Nurse-turned-CEO gives Dubai its Glam Glow

Junabeth Cubio is the founder and CEO of Glam Glow Aesthetic Clinic in Dubai. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

She came to Dubai with a nurse’s determination and a suitcase full of ambition. Over a decade later, Junabeth Cubio has transformed that quiet resolve into Glam Glow Aesthetic Clinic, one of Dubai’s rising names in professional beauty and wellness care.

For the founder and CEO of Glam Glow Aesthetic Clinic, the journey was never simply about aesthetics. It was about purpose, precision, and proving that Filipino healthcare professionals can build thriving businesses far beyond hospital walls.

Junabeth grew up in a hardworking family that understood sacrifice. Her parents were overseas Filipino workers who spent years in the UAE to create opportunities for their children.

“My father convinced me to move to Dubai,” she tells Expat Media. “He told me there would be better opportunities here, and he was right.”

At the time, Junabeth was already a registered nurse in the Philippines, working in hospital surgery for two years. She was just 25 when she packed up her life and moved to Dubai in 2015, determined to grow her career.

Like many Filipino professionals arriving in the UAE, Junabeth had to start over. She studied for the Dubai Health Authority licensure exam, passed, and soon landed a role as one of the pioneering nurses at a Dubai hospital.

Assigned to surgery, she worked on procedures ranging from caesarean deliveries to liposuction and reconstructive operations. It was intense, technical work that demanded absolute precision and discipline.

Those six years in surgery became the foundation of her future business. “You learn accuracy, professionalism and patience in surgery. Those standards never leave you,” she says.

Then came the pandemic. Like many healthcare workers, Junabeth faced uncertainty. At one point, she was forced to ask family for financial assistance, a moment that deeply affected her. “That was when I told myself I had to find another way. I didn’t want to depend on anyone again,” she says.

Building Glam Glow Aesthetic Clinic in Dubai

Junabeth accepted an opportunity to assist a doctor at an aesthetic clinic after her hospital contract ended. It was a completely different world from surgery, filled with injectables, skin rejuvenation procedures, and cosmetic enhancements.

At first, it felt unfamiliar. But then she saw something powerful. “I realised we were helping people feel confident again. We were enhancing beauty, yes, but also restoring self-esteem.” She pursued advanced training, immersed herself in aesthetic medicine, and quickly discovered a passion for the field.

Then came her boldest move yet. In 2023, Junabeth officially stepped into entrepreneurship, launching Glam Glow as a small operation. Armed with clinical expertise and a steadily growing client base, she personally handled treatments while building client trust.

It was a one-woman operation built on reputation, consistency, and word of mouth. As demand grew, so did her vision. That small setup eventually evolved into a fully licensed aesthetic and dermatology clinic in Port Saeed, now staffed by qualified doctors, nurses, and technicians.

For Junabeth, Glam Glow’s mission has always been clear. Professional aesthetic care should not feel exclusive or intimidating; it should be accessible. “Our services are affordable because I want professional beauty care to be accessible to more people,” she says.

That philosophy has set Glam Glow apart in Dubai’s competitive beauty industry and keeps clients coming back. The clinic specialises in aesthetic treatments including laser therapies, body contouring, hydrafacials, skin boosters, rejuvenation procedures, and personalised skin solutions for concerns such as acne, pigmentation, sagging skin, and body fat.

GET A GLOW UP
Glam Glow Aesthetic Clinic is located on the mezzanine level of Al Aman House in Port Saeed, Dubai, and is open daily from 9am to 9pm. Contact +971 58 208 4140 or info@glamglowclinic.ae or go to glamglowclinic.ae

Junabeth is especially passionate about educating clients. “Many people think aesthetic treatments are instant fixes. They are not. Real results take proper assessment, consistency, and realistic expectations.” It is a mindset rooted in her nursing background, where informed care always comes first.

One of her proudest memories involves a client who came to her hoping to lose weight before a wedding. Given just three months, Junabeth and her team carefully guided her treatment plan.

When the client later sent wedding photos glowing with confidence, Junabeth knew she had found her true calling. “That made me realise this is bigger than beauty. It changes how people feel about themselves and helps them leave a little more confident than when they arrived,” she says. ICA/Expat Media | This story also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine.