{"id":307313,"date":"2026-01-28T03:52:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T03:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/307313\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T03:52:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T03:52:08","slug":"the-journey-of-muhammad-abu-bakar-imtiaz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/307313\/","title":{"rendered":"The Journey of Muhammad Abu Bakar Imtiaz"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cLike many people, I came here thinking about a better future,\u201d he said. \u201cBack home, there were very limited options. I believed that if I worked hard, I could build something of my own.\u201d<\/p>\n

His father was a government schoolteacher, teaching mathematics. Bakar helped support the family by working on their small farm. The idea of running multiple companies was distant then. The goal was to find stability, earn consistently and, if possible, build something of his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe UAE always attracted me because of safety, stability and support for business,\u201d he said. \u201cHere, the system works. Salaries are paid on time. Laws protect both employees and employers. That gives confidence to people who come with nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starting from the lowest rung<\/p>\n

Initially, Bakar wanted to enter the transport business and drive trucks himself, but the cost of a UAE driving licence put that plan out of reach. Borrowing money was not an option, and asking his parents for help was something he chose not to do.<\/p>\n

His first job was as a building cleaner. Three months later, a contact offered him work as an office assistant on Sheikh Zayed Road. The role involved opening the office and serving tea, but it placed him in a professional environment for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was not about the salary,\u201d he said. \u201cIt gave me exposure and confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

The office belonged to a real estate firm. When the company needed someone to collect property inventory in Sonapur and Al Muhaisnah, Bakar stepped forward. The task was simple on paper, but it placed him directly inside the market.<\/p>\n

Management noticed his discipline and willingness to learn. His role shifted from office assistant to real estate agent.<\/p>\n

The first few months were difficult. Leads were inconsistent and communication was a challenge. Colleagues told him real estate was not suited to him and advised him to look for delivery work instead.<\/p>\n

\u201cI decided I would give it everything I had,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Then came a call from a client looking for multiple units in Muhaisnah. Bakar arranged viewings the same evening. The deal closed the next day and became the largest transaction the company had completed at the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat deal changed how I saw myself,\u201d he said. \u201cI knew I could survive in this industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Choosing independence at the worst moment<\/p>\n

After disagreements over commissions, Bakar moved between firms before deciding to start his own venture. In October 2020, during the height of the Covid period, he launched Inspire Properties Management.<\/p>\n

The timing brought intense pressure. Buildings required security, maintenance and utilities even when occupancy was low. Revenue dropped sharply while costs continued to rise. In 2021, the business recorded a loss of Dh400,000.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the hardest period,\u201d he said. \u201cI had responsibilities, salaries and commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead of walking away, Bakar sat down with the property owner and explained the situation. He asked for time, not concessions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI promised I would pay the full amount,\u201d he said. \u201cI only asked for eight months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eight months later, the losses were fully cleared.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat moment reset everything,\u201d he said. \u201cI was back to zero, and then growth started.\u201d<\/p>\n

Building scale across the UAE<\/p>\n

Inspire Properties expanded across Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, managing more than 2,000 residential units today. Clients followed, including Emaar, ENOC, RTA and Amlak.<\/p>\n

In 2021, Bakar launched Home Keys Real Estate, building a full brokerage operation with sales, marketing, HR and finance teams. What began with one person now employs more than 25 staff.<\/p>\n

Growth created new requirements. Bakar responded by building vertically. Technical services, facilities management, contracting, marketing, tax advisory, document clearing and tourism businesses followed. A sports events company grew from his interest in cricket and community engagement.<\/p>\n

Today, Bakar oversees eight companies operating across multiple sectors.<\/p>\n

People over profits<\/p>\n

Bakar measures success through people, not balance sheets. His first employee is now his business partner. Several early team members hold equity across his companies.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf someone stood with me when I had nothing, they deserve to grow with me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Teams are built through a mix of local hires and overseas recruitment, with an emphasis on market experience and long-term loyalty.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need local knowledge,\u201d he said. \u201cYou cannot build a business without understanding the ground reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why Dubai made the difference<\/p>\n

Bakar credits the UAE\u2019s stability, safety and leadership vision for making his journey possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis country gives opportunity with structure,\u201d he said. \u201cThat combination allows people to recover from mistakes and grow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now 37, Abu Bakar continues to expand carefully, aware that setbacks are part of the journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cChallenges never stop,\u201d he said. \u201cBut if you stay focused and honest, this place gives you room to build.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Nivetha<\/a><\/p>\n

Nivetha Dayanand is Assistant Business Editor at Gulf News, where she spends her days unpacking money, markets, aviation, and the big shifts shaping life in the Gulf. Before returning to Gulf News, she launched Finance Middle East, complete with a podcast and video series.<\/p>\n

Her reporting has taken her from breaking spot news to long-form features and high-profile interviews. Nivetha has interviewed Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed Al Saud, Indian ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and N. Chandrababu Naidu, IMF\u2019s Jihad Azour, and a long list of CEOs, regulators, and founders who are reshaping the region\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

An Erasmus Mundus journalism alum, Nivetha has shared classrooms and newsrooms with journalists from more than 40 countries, which probably explains her weakness for data, context, and a good follow-up question.<\/p>\n

When she is away from her keyboard (AFK), you are most likely to find her at the gym with an Eminem playlist, bingeing One Piece, or exploring games on her PS5.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cLike many people, I came here thinking about a better future,\u201d he said. \u201cBack home, there were very…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":307314,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[178],"tags":[79,18,236,19,17],"class_list":{"0":"post-307313","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entrepreneurship","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-eire","10":"tag-entrepreneurship","11":"tag-ie","12":"tag-ireland"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/115970699659012418","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307313","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=307313"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307313\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/307314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=307313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=307313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=307313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}