For Indian expatriate Anas Abdul Latheef, success in the UAE is not defined by business milestones or government contracts. Instead, it traces back to a phone call he made to his mother more than a decade ago.
According to a report by Gulf News, Latheef still remembers borrowing Dh350 (around Rs 8,000 at current exchange rates) from his mother in 2014, a small amount that would eventually help change the course of his life.
The Dh350 That Changed Everything
At the time, Latheef was running a fledgling startup called Hash Include and was trying to bid for a government project. To participate, he needed to purchase an official tender document costing Dh350, money he simply did not have. With no other option, he turned to his mother for help.
"Looking back, that Dh350 was probably the best investment my mother ever made," Latheef told Gulf News. What appeared to be a modest loan became the first step in a much larger entrepreneurial journey.
A Dream That Brought Him Back to the UAE
Latheef's connection with the UAE began in childhood when he spent time in the country with his parents before eventually returning to India. Even after moving back, he remained drawn to the opportunities and ambition he associated with the Emirates.
"I always knew I wanted to come back and build my future here," he told Gulf News, recalling the energy and rapid development that inspired him. After graduating from university, he returned to Dubai in 2008 determined to build a career. But like many expatriates arriving in the Gulf, he started with limited resources and no established professional network.
Learning the Ropes as a Software Engineer
His early years in the UAE were spent working as a software engineer, where he gained exposure to different industries and learned firsthand about the country's demanding work culture. One experience left a particularly strong impression on him. While working on a project for the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, he was involved in delivering an event platform within a week — a deadline that initially seemed impossible. Yet the project was completed on time.
"There is no room for excuses. You either deliver or you do not," Latheef recalled. The experience reinforced what he sees as one of the UAE's defining traits: a strong emphasis on execution and results.
The Challenge of Earning Trust
Building a business proved far from easy. As the founder of a small company competing against larger and more established firms, Latheef often found himself having to prove his credibility.
"We were a small company competing against larger players, and earning trust was never easy," he said. Coming from a technical background also meant learning skills beyond software development. "I had to learn how to communicate value and build strong business relationships," he added.
Why People Matter More Than Technology
Despite building his career in technology, Latheef says his biggest source of inspiration has always been people. "Technology is ultimately about people, not systems," he told Gulf News. Over the years, he has quietly mentored students and aspiring entrepreneurs, helping them identify opportunities and build confidence. He prefers to keep such efforts personal rather than public.
"Giving back is not about publicity or scale. It is about helping talented young people move forward and build something meaningful," he said.
A Lesson Many Indians Abroad Will Recognise
Today, Latheef's life looks very different from when he arrived in Dubai in 2008. But when he reflects on his journey, he sees more than business growth or financial success. He sees a story familiar to many Indians working overseas — leaving home, starting from scratch, overcoming setbacks and relying on the faith of family members during difficult moments. And at the heart of that story remains a simple memory: a son calling his mother for Dh350. The loan was small. The belief behind it was priceless.
