Inspirational experiences, thrilling moments, memorable events.
George & Burnell is a specialist event planning and management firm based in Dubai. Founded by industry veterans with over 35 years of experience between them, we combine meticulous attention to detail with inspirational ideas to ensure that every event is a celebrated experience.
Whether your event is for 20 or 20,000, we are dedicated to making every event distinctive, extraordinary and bespoke. We work within your budget to achieve your event goals always delivering a meaningful, memorable and magical experience for your guests.
From creating a bespoke identity for your event to handling its logistics, complete management to partial curation, our expertise and enviable little black book of suppliers are at your service. No matter if you are looking to celebrate a loved one’s special occasion, welcome dignitaries, host a conference, fashion show, product launch or carve a new niche for yourself in the world of incredible experiences, George & Burnell will ensure that it is meaningful, memorable and inspirational.
Who we are
Joe George
Partner & Co-Founder
Joe is an accomplished event management and design professional with over 20 years of hands-on experience delivering a wide-ranging portfolio of international events including award ceremonies, product launches, concerts, fashion shows, gala dinners, corporate hospitality, weddings and seasonal events.
In 2013, Joe and Safiya Burnell founded George & Burnell to offer unique event management services based on their combined experience in high profile international events requiring bespoke production, large scale site builds, rich creative content, VIP guest management and complex logistics. The prestigious US$1 Million Global Teacher Prize has been exclusively managed by G&B since its inception in 2015.
Joe has a Post Graduate Diploma in Events & Facilities Management from Sheffield Hallam University. Prior to G&B Joe worked for SNTTA managing Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Events for between 50 and 4000 guests. He then ran a project portfolio of over USD 20 million designing stages, sets and fit-outs for some of Dubai’s most prestigious calendar events, overseeing operations and logistics of these projects and managing a crew of over 80 production staff from site-inspections to installation and final delivery.
Safiya Burnell
Partner & Co-Founder
Safiya is a senior events, sponsorship, marketing and communications professional with over 29 years’ experience of travel, hospitality, sport and event management for international clients.
She began her career at Emirates Airline in marketing before joining Dubai World Cup’s organising team for the inaugural 1996 season. In her role as Head of Sales & Marketing for Dubai Racing Club and as a member of the Dubai World Cup Committee, Safiya built and led a large team responsible for all branding, marketing, sponsorship, logistics, guest and event management aspects of one of the world’s most prestigious events – the Dubai World Cup as well as Dubai’s racing season and associated showjumping, endurance and equestrian events internationally.
After 13 years at the forefront of horse racing events, Safiya set up her own company in 2010 with an impressive client list before forming George & Burnell Events in 2013 in partnership with Joe George, to provide a unique event production and management service to leading corporate, Government and high-profile clients including the Varkey Foundation, Expo2020 Dubai, Jumeirah group, Atlantis The Palm and Dubai Cares.
Safiya’s passionate approach to impeccable customer service has delivered a successful and varied roster of large and high profile events featuring heads of state, industry and government leaders, regional companies, socialites and celebrities alike, establishing G&B as a leader in this sector.
Clients
