For Ghalia Hayat, ice cream isn’t just dessert—it’s devotion. The film major-turned-entrepreneur behind OH G! has built a cult following in Kuwait by doing what she does best: making the kind of ice cream she wants to eat. And she’s got the community to prove she’s not alone.

Though she studied film in San Francisco and works full-time as the general manager of a major cinema chain in Kuwait, Ghalia’s creative instincts found a new outlet in the kitchen. “I don’t like any desserts except ice cream,” she says. “So when I moved back home, I started looking for ice cream I actually wanted to eat.” The options felt too sweet, too artificial, too generic. So, she did what any self-respecting ice cream obsessive would do—she started making her own.

Armed with cookbooks, Ghalia taught herself the science and craft of American-style super premium ice cream. That means high fat content for velvety richness, minimal air for dense texture, and no preservatives, additives, or artificial flavorings. “We use as many local ingredients as possible,” she says. “If we say it’s strawberry, it’s because we’re using real strawberries.”

At first, OHG! was a one-woman show. Ghalia made ice cream at home, shared it with friends and family, and brought pints to gatherings. The feedback was instant—and enthusiastic. “People would call me the next day, asking for more. Eventually, a friend who was opening a Japanese restaurant asked me to create a fresh yuzu ice cream for their menu. That’s when it went from a hobby to business.”

She opened a central kitchen to handle restaurant orders and delivery, all while juggling her full-time job in cinema. “That first year was a huge boom,” she remembers. “But then it dipped. I realized I wasn’t giving the business the time and attention it needed.” So, in classic entrepreneurial fashion, she doubled down. A year and a half ago, she opened OHG!’s first dine-in location.

The storefront changed everything. OHG! quickly became more than just a place to grab a scoop. It became a space for flavor experimentation and community. “People started looking forward to our limited editions. We’d introduce a new flavor every few weeks, then retire it, keep the excitement going.”

Some flavors were instant hits. “Yuzu was supposed to be limited,” she laughs, “but it became one of our staples. It’s the perfect mix of tart and sweet.” Others, like her goat cheese with candied walnuts, were critical favorites but eventually gave way to more mainstream crowd-pleasers like chocolate and salted caramel. “People will always come back for our core flavors.”

What sets Ghalia’s journey apart is her fearless, self-taught approach to business. “I don’t think too much before I do something,” she admits. “That’s both a strength and a weakness.” She had no formal training in food science or business, but what she lacked in credentials, she made up for in curiosity, hustle, and support.

“My friends and family are my biggest support system. They’ve been my taste-testers, my marketers, my voice of reason when a flavor wasn’t working.” A tight-knit group—her parents, siblings, and a few close friends—make up her informal flavor board. “We all have different palates. If they all agree on a flavor, I know it’s a winner.”

Ghalia also credits other Kuwaiti women entrepreneurs for encouraging her leap into the food world. The women in the family are bold when it comes to business. Ghalia’s mother founded Inspire, Kuwait’s first luxury gym, and showed her that she could build her own mini empire. “My cousin, Bibi Hayat, is an entrepreneur and wedding planner who also owns cafés and restaurants. Seeing her build something from scratch gave me a model to follow,” she says. “Women like Mariam from Tampopo, who I consider a good friend, also made a big difference. I don’t think I would have opened OH G! without her.” She understands that we need to support others for everyone to succeed. “Women can be misconstrued as jealous or negative or, but what I’ve seen is that the woman who actually makes it, succeeds, and has put in the effort, wants to teach others,” she explains.

Far from competition, Ghalia sees Kuwait’s growing number of foodie entrepreneurs as a movement of mutual support. “When you’re just getting started, you’re looking around and you’re a bit insecure. I felt that there were copycats in the space. I quickly shifted from that mindset. Because I know that when you are risking it all to start a business, you could have been copying or being inspired by someone else without knowing,” she goes on. Now whenever someone asks for help or advice, she jumps right into the kitchen and helps out. “Let me share the knowledge that I’ve accumulated because it could help you. Helping others is not going to hurt my business,” Ghalia affirms.

This has been a journey of personal growth for Ghalia, not just an entrepreneurial one. “I have become more patient and have learned how to manage my stress. At the beginning everything was the end of the world. Now, I know it’s not, I know I can figure it out” she laughs. She has learned to take things as they come instead of stressing too much about the future, but she is excited about growing OH G! We will be getting a new location in Khiran this summer and hopefully another in the city soon.

OHG! isn’t just an ice cream brand—it’s the delicious result of creative passion, community energy, and a woman who followed her cravings all the way to the deep freezer. And if her story tells us anything, it’s that sometimes the best business plans start with a spoon and a dream.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

What do you most value about your friends?
The laughs
Which living person do you most admire?
That’s tough, too many strong women to choose from
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A full day in the sun and the beach, with my dog and friends/family eating cold sweet watermelon
What is your greatest extravagance?
My travel standards
What is your most treasured possession?
My tastebuds 
What is your greatest fear?
To lose the people I love most
What is your most marked characteristic?
Being kind and friendly
Which talent would you most like to have?
This is gonna sounds random, but its blacksmithing.
What is one trait you have that you are most grateful for?
My love for food and travel
What is the human trait you most dislike about others?
Greed
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
خيره
What are your favorite words to live by?
لي طار طيرك, قول سبيل
Where would you most like to live?
Sri Lanka
If you could have any job, what would it be?
I would love to own and run a boutique B&B in Sri Lanka
What would you consider your greatest achievement?
OH G!
What do you hope for the future?
taking OH G! around the region, and perhaps other places in the world. 

Want to see what all the fuss is about? Follow OHG! @ohg.kw on Instagram for flavor drops, behind-the-scenes scoops, collaborations and limited-edition launches.