Farid Rais, Dunas Map "Man of the Month" for May 2026

Dunas Map
2 days ago
8 min read

After discovering Gran Canaria in 2009, he decided to move here in 2017 with his partner, Johann; both have opened one of the most popular bars in the Yumbo within the gay community. Farid Rais is a French entrepreneur who formerly worked in education and once dreamed of a radical life change. He is our Dunas Map 'Man of the Month' for May 2026.

Farid Rais from Voulez Vous Cocktail bar, Dunas Map Man of the Month, May 2026

Voulez Vous cocktail bar opened in January 2017 and is about to turn 10 years old. The name comes from the ABBA's song "Voulez Vous"; they chose this song title as a name because the words sound international, they are wellknown by a lot of persons, and they are easy to pronounce and to remember. The mixed club version of the song by DJ Aron and Beth Sacks has become the bar's anthem since the beginning. · Hello Farid, could you introduce yourself as fully as possible ? What was your professional background in your country before moving to the island ?

- Hello, my name is Farid. I am 51 years old, originally from France. I have a degree in German and educational sciences. I was previously a head teacher in a college in France after having been a senior education advisor. I worked as a member of the management staff in a college. So in the education sector, I was a state employee. Before Gran Canaria, I was living in Lyon, France.

· Why and when did you choose Gran Canaria as your home ? - I first came to Gran Canaria as a tourist in 2009. I had the desire to discover a sunny destination not too far from France, which allows for a combination of sightseeing, relaxation, and entertainment. Being in Maspalomas for the very first time, I had a feeling of freedom, a feeling of well-being, being able to live one's life without being watched or judged.

I chose Gran Canaria as my place of residence to establish my business, because it's a destination that attracts tourists all year round. We are fortunate to be able to work throughout the year.

My husband Johann is also my business partner! We met in 2007 in Lyon. He's the one who suggested we leave everything behind in France to come live here and realize our dream: creating our own establishment. I didn't hesitate for long and quickly said yes!

Johann is 52 years old and originally from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. He was previously the deputy director general of services for a town hall and then the director of a semi-public company specializing in commercial real estate in France.

Farid Rais from Voulez Vous Cocktail bar, Dunas Map Man of the Month, May 2026 (with his partner Johann).

· Today, you are well-known as the owner of the Voulez Vous bar at the Yumbo Centre. Did you have many experiences in the hospitality sector, or was this your first?

- I had previously worked occasionally as a volunteer waiter for charities. My experience as an educational advisor at a hospitality school also allowed me to discover the world of restaurants and hotels. I learnt the rest (cocktail creation, management skills, inventory and order management, etc.) here, little by little.

· Was opening your bar the fulfilment of a long-held dream, or was it something entirely new that came up unexpectedly? Was it easy to choose the location? Did you face any particular challenges?

- It was a well-thought-out, structured project and a genuine desire to create a business with my husband. A life project. We came several times as tourists to learn about the procedures for settling here in Gran Canaria.

We opened our bar at the end of January 2017. We had planned to open earlier, but the renovations took a little longer than expected. Rather than rushing the opening, we preferred to ensure everything was perfect and delayed it by a few days.

We didn't encounter any particular difficulties because we monitored the progress of the work daily. We also had to spend a considerable amount of time with all the relevant government offices to register our establishment, with the help of our accountant.

As for choosing the location, it was a natural and quick decision! We had visited three places. The first two seemed small and less ideally located. The one we chose seemed central and suited to what we wanted to create: a cocktail bar with a musical atmosphere and stylish decor.

· Tell us what makes Voulez Vous different from other bars at the Yumbo and why we should choose you over anywhere else.

- I would say that what sets us apart and makes us strong is our ability to adapt to all types of clientele. We wanted to cater to everyone, whether LGBTQ+ or straight. We wanted to be able to welcome people from all over the world and not limit ourselves to an exclusively French clientele. We are fortunate to have a team that speaks several languages, including French, Spanish, English, German, and even Luxembourgish. Our customers appreciate that we make the effort to speak their language.

Farid Rais from Voulez Vous Cocktail bar, Dunas Map Man of the Month, May 2026 (with the whole team's bar).

Finally, the quality of our cocktails and spirits is appreciated by our customers, who leave very positive reviews on social media. We regularly add new cocktails to our menu. We started a few years ago with the “Moon Bull”, which has become one of our signature cocktails. Last year, we developed variations of the Aperol Spritz, and this year we successfully launched the “Gin Basil Smash” and the “Baileys Espresso Martini”.

