Dr. Wissam El Akkawi: Creativity in Motion

A Path from Architecture Student to Celebration Innovator!

In 1994, a simple balloon-printing machine changed the course of Dr. Wissam El Akkawi’s life. As a second-year architecture student in Beirut, he was fascinated by design and structure, unaware that a small curiosity would ignite something far greater. That single manual machine, purchased from a friend returning from Iraq, became the seed of a journey that would transform the way he viewed creativity.

Dr. Wissam, Founder & CEO of Fiesta Holding, discovered early on that ordinary objects could be transformed into moments of joy. He realized that celebrations, like architecture, could be designed with intention, structure, and care. That understanding became the cornerstone of Fiesta Holding, a company dedicated to turning ideas into experiences and creativity into lasting memories.

Over the years, his vision expanded from printing balloons to orchestrating full-scale celebrations. Each project reflects the same meticulous attention to detail and passion that first drew him to design. Through his work, he demonstrates that joy can be thoughtfully crafted and shared, leaving a lasting impact on people’s lives.

Dr. Wissam’s journey shows how curiosity and creativity can evolve into extraordinary achievements. What began as a simple experiment in a student apartment grew into a legacy of innovation and celebration, proving that even the smallest spark can lead to remarkable change when guided by vision and passion.

Let us learn more about his journey:

The Unexpected Beginning

Between lectures, drawings, and sleepless design projects, Dr. Wissam began experimenting with that machine. He printed a few balloons, walked from company to company, and introduced his humble idea as a promotional concept. He still remembers the look on people’s faces, half surprise, half curiosity, when they saw a printed balloon with their company name for the first time. Those small moments of encouragement convinced him that innovation did not always require grand beginnings; sometimes, it started with courage and faith in a simple idea.

Balancing studies and this new project proved challenging. His parents believed he was too ambitious too soon, but he continued relentlessly. The excitement of creating something unique outweighed the fear of failure. Soon, Lebanese supermarkets began selling “Fiesta Balloons,” the first product and the first real sign that this was more than a student project. It was becoming a story.

When Passion Met Purpose

On July 3, 1997, everything changed once again. A family wedding required decoration, and Dr. Wissam chose to use helium for the first time. As the balloons floated above the guests, he realized that this was more than decoration; it was emotion. Guests smiled, laughed, captured memories in photographs, and carried those moments home. That experience instilled a principle he continues to follow: business without emotion is mere trade, while business with purpose transforms into art.

A year later, he graduated as an architect with honors. Before beginning his military service, he traveled to Chicago for advanced training in balloon decoration and then to Malaysia to study latex manufacturing. Each country offered new perspectives, showing how creativity could harmonize with discipline and how design thinking could structure even the boldest ideas.

In June 1998, while still serving in the army, he opened his first shop in Beirut. The sensation of unlocking the door that morning remains vivid. He perceived more than a small store; he envisioned the beginning of a lasting legacy.

The Architecture of a Dream

Architecture taught Dr. Wissam how to see beyond the surface. Every structure begins with a foundation, and every idea requires a balance between creativity and precision. That mindset guided him when he built Fiesta from scratch. He did not want it to be only an events company; he envisioned it as a platform of creativity, where ideas, design, engineering, and emotion coexist.

Looking back, he sees that Fiesta’s growth mirrored an architectural design: each phase carefully constructed upon the last, with courage serving as the binding material. The foundation was creativity, while the structure was built on trust, resilience, and teamwork.

Moments of Doubt, Acts of Faith

Like every founder, Dr. Wissam faced moments that tested his faith. Convincing clients, handling limited resources, balancing studies and work, none of it was smooth. There were nights when he doubted whether he was doing the right thing.

Yet each obstacle taught him patience and strengthened his belief that challenges act as training grounds for persistence. He often reminded his team that success is defined by how one continues despite hardship.

From Hobby to Heritage

The realization that Fiesta was no longer a hobby came gradually. Each new project grew larger than the last. What began as a balloon shop soon expanded into themed decorations, fireworks, pyrotechnics, and event design.

The vision matured, and so did the responsibility. Dr. Wissam wanted Fiesta to represent Lebanese creativity to the world, to prove that even in a country of turmoil, dreams could grow strong enough to cross borders.

