Things You Should Know Before Starting a Business in the UAE — Part 2
Starting a business is not only about having a good idea. A large part of the journey is learning how to survive difficult periods, market yourself constantly, build relationships, and adapt to reality as things change around you.
These are more lessons I learned while building my own business journey in the UAE.
6. Be ready to market yourself constantly
Starting a business means constantly putting yourself and your work in front of people. In the beginning, a large part of your time may go into marketing, networking, outreach, and follow-ups.
Contact everyone you know. Send emails, Instagram messages, WhatsApp messages, and direct introductions. Start conversations, follow up professionally, and keep reminding people that your business exists.
Most people will not respond. Some will ignore you completely. Others may say they are interested and disappear later. That is normal.
You do not need everyone to say yes. You only need a few real opportunities, a few good clients, or a few strong collaborations to start building momentum.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is giving up too early because they feel ignored. Business outreach is often a numbers game combined with persistence. The people who continue showing up professionally and consistently usually create more opportunities over time.
7. One direct contact can be worth hundreds of emails
Online marketing matters, but one direct contact, word-of-mouth recommendation, or personal introduction can sometimes be worth more than hundreds of emails or social media followers.
Try your best to build real face-to-face connections. Meet people, explain your business clearly, and look for decision makers who can understand the value of what you are offering.
Also, find people who can relate to your brand. Not everyone will understand your business, and that is fine. The right people will see the story, the purpose, and the opportunity behind it.
A strong recommendation from the right person can open doors much faster than cold outreach. Social media can create visibility, but real relationships often create trust.
The Pharaoh Eagle-Owl
A Story of Silence and Power
Iconic to the deserts and mountains of the UAE, the Pharaoh Eagle-Owl is one of the country’s most powerful nocturnal birds of prey.
With its large amber eyes, sandy patterned plumage, and silent flight, it is perfectly adapted to rocky deserts, wadis, and semi-arid landscapes, where it blends into the land by day and hunts under the cover of darkness.
Often described as a ghost of the desert, this owl carries the mystery, strength, and quiet presence of the wild places it inhabits — a symbol of the UAE’s hidden nocturnal life.
Designed and printed in the UAE, inspired by real wildlife encounters and photographs captured across different Emirates.
Key Features
100% premium cotton
Comfortable everyday fit
High-quality front print
Color: Navy Blue
Designed & printed in the UAE
The animal you wear says something about you — power, awareness, and respect for the wild.
8. Don’t be discouraged too quickly
Starting a business is usually long, hard, and uncertain. There will be slow days, failed attempts, ignored messages, and moments where it feels like nothing is moving.
Do not let that discourage you too quickly.
Many businesses fail not only because the idea was bad, but because the owner did not have the strength, patience, or discipline to continue through the difficult stage.
Many major brands you see today were built on one success that came after many failed attempts. The important thing is to keep learning, adjusting, improving, and moving forward.
9. Ask yourself if you are in the right place
Location can play a major role in business. Ask yourself honestly: am I building this business in the right place?
For me, my business is built around wildlife. I am not only in the UAE; I am in Ras Al Khaimah. That matters. The UAE receives millions of visitors every year, and Ras Al Khaimah is a strong place for wildlife, outdoor experiences, and nature-based storytelling.
Ras Al Khaimah has diverse habitats and terrain within a relatively small area. There are seashores, mountains, wadis, desert landscapes, farms, and open plains. For a wildlife photography and nature-focused business, this creates real opportunity.
A good location does not guarantee success, but it can give your business a stronger foundation. When your business matches the place you are in, your story becomes more natural, your services become more relevant, and your opportunities become easier to explain.
10. Diversify — don’t put all your eggs in one basket
One of the biggest risks in business is depending on only one source of income, one client, one platform, or one idea.
Things change quickly. Algorithms change, markets slow down, partnerships end, trends disappear, and opportunities can suddenly stop. If your entire business depends on one thing, a single problem can damage the whole business.
Try to build multiple streams around your main idea.
For example, in my case, wildlife photography is not only about selling photographs. It can connect to guided trips, workshops, prints, merchandise, educational content, collaborations, exhibitions, licensing, blogging, and awareness campaigns.
Diversifying gives your business more stability. Some parts may grow faster than others, some may slow down, and some may fail completely, but having multiple directions increases your chances of survival and long-term growth.
Starting a business in the UAE teaches you lessons very quickly, often through pressure, mistakes, and persistence. These are more of the lessons I learned while building my own journey, and there are still many more to come.
In the next part, I will continue sharing additional realities, challenges, and lessons that people rarely talk about when starting a business.
