We recently had the privilege of interviewing Choureh (Chebel) Dandache, founder and CEO of Charles Group, a multidisciplinary group of companies operating across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Lebanon, Istanbul, and Nigeria. With a strong academic foundation in Architecture and interior design, combined with more than a decade of experience across various industries, Choureh approaches design as a problem-solving tool. Leveraging his expertise at Charles Group, Choureh Dandache is expanding the company into an integrated design and consultancy powerhouse.
The Beginning
We started the interview by asking, “Could you start by telling us about your professional journey and inspiration behind jumping into this industry?”
Choureh shared, “My professional journey began with a strong academic foundation, holding a Master’s degree in Architecture and Interior Design, but it truly evolved through hands-on experience and an unwavering passion for design as a problem-solving tool—not just an aesthetic one.
Over the past 10+ years, I have worked across diverse markets and cultures, which shaped my understanding of how architecture, interior design, landscaping, branding, and spatial planning must work together to create meaningful environments. This led to the establishment of Charles Group, a multidisciplinary group of companies operating across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Lebanon, Istanbul, and Nigeria.
My inspiration has always been to build a company that delivers end-to-end creative and technical solutions, combining design excellence with operational precision. Today, Charles Group has delivered hundreds of projects across residential, commercial, hospitality, and mixed-use sectors, driven by one vision: transforming ideas into timeless, functional realities.”
Experiences Embraced in the Journey
We then asked, “As a professional in this field, what are a few lessons that helped you in leading your work?”
He mentioned, “One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that leadership is about clarity and trust. A strong vision must be clearly communicated, but execution depends on empowering the right people to own their responsibilities.
Another key lesson is the importance of systems and processes. Creativity alone is not enough—successful projects are delivered through discipline, structure, and accountability. Finally, adaptability has been critical. Markets evolve, client expectations change, and leaders must stay ahead by continuously learning and refining their approach.”
Navigating through Challenges
Challenges are a part of every career path. Interested to learn how Choureh Dandache overcame the uncertainties of the industry, we asked, “Would you like to share what you feel is a major challenge in starting a business or career? And how did you overcome it?”
“One of the biggest challenges in starting a business is credibility—earning trust before you have scale. In the early stages, every project, every client interaction, and every delivery matters.
I overcame this by focusing relentlessly on quality, transparency, and consistency. I treated every project—regardless of size—as a reference for the future. Over time, this built a strong reputation, repeat clients, and organic growth across regions.
Another challenge is resilience. Entrepreneurship demands patience and the ability to navigate uncertainty. Staying focused on long-term goals rather than short-term obstacles made all the difference,” Choureh explained.
Plans for Charles Group
Intrigued to learn more about Choureh (Chebel) Dandache’s plans with their current offerings at Charles Group, we requested him to share a bit about it with our viewers.
Choureh mentioned, “Our vision at Charles Group is to continue evolving as a global, integrated design and consultancy powerhouse. We are expanding our multidisciplinary offerings—combining architecture, interior design, landscaping, project management, branding, and digital design—under one strategic umbrella.
We are also investing heavily in technology-driven design processes, sustainable solutions, and scalable systems that allow us to deliver consistent quality across all our international branches. Our goal is not just growth in size, but growth in impact, innovation, and design leadership.”
Impact of AI on Businesses
Nowadays, AI is everywhere. Even businesses are adapting to it increasingly. So, we asked Choureh Dandache, “What are your thoughts on this?”
He reflected, “AI is a powerful tool, and when used correctly, it enhances efficiency, accuracy, and creativity. In our industry, AI can support design visualization, project planning, data analysis, and workflow optimization.
However, I strongly believe that AI will never replace human creativity, intuition, and experience—especially in design and architecture. At Charles Group, we see AI as an enabler, not a replacement. The real value lies in combining advanced technology with human insight to deliver smarter, more responsive solutions.”
Message to Young Professionals
Addressing the aspiring entrepreneurs, we asked Choureh Dandache, “What would be your advice to beginners in this field or in any field of business?”
Choureh shared, “My advice is simple but powerful: master your craft before chasing scale. Focus on learning, discipline, and execution. Success is built through consistency, not shortcuts.
Secondly, don’t be afraid of failure—every challenge is a lesson. Surround yourself with people who are better than you in their fields, stay adaptable, and never stop improving.
Finally, always build with integrity. Reputation is one of the most valuable assets in business, and it takes years to build but only moments to lose.”
Connect with Choureh (Chebel) Dandache on LinkedIn to gain industry insights.
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