· Do you have a unique or special musical lineup? - For the music, we try to appeal to a wide range of tastes by playing a variety of styles, from English and Spanish pop, reggaeton, and French pop to German tracks, Eurovision hits, classic gay music that everyone can relate to, and also club and house tracks to keep our customers dancing! Sometimes, customers even ask us to play their favorite songs! Again, we're happy to oblige! · You aren't running the bar alone; you work with your partner and with your own team. Tell us more about them.

- Working together with your partner in life is something you learn! Today, it feels natural and seamless. We each had different but complementary skills, which allowed us to manage our establishment effectively.

My current team consists of three people, all hired in 2022. Toni, originally from Luxembourg, previously worked in Germany; Ivan, from the Canary Islands, is a bartender and waiter; and Frédéric, originally from France, works behind the bar. We are fortunate to have a stable, dedicated, and committed team, deeply invested in the bar's success. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them.

· Does Voulez Vous bar collaborate with some gay events like Pride or other festivals during the year? Is it important for you?

- We are, of course, partners with many events. For example, we've participated in the Gay Pride parade twice with our own float. We are partners of Fetish Pride, and a "fetish social sportswear" evening is organized in our bar every October. We are also sponsors and donors of the "Checkpoint Canarias" association.

Every month, on Wednesdays, we host "Can Canaria Social," where tourists meet over drinks and tapas. This is very important to us because it allows us to show our support for the LGBTQ+ community and let everyone know they can feel comfortable in our establishment.

We wish to continue our collaborations and partnerships in the future. We would like to strengthen our collaborations with festivals by, for example, hosting an artist in our bar or broadcasting live performances from Yumbo events. And we are preparing for our anniversary! In 2027, we will celebrate 10 years of "Voulez Vous"!

· Do you find that Maspalomas has changed a lot over the last few years? What do you think could be improved for the gay scene in Maspalomas?

- We've noticed a shift in the hotel industry, with many hotels undergoing renovations to move upmarket, often accompanied by price increases, though these remain moderate for now. Maspalomas needs to remain attractive if we want to maintain its appeal to tourists.

We have also observed and implemented salary increases in the hotel industry, which is a positive step for our employees. It's a fascinating but also demanding profession due to its hours, so it's essential that employees are well-paid and recognized for their work.

The gay scene in Maspalomas is already well-represented, vibrant, and diverse. Perhaps a few more cultural, social, or preventative activities during events would be needed to make it truly complete. A cinema with an international program would also be a welcome addition for residents.

· Are you feeling optimistic about gay tourism in Gran Canaria? What do you think about how the Yumbo has evolved? Any suggestions to improve it?

- I remain very optimistic because Maspalomas has always been a popular destination for the LGBTQ+ community since the 80s. Even though tourist habits have changed a bit after the financial crisis and Covid, we retain a very loyal clientele who are happy to return year after year while also attracting a new one.

The Yumbo area is gradually evolving, welcoming new establishments that are renovating their premises and adding a touch of modernity. Recently, fire safety upgrades were carried out, strengthening prevention and security measures. I have no particular suggestion to make other than to continue to welcome our customers as best as possible in joy and good humor, with respect for one another.

· Do you have any hobbies or activities outside of your work in Maspalomas? What are your favorite places or events where you like to go out to have fun, unwind, or grab a bite to eat? - We try to regularly visit lesser-known sites on the island, particularly in the north and the center, especially when our family and friends come to visit us. Working evenings, we don't get to enjoy the events in the Yumbo Square because we're working then. Normally, after work, we like to relax and go for a drink at a colleague's place that stays open later than ours, like Mykonos or Mantrix, for example.

For lunch, we like Spritz Restaurant, for instance. We regularly recommend restaurants to our clients that have been tried and tested by other clients.

And now, some personal favorites...

· What is the most beautiful trip you've ever been on?

> It's hard to choose… every country we've visited has enchanted us… But we're particularly fond of the Greek islands like Paros, and we also love Germany. We also really enjoyed the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark) and, more recently, Canada.

· What is the type of music you like to listen to?

> Personally, I mostly listen to pop, electronic, and also Spanish music. My favorite artist remains Kylie Minogue, who has spanned several decades without ever disappointing her fans.

· The kind of movies you like?

> I watch more series on platforms like Netflix or Amazon than movies. The last movie I went to see in a cinema was obviously "MASPALOMAS"!

· Which are the artists you follow ? Some personalities who inspire you?

> The artists I regularly follow are Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Mylene Farmer, Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Dua Lipa, Madonna, Pink, Shakira, Rihanna, Melody, Bad Bunny, Abraham Matteo, Ricky Martin, Maluma etc…

· Some personalities who inspire you?

> I am inspired by personalities who have great determination, strength of character, but also great sensitivity.