The Power Of Two: Rosy Hospitality's Rowan And Ziad Kamel On Making Their Relationship—Both Business And Romantic—Work

Partnerships are the foundation of the hospitality industry—between investors and founders, chefs and operators, front-of-house and back-of-house, success is rarely a solo act. But what happens when your business partner is also your romantic one?

For Ziad and Rowan Kamel, the married couple who founded Rosy Hospitality, the Dubai-based enterprise behind F&B brands like CQ French Brasserie, Butter by the Dozen, and Girl & the Goose, the dual partnership they share is, according to them, their greatest advantage.

Speaking to Inc. Arabia shortly after the opening of CQ French Brasserie’s second outpost in Dubai, Ziad and Rowan said that its launch marks a new chapter for the couple as fully independent restaurateurs. The duo describes the concept as a culmination of everything that they have learned over the past two decades working in hospitality—and at the center of it all is their marriage.

“We’ve been together since university, which is over 25 years now, so this way of life feels very natural to us,” Rowan shares. “Our days start at home with our teenagers, now 15 and 13, and a morning routine that can include everything from getting ready for school to hitting the gym, Pilates, or padel tennis. From there, we each dive into our respective roles, leading our teams, and staying in constant touch throughout the day, not just about business, but about friends, family, sport, our team, and sometimes just to catch up.”

To many, the idea of working with a spouse can seem like it would lead to crossing of boundaries or unresolved tension. But the two are quick to dispel that notion. “People often assume that we never talk about work at home, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Rowan says. “Work is a huge part of our lives, and our life depends on it. We’re proud of how passionately we operate, and that passion fuels both our partnership and our family life. Outsiders might imagine blurred boundaries or tension, but for us, there’s clarity, trust, and mutual respect. Our relationship strengthens the business, and our business strengthens our relationship.”

A common pitfall for couples in business can be the lack of defined roles, leading to “too many cooks” in a business setup. But the Kamels have avoided it by choosing to take on complementary roles in their partnership. “Having grown up together, both personally and professionally, we’ve developed a natural rhythm in how we work,” Ziad explains. “Rowan leads brand, culture, and creative direction with incredible intuition, while I focus on execution, performance, business development, finance, legal matters, and investor relations. That said, naturally, our roles do overlap, especially when it comes to operations, team leadership, and the guest experience, which are at the heart of what we do.”

According to the Kamels, one of the huge advantages of being in business with your spouse is what they describe as shared instinct. As an example, they share the story of when they used to run Go! Brands, a portfolio of virtual restaurants in Dubai, for which they received an acquisition offer in 2021. For most entrepreneurs, negotiation and debate would follow such a moment— but for Ziad and Rowan, just sharing a glance was enough. “Some of the biggest moments are often the quietest ones,” Rowan remembers. “When we received the acquisition offer for Go! Brands, after growing the business from zero to 30,000 orders a month, we looked at each other, and we instantly knew it was the right decision. No discussion was needed. We both understood that years of hard work had led to that life-changing moment.”

Rowan and Ziad Kamel at CQ French Brasserie.

That instinct has continued to shape multiple ventures for the couple. For instance, Butter by the Dozen, which Ziad declares to be “Dubai’s best cookie brand,” began as a date-night conversation between him and Rowan. Similarly, the decision to launch Girl & The Goose—now an award-winning restaurant—came from when Rowan and Ziad attended Gabriela Chamorro’s supper club of the same name.

“Sitting across a table of strangers, Ziad and I exchanged a look, and we knew immediately that we wanted to build something with Chef Gabriela and her husband, Heimo,” Rowan recalls. “Over time, we’ve learned to trust that shared instinct; it’s a defining part of running a business together.” Ziad adds, “We’re also each other’s best brainstorming partners. Some of our strongest ideas have come during date nights or short travel breaks, when we step away from the day-to-day noise and allow creativity to flow. Those moments of connection often lead to our most meaningful decisions.”

Indeed, the couple says that this synergy transcends to their work even today. “At our new CQ French Brasserie, we’re often on opposite sides of a 250-person dining room, hosting guests, and reading the room,” Ziad reveals. “With just a glance or a subtle gesture, we know exactly what needs attention. The same applies to interviewing senior team members; within minutes, we both sense if someone is the right character fit. That shared instinct, built over years of working side by side, is invaluable.”

Of course, no partnership is without disagreement. But when your co-founder is also your spouse, handling conflict requires conscious effort. “It is possible, but it takes intention,” Rowan says. “We’ve learned to respect timing and tone. Not every discussion needs to happen immediately, and not every disagreement needs emotion attached to it. We’re honest with each other, but always kind. The relationship comes first, and that mindset ensures that work issues don’t spill over into our personal life. For us, the business isn’t about who’s right or wrong; it’s about what’s best for our teams and the business itself, no egos involved.”

Ziad adds here that at times like this, the duo reminds themselves that they are always on the same side. “Disagreement doesn’t mean conflict; it means engagement,” he says. “We focus on facts, outcomes, and shared values rather than ego. When emotions rise, we pause. The business can wait; the relationship cannot. That discipline has been crucial to both our personal and professional longevity.”

The alignment between the Kamels is also reflected in the organization that they run. “One of the biggest advantages of being romantically partnered is how it shapes the culture of our business,” Rowan points out. “When our team across all our restaurants and brands, as well as our partners and investors, see how aligned and committed we are to each other, it creates trust and stability across the organization. We lead by example in how we communicate, make decisions, and handle pressure or disagreement.”

Being cohesive as leaders also sends a powerful message to the people under them. “Our relationship is both a strategic and emotional advantage,” Ziad explains. “When the team sees us working together, challenging each other, disagreeing respectfully, having fun, and then moving forward aligned, it naturally becomes part of the culture. People don’t follow what you say, they follow what you do.”

As they look toward the future, the Kamels are not slowing down. With their portfolio of independent brands thriving, they are living proof that a “couple-preneur” model can scale to massive heights. “Businesses are built by people, and people are driven by relationships,” Rowan points out. “When those relationships are healthy, respectful, and human, the company becomes stronger. My advice for couples considering this path is to be clear on roles and genuinely appreciate one another for them, communicate constantly, and remember that how you show up together sets the tone for everyone else.”

Ziad adds, “For couples considering this path, my advice is simple: treat the relationship with care, treat the business with discipline, and stay grounded in shared values. When done right, it becomes one of the most powerful assets a company can have.”

Pictured in the lead image are Rosy Hospitality co-founders Rowan and Ziad Kamel. All images courtesy Rosy Hospitality.