In the high-velocity world of luxury hospitality, where attention spans are short and trends fade overnight, few figures possess the rare blend of operational rigor, design intelligence, and cultural fluency that Emil Bedretdinov—widely known as Emil E7—brings to the table.
With a career spanning over 19 years, more than 40 projects across 6 countries, and a 360-degree skill set ranging from concept development to crisis management, Bedretdinov is not just another hospitality entrepreneur. He is a systems thinker with a Silicon Valley-level obsession for iteration, structure, and innovation—layered with a human-first, creativity-driven approach that puts emotion, experience, and belonging at the center of the business model.
Today, he leads The DNA Group, an international hospitality powerhouse behind the acclaimed Papa Moscow and Papa Dubai—two flagships that have become synonymous with precision-crafted lifestyle experiences. His influence, however, extends far beyond the venues themselves. Bedretdinov is shaping the very future of hospitality through a disciplined yet intuitive framework that combines design thinking, behavioral science, AI, and people-centric leadership.
Built, Not Bought: From Humble Beginnings to Global Scale
Bedretdinov entered the hospitality world at the age of 15—washing dishes at IKEA. By 17, he had already launched his first venture: a promo group, organizing events and building communities. What followed was a rare, ground-up education: from floor roles to top-level operational management, across finance, marketing, product, and service.
This full-stack exposure turned into Bedretdinov’s secret weapon. Unlike leaders who parachute in from outside the industry, he built fluency across every domain of the business. That depth now powers The DNA Group’s most ambitious projects—venues and brands that move fluidly across time zones, cultures, and formats.
Papa as a Platform: More Than a Venue, It’s a Scalable Feeling
Papa Moscow and Papa Dubai are not replicas—they are manifestations of a broader philosophy: “Local soul with global coherence.” Every detail, from sound design to guest pacing, is choreographed to feel both effortless and intentional. Papa Dubai welcomed over 250,000 guests in its first year—numbers that speak not just to marketing, but to product-market fit on a cultural level.
The guest experience is fueled by data and intuition in equal measure. Bedretdinov implemented AI-powered personalization before the trend hit headlines—ensuring that lighting, music, drink profiles, and table flow adjust dynamically to both individual preferences and real-time demand. It’s not technology for the sake of it—it’s tech in service of human connection.
Designing for Longevity, Not Virality
In a world of flash-in-the-pan concepts, Bedretdinov plays the long game. Each DNA Group project is treated as an original composition—not a copy-paste rollout. Expansion into markets like New York, Singapore, Bodrum, and new formats such as high-design penthouse spaces, beach clubs, and multi-use lifestyle hubs is underway. Dubai and the Middle East remain key strategic regions, with upcoming concepts in development.
This methodical growth strategy is rooted in his scientific mindset. Armed with a Doctorate in Business Administration, Bedretdinov merges academic rigor with entrepreneurial flexibility. His frameworks borrow from agile product development, service design, and OKR methodology—blending the operational discipline of Silicon Valley with the emotional intelligence required in high-touch environments.
The Human Operating System
Culture is The DNA Group’s real competitive moat. With a 180+ person team across two countries, the company treats training and tone as seriously as product and profit. Staff don’t just learn scripts—they master timing, empathy, and experience choreography.
This belief in people-first scale turns everyday employees into brand custodians. It’s why guests return not just for the food or music—but for the way they’re made to feel seen, remembered, and understood. It’s what transforms a concept into a franchise and a venue into a movement.
Recognition and Thought Leadership
Industry accolades have followed suit: Hospitality Entrepreneur of the Year, Best Hospitality Group CEO, Best F&B Concepts, and Emirates Best F&B Entrepreneur, among others. But for Bedretdinov, recognition is a byproduct—not a driver.
He mentors emerging founders, champions cultural entrepreneurship, and advocates for sustainability not as a buzzword, but as a baseline: smarter sourcing, seasonal menus, energy-efficient ops. It’s not marketing. It’s modern business sense.
Hardwired for the Future
Emil Bedretdinov is not trying to follow where hospitality is going. He’s building where it should go next. A category-defining figure, his blend of creative instinct and operational acumen offers a blueprint for what’s possible when you treat hospitality not as an industry, but as a craft, a science, and a cultural force.
With each new project, he doesn’t just launch a location. He scales a feeling—earning trust, creating value, and proving that precision, when paired with heart, can move markets.
