Starting from Zero
Fathima Nusrath arrived in Dubai in 2005 with a business degree from the University of Colombo and a determination to build something of her own. She had no family connections in the UAE, no wealthy backers, and no experience running a business in a foreign country. What she had was a clear idea, a willingness to work harder than anyone else, and an understanding of a gap in the market.
"I noticed that there were very few businesses catering specifically to the Sri Lankan community in Dubai," she recalls. "There were Indian restaurants, Pakistani shops, Filipino stores — but very little that was specifically Sri Lankan. I thought: there are 300,000 Sri Lankans here. Someone should be serving them properly."
The First Business: A Sri Lankan Food Store
Fathima's first venture was a small Sri Lankan grocery store in Deira, stocking the products that Sri Lankan expats missed most: Maldive fish, dried chillies, coconut oil, Sri Lankan rice varieties, and a range of Sri Lankan snacks and condiments. The store was tiny — barely 200 square feet — but it quickly became a gathering point for the Sri Lankan community.
Expanding the Vision
Within three years, Fathima had expanded to three stores and added a catering service for Sri Lankan community events. She then launched a restaurant serving authentic Sri Lankan cuisine — hoppers, kottu roti, rice and curry — that became popular not just with Sri Lankans but with Arab and other expat customers who discovered the food through their Sri Lankan colleagues.
The Turning Point: Online and Delivery
The COVID-19 pandemic, which devastated many businesses, was paradoxically a turning point for Fathima's enterprise. She pivoted quickly to online ordering and delivery, reaching customers across Dubai and Abu Dhabi who could not visit her stores. The online business grew rapidly and now accounts for 40% of her revenue.
Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
"The Gulf is a place where hard work is rewarded," Fathima says. "But you also need to be smart. Understand your market. Understand the regulations. Build relationships. And never stop learning."
Frequently Asked Questions
How can Sri Lankans start a business in Dubai?
Starting a business in Dubai requires choosing a business structure (mainland, free zone, or offshore), obtaining the relevant licences, and meeting capital requirements. The process has been streamlined in recent years. The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) is the main regulatory body for mainland businesses.