But you shouldn't use that

to close a deal.

I wouldn't do that.

But if a client wants to flirt,

I'd say, "Let's meet up for dinner

after your purchase."

Welcome to the master bedroom.

-That's awesome.

-It's a mix of materials.

If someone is ready to buy something,

they know what they want.

You basically just have to convince them

with your knowledge and skills.

The view from the bedroom is great.

What's back there?

-A surprise.

-Okay.

Welcome to the lion's den.

LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR

550,000 EUROS

INCLUDED IN THE PURCHASE PRICE

The car is included in the price.

If I sell a listing like this,

I get a 500,000-euro commission.

I really like what I've seen so far.

-Yes, I'm glad.

-Cool.

Raoul will be in touch.

Money doesn't make you happy,

but it gives you freedom.

And I love freedom.

He was your age, right?

Yes, that would fit my portfolio.

But he did like the listing too.

SARAH

THE PALM JUMEIRAH EXPER

I'm Sarah, I'm 33 years old

and originally from Hamburg, Germany.

I used to live in Berlin, Germany,

where I worked in a luxury

real estate office.

So it made sense

to continue the job in Dubai.

You have to be cut out for the job,

so you have to be willing to work hard,

and you rarely get time off.

I don't suffer defeats.

They're just challenges.

There are not many that measure up to me.

I do yoga and meditate

to find the inner peace

that helps me so much in everyday life.

There are many very ambitious people here.

That's because they believe in themselves.

I'm one of them.

EDWIN

THE TOP SELLER

I met Edwin by accident in an elevator.

We started working in the same office.

Now we're a very successful team.

Dubai to me is like the Miami

of the Middle East.

It's a great combination

of lifestyle and business.

That's why I moved here two years ago.

I'm a good fit for Dubai because

I can see through the glitz and glamour.

I can be in the midst of it and enjoy it,

but I'm not reliant on it

and it doesn't define me.

I've often heard from people

that I seem arrogant.

But then you get to know me

and you realize that I am, I'd say

charming.

Regarding the open house

-Yes.

-Let's go over it again.

An open house is an event

SARAH

SPECIALIZES IN OPEN HOUSES

that brings agents and buyers together,

and there are drinks or catering

so you can sell a listing

as fast as possible.

Edwin and I usually do that together

in a casual atmosphere

where we can present the listing

in the best light.

It'll be very soon.

-We need to check the flyers.

-Yeah.

This is what it looks like.

The address, the works.

-Okay, size, buying price

-Okay, yeah.

The relationship between me and Sarah

was really solidified

at our first open house here.

Otherwise Yeah, time.

We need to set the time.

-Right? Like Yeah.

-In the evening, right?

-Afternoon to evening, yeah.

-Okay.

-Okay.

-Yes, write that down.

Sarah can be very domineering.

She can't really control it.

You can't have a fragile ego with her.

It doesn't happen often, though.

EDWIN

KNOWS HOW TO PLAY THE DUBAI GAME

I don't like doing it that way,

but it's necessary.

I sent you

Yeah.

I sent you the listing.

-In case you

-Nice.

-In case you want to send it too.

-Yeah.

-Exactly.

-Great.

Maybe he wants to take the lead sometimes

and see if I'll follow.

But if I notice that something's missing,

I move into the foreground.

We'll see.

FÄM PROPERTIES IS THE LARGES

DOMESTIC REAL ESTATE AGENCY.

Don't look at the competition.

I've noticed that sometimes,

Sarah can be a bit jealous

if I look at Louisa and Valeria

as colleagues, and not as the competition.

Valeria is successful, just like me.

SARAH

VALERIA'S STRONGEST COMPETITOR

So we're competitors.

I think the way I sell houses

and real estate is different from hers.

I think we have different ways of working.

Yeah.

Sarah is very special in her sales tactics

and open houses.

I find that to be a bit cringey.

I'll stay out of it.

FIRAS

THE BOSS

OVER 1,000 AGENTS FROM 75 COUNTRIES

WORK HERE

When I see how Firas enters a room

and fills it with his personality,

that's a chance for me to learn more.

Firas is a very energetic kind of guy.

He's very focused, very driven.

FIRAS

CEO OF FÄM PROPERTIES

FIRAS

HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF AGENTS

I always feel that Firas is just like me.

He works very hard and has goals.

He's got high expectations,

but I find that motivating.

THE FÄM RULES

IF YOU DON'T CLOSE A DEAL

WITHIN THREE MONTHS, YOU GET A WARNING.

IF YOU DON'T CLOSE A DEAL

FOUR WEEKS AFTER THAT, YOU'RE OUT.

HAIMAN

FIRAS'S RIGHT-HAND MAN

Okay.

Suddenly, he says my name,

and then Sarah's name.

How thrilled are you?

That was a surprise to me

because we don't work together.

I don't know how much

she wants to learn from me.

I don't know how open she is.

I'm eager to see if she'll show her claws,

which she usually does

behind people's backs,

but against me this time.

And you're out.

So?

I'm excited.

I'm sure that she'll only be able

to rock this thing because of you.

There's a lot of smiles,

but not a lot of nice thoughts.

I certainly don't want Louisa

to outright copy what we're doing

-and use that for herself and Valeria.

-Definitely.

She's welcome to work in the background,

but the commission is ours.

-Yes?

-I totally agree.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-I don't know if I'll learn something.

-Here's my advice.

-Yeah.

-Use her mistakes to improve.

We'll make sure

you get your standing with Firas.

You're new here. You have to convince him.

That's why you need to go out with me.

You need to go to parties.

That's where you get the best connections

and biggest deals.

I only like parties if there's food.

-I'll take care of the food.

-Then I'm in.

