Dubai, the emirate synonymous with luxury and wealth, harbors a dark secret beneath its shimmering surface: a “Made in Greece” network of dirty dealings. While many Greeks thrive in legitimate business with wealthy Arabs, Espresso uncovers a hidden Greek community profiting from the shadowy world of paid sex, funded by petrodollars.
The investigation was sparked by the harrowing case of 22-year-old Ukrainian influencer Maria Kovalchuk, found beaten and unconscious after entanglement in Dubai’s notorious “porta potty parties”—events where “sex slaves” cater to the perverse whims of rich Arab clients for fees ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 euros. This tragedy prompted Espresso to expose Greek trafficking rings operating in the emirate.
One such network, based on the Athens-Dubai route, involves a self-proclaimed “CEO and influencer,” an Athens travel agent, and a female influencer tasked with luring Instagram “bombshells” with promises of all-expenses-paid trips to “super parties.” Unbeknownst to some, these events are fronts for white flesh trafficking. Recently, a blonde ex-reality TV star knowingly joined such a trip, earning a hefty sum to serve as “sexual merchandise” while posting glamorous Instagram shots from pools and deserts. In contrast, two models narrowly escaped a similar fate, threatening exposure to halt the scheme.
The trafficking “merchandise” falls into two categories: those aware of their exploitation and those duped by the “guest at a party” bait. Behind the scenes, agents and fronts orchestrate the transport of women to Arab tycoons’ suites. Exceptions to the silence include London TikToker Saint Mullan, who publicized messages offering her a yacht party gig with a Dubai elite.
Another Greek crew—a trio of influencers—operates under the guise of a real estate investment firm, fronted by a Dubai-based Greek tied to a prominent Greek business family. Featuring a famous Instagram star, a pageant queen, and a divorced mother with fashion ventures, they lure clients with their allure, pocketing commissions and extra cash from paid sex at lavish parties.
As Espresso peels back the layers of “Dirty Dubai,” the adage “what happens in Dubai stays in Dubai” is tested. These networks, cloaked in glamour, reveal a grim reality of exploitation beneath the emirate’s dazzling facade.