Building a Legacy Beyond Borders

As the years passed, Fiesta evolved into a holding company with subsidiaries across multiple sectors, including construction, contracting, real estate, architecture, tourism, entertainment, media, and more. The company grew from a single room in Beirut to a multi-industry group headquartered in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Its success was never just about expansion; it focused on maintaining authenticity while adapting to every market it entered.

Dr. Wissam has always believed that the secret of growth lies in staying real, real to values, real to people, and real to purpose. Fiesta’s reputation for innovation and professionalism grew from this commitment to authenticity.

Limitless Ambition

Over the years, Dr. Wissam has learned that ambition has no finish line. Every achievement becomes a new beginning. His personal motto, “Don’t wait for opportunity, create it,” continues to guide him. From setting Guinness World Records to winning international awards, each milestone serves as a reminder that limits exist only in the mind. As long as ambitions remain limitless, success follows.

The Human Side of Success

Behind every milestone, there are sacrifices that people rarely see. Juggling architecture studies, military service, and entrepreneurship demanded time, sleep, and personal comfort. There were birthdays missed, plans postponed, and countless nights spent working under dim light. Yet every sacrifice built resilience and humility, two qualities Dr. Wissam now considers the true currency of leadership.

His family’s support has been his greatest strength, his wife, his children, his parents, and his siblings became his partners and pillars. Today, Fiesta is not just a company; it is a family of hundreds who share one belief: together, they rise.

Faith, Destiny, and Determination

People often ask Dr. Wissam if he believes in destiny. He does, but he also believes destiny favors those who work relentlessly. His story may have started by coincidence, but it was determination that carried it forward. Every obstacle was a reminder that luck is not enough; persistence is the real miracle.

The Power of Purpose and People

One of the most fulfilling parts of leadership for Dr. Wissam is watching people grow. Many of the early employees began as trainees and are now leading departments or companies under the Fiesta Holding umbrella. He believes that leadership is not about commanding; it is about empowering. His role is to create opportunities, nurture confidence, and make others believe in possibilities they did not see before

Lifelong Learning and Inspiration to the Next Generation

Adding a Ph.D. at the age of 51 represents more than a personal milestone. It conveys a message to the younger generation who often believe that schools and universities hold little value, that shortcuts and quick income suffice, and that life itself serves as the only university. Dr. Wissam emphasizes that this belief is misleading.

He pursued a Ph.D. in Project and Quality Management, exploring the power of Artificial Intelligence in the contracting sector. This choice reflects a conscious effort to remain aligned with the world’s transformation, especially in areas that his generation might have considered late to explore.

Earning this degree symbolizes his belief that learning never ends. It demonstrates the importance of staying curious, adapting to change, and showing that growth has no age. For Dr. Wissam, the focus extends beyond technology; it is about understanding how to learn, how to evolve with it, and how to safeguard humanity from losing touch with its true purpose in a rapidly advancing world.

Giving Back through Action

Success holds no meaning unless it benefits others. Dr. Wissam believes that Fiesta’s long-standing partnerships with organizations like MEA Airlines, ONE Lebanon, Beirut Celebrations Organization, KidzMondo, and Al Riyadi Club express gratitude to the communities that shaped them. Whether supporting national celebrations, cultural programs, or social causes, giving back remains an essential part of their identity.

Each firework display created for Abu Dhabi Police or every youth program sponsored reflects their core belief: when others are uplifted, their light shines brighter as well.

Today, nearly 3 decades later, Dr. Wissam still wakes up with the same excitement he felt in 1994. The industries have changed, the technologies have evolved, but his purpose remains constant: to keep creating, keep inspiring, and keep proving that vision and integrity can turn imagination into legacy.
As Fiesta Holding continues to expand, he sees the future rooted in sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. The aim is to build not only companies but communities, places where creativity thrives, and people feel proud to belong.

If there is one truth Dr. Wissam has learned, it is that success is a continuous act of faith. Every failure carries a lesson, every challenge holds an opportunity, and every ending marks the start of something greater.

To those beginning their own journey, he advises: have faith, stay curious, and recognize the power of persistence. A beginning may appear small, but a clear vision can make it extraordinary.