PURCHASE PRICE

6.9 MILLION EUROS

LIVING SPACE

640 SQM

The penthouse is located on The Palm.

It has four bedrooms.

4 BEDROOMS - 5 BATHROOMS

WALK-IN CLOSE

3 BALCONIES WITH A VIEW

JACUZZI - 3 PARKING SPACES

640 square meters for 25 million dirham,

so 6 million euros.

It has three balconies

with a great view of the water.

That's what's so unique about it

because a lot of penthouses

face the skyline,

but if you've been here some time,

you really appreciate the vast waters.

DUBAI IS SITUATED

ON THE PERSIAN GULF

-Hey, Louisa.

-Hi!

-Haiman said I should come earlier.

-Yes.

Yes, let's see how it goes.

If they'll remain as cordial

as they are right now.

Here we have some catering.

-That'll be

-What kind?

-A combination of vegetarian and

-Canapés.

-Yes, snacks.

-So snacks.

-Here's the accent wall.

-Social media.

It was very feathery.

Not very creative.

I was surprised because the buyers

might not like it either.

-We'll distribute them in the flat.

-Ah, yes.

Take these, please. I'll get the rest.

-Can you put them there?

-Yes.

Yes, nice. Nothing is moving.

It won't change later.

-And then

-Yes. I think in the entrance.

Yes, she wasn't a crucial part

of the preparations.

It made no difference

if she was there or not.

If Sarah treats me like a maid,

I'll act like a maid.

A maid keeps quiet and waits.

The balloons are rather nice.

Can you disentangle them,

because that's

-Yeah.

-not my thing.

-Could you, Louisa?

-Yeah.

-Great.

-But

It would be great to disentangle them.

-Okay, shall we tie them up?

-Yes, I'll put them over there.

Edwin and I usually

solve every problem easily.

We don't need someone

who doesn't know what they're doing.

It's about showing initiative.

Just ask, "What's with the balloons?"

Give me clear directions,

then I'll do it the way you want.

That was my stomach during the open house.

Yes, I was hungry.

It's not the best thing to do

in that situation,

going to the buffet and eating.

You rarely have such a far-reaching view.

It's so nice.

And the constant breeze.

I wanted Valeria to come with me

because I wanted to tell her anyway

what Sarah did or didn't do.

And it's more fun that way.

I support her.

I won't leave my girl hanging.

It's not what I expected.

And there's no theme.

Except the dying swan.

-And

-That's the swan.

That's another one.

There's feathers there.

-Oh, okay.

-Exactly.

Is she nearby? No, right?

Did you invite her?

No, but she heard

-Through Louisa. Yeah.

-Yeah.

In a situation like this,

we mustn't transfer the tension

onto the event.

-Hey, how are you?

-Welcome.

Thanks.

-How are you?

-Great, and you?

Terre d'Hermès?

-Hello, all good?

-Yes, great, thank you.

You've got drinks? Doing okay?

-Could be colder, but

-Snacks?

Could be colder? Oh, okay.

Let's tell the bar.

Have we got any ice cubes?

Valeria needs something colder.

Yeah.

I wouldn't exactly call Sarah

the queen of open houses.

She's done a few open houses,

but I'm sure that the vibe

at my open houses is a bit more

Haiman is Firas's right-hand man,

but he's also very approachable.

HAIMAN

IN CHARGE OF THE GERMAN AGENTS

When Haiman wanted to talk to us,

I didn't know what to expect.

Is there's any bad news

or some kind of cautioning?

FIRAS

ANNUAL COMPANY INCOME: 3 BILLION EUROS

That was surprising and positive news.

At least for me.

I don't know if Sarah liked it.

What was he thinking?

She misunderstood

that we're working on it together.

But it's my listing, not hers.

I don't think she'll succeed.

It's a whole different game.

-60 million euros.

-240 million dirham.

Really? Who got the listing?

Valeria did.

-Yeah.

-Wow.

-She has no experience on The Palm.

-She doesn't.

I don't get it. We did the open house.

-A huge success according to Haiman.

-Yeah.

Why doesn't he give the listing to us?

-I don't get it.

-Yeah, you're right.

She thought we'd get it together,

but I've got it.

-Did you say anything to Sarah?

-She acted like we're a team.

Because you've got the best clients.

Right. The best network

and the best clients.

That's not a bad thing

since it's an immense responsibility.

It's good if we don't have to

shoulder that.

-Okay, yeah.

-60 million euros, just think.

How often do you find a buyer

in that price range?

-Yeah.

-Very rarely.

She'll have to talk to the owner

and justify herself

if she doesn't find a buyer.

And when nobody shows up,

we'll bring in a buyer and close it.

What I really don't want

The worst-case scenario would be

if she goes ahead and brings in a buyer.

She's the Palm expert.

If she's got buyers,

she's got the listing.

-Yes, that's right.

-So don't worry.

-Yeah.

-Only Sarah talks about Sarah.

Don't worry, it won't turn out like that.

I've never closed such a big deal.

But I accept the challenge.

BUSHIDO

FIRAS'S SURPRISE GUES

-Oh, my God. Okay.

-Who is that?

Suddenly, Bushido's in the room.

That's so sick.

Of course, that was a surprise.

You don't get that every day.

I didn't see that coming.

Things are about to happen.

Rappers are my thing.

COMING UP

-Have you done a tour?

-Not yet.

Weren't you thinking about the villa?

We do professional work here.

I'm lost for words.

I'm the listing agent. You've betrayed me.

That's bull

Edwin, please leave, both of you.

-Yes! Get the Jet Ski.

-Take Sarah with you.

Get me out of here.

What the? Be loyal!

I'm hoping there's more drama.