Driving change, making impact: The Pakistani corporate footprint

The UAE, with its dynamic and robust economic growth, offers a multitude of opportunities to young and seasoned professionals. Each year, an increasing number of professionals from diverse fields relocate to the UAE, attracted by its vibrant prospects. Among these professionals, Pakistanis hold significant positions across various sectors, contributing to the nation’s development. Here, we highlight four Pakistani professionals who have made their mark in the UAE, showcasing their remarkable journeys and contributions. 

Shaping future with vision and drive

Where ambition meets authenticity, Pakistanis in the UAE carving new leadership paths in finance, real estate, tech and HR

Feroz Bharucha’s two-decade journey in Dubai Real Estate

“Having spent half of my life in UAE, I just don’t see Dubai as a city but as my home,” says Muhammad Feroz Bharucha.

Bharucha arrived in Dubai in the mid-1990s, when the city was still taking shape, a promising desert city with big dreams. His journey in real estate began in 2006, shortly after Dubai introduced freehold property ownership, a transformative moment that reshaped the city’s skyline and real estate landscape forever. At that time, the industry was still in its infancy, filled with unknowns, raw opportunities, and unstructured challenges.

“As the market evolved, so did I. My desire to learn and excel pushed me to immerse myself in every aspect of the industry. I took upon myself to understand legal frameworks, regulatory systems, and transactional intricacies that govern Dubai’s unique property ecosystem. I moved beyond transactional brokerage to strategic consultancy and investment advisory,” he explains.

Bharucha enjoys his role as Chief Operating Officer at Berkleys Home Real Estate, a subsidiary of Fatima Holding, a well-reputed real estate agency. Over time, he has realised that real estate is not just about buildings and land; rather, it’s about vision, strategy, relationships, and trust. Today, nearly after two decades of learning and perseverance, Feroz stands proudly at the intersection of opportunity and leadership.

Bharucha attributes the current boom in the real estate market to strong domestic economic growth and sustained foreign investor confidence. The UAE continues to position itself as a true safe haven for individuals, entrepreneurs, and institutional investors from all over the globe, offering unmatched security and political stability, along with world-class infrastructure and urban planning. A robust, diversified, growing economy, long-term residency through strategic investment, zero personal income tax, and ease of doing business and operational efficiency have undoubtedly put the real estate market on an unprecedented pedestal.

The UAE rental market operates on unique dynamics, shaped by several interdependent factors driving both supply and demand. On the supply side, the key contributors are real estate developers, individual investors, institutional landlords, and a growing segment of holiday home operators. On the demand side, factors such as a steady influx of expatriates, population growth, progressive immigration reforms and increased corporate leasing activity are fuelling an increase uptake in prime areas.

“Dubai has taught me that no dream is too bold, no idea too big if paired with the right mindset and execution. Its multicultural fabric, visionary leadership, and ability to turn ambition into reality have left a deep imprint on my values and outlook. Dubai has given me so much and my mission now is to give back with gratitude, purpose, and pride,” Bharucha says.

Fariha Fatima.

From finance to fulfilment: Fariha Fatima’s purpose-driven journey in the UAE

“More than just a workplace, the UAE has been a launchpad for purpose-driven success, where ambition is matched with opportunity, and where dreams are not just welcomed but are empowered,” says Fariha Fatima.

Fariha Fatima, of Pakistani origin, born and raised in the UAE, considers Dubai her home. With an impressive academic background, including a gold medal from the prestigious Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, she returned to the UAE with a master’s degree in 2006 to begin her career journey.

“2006 saw a flourishing economy, and the demand for finance professionals was growing rapidly. I transitioned smoothly back into the banking sector, and over the years, I have grown from one financial institution to another,” she recalls.

A corporate leader, mother of three, and emotional intelligence coach with over two decades of experience in the financial sector, Fatima has devoted her life to building purpose-driven financial ecosystems that are not just profitable but human-centred. Though she was not intrinsically interested in a career in finance, ironically, fate brought her to a career path where she excelled in working with financial institutions.

“Numbers intimidated me, but I quickly realised finance isn’t just about numbers. It’s about people. It’s about solving problems, building trust, and designing solutions that create impact. This insight changed everything for me,” she says.

Product development is at the heart of her work, but what truly brought a change in Fatima’s career was her discovery of emotional intelligence. It shifted her perspective from performance to purpose. She realised that true leadership isn’t about being the loudest but about being the clearest with your values.

“Emotional intelligence helped me evolve from a high achiever to a conscious leader,” she notes.

From Citibank Pakistan to her current role at National Bonds, where she leads the product management division, Fatima’s 24-year career has been about transformation for her and the organisations she has served. She plays a pivotal role in developing innovative, Shariah-compliant products that promote financial inclusion and deliver measurable, meaningful results. Balancing a high-performance corporate career with motherhood, especially in the pre-remote work era, has been the most defining challenge for Fatima’s career journey. “I have learned that challenges don’t shrink when you resist them; they transform when you meet them with purpose,” she reflects.

Commenting on the male-dominated industry, Fatima has had to navigate boardrooms where she was often the only woman at the table, proving her value repeatedly, not just to others, but to an inner voice that sometimes created doubt about her choice. However, by keeping her focus, and the unbiased gender work environment of the UAE, made her journey easier.

In Fatima’s opinion, the UAE is not just growing; it’s evolving. From a desert nation to a global financial powerhouse, the country’s trajectory has been nothing short of visionary. “In years to come, I see the UAE leading not just in financial services, but also in sustainable innovation, digital transformation and inclusive economic models. The leadership’s clear vision, backed by decisive action, continues to position the UAE as a magnet for global capital, talent and ideas.”

As an emotional intelligence coach, Fatima’s work centres around helping individuals develop self-awareness, empathy and resilience needed to thrive, not just in their careers but in life. Through coaching, she helps young professionals find their voice, navigate leadership, or teams aiming for healthier collaboration by focusing on aligning their inner clarity with outer action. “Emotional intelligence isn’t just about being nice; it’s about being honest, conscious and courageous. It empowers you to name your needs, make intentional choices, and show in alignment with their values, and that, in today’s world, is not just important. It’s essential,” she explains. 

Uns Tahir.

From Dubai roots to regional leadership: Uns Tahir’s human-centred HR mission

“Having spent more than three decades in the United Arab Emirates, I can confidently say that my life has been deeply enriched by the opportunities this nation has offered. From its progressive leadership to its unwavering commitment to safety, growth, and inclusivity, the UAE has provided me with an environment where my family and I could thrive,” says Uns Tahir.

Born and raised in Dubai, Tahir considers the UAE her home. After completing her bachelor’s degree in human resources management from Middlesex University Dubai, she started her career with a multinational company in 2010. Over 15 years, she has established herself as a reliable and dedicated HR professional, holding great respect for the profession and the UAE’s laws and regulations.

Her work involves managing HR strategies and end-to-end HR projects in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa. Working closely with the commercial team has given her the opportunity to experience the UAE’s accelerating market growth and its ever-evolving dynamics.

Tahir’s career journey has led her to excel over 15 years. In her role, she has partnered with local and global stakeholders to lead Versuni’s transformation, implement strategies, and design operational models for the Middle East.

“Most importantly, I enable functions with organisational challenges, supporting the delivery of their strategic plans,” she says.

As a Pakistani living in the UAE, Tahir feels grateful for the unique opportunity it offers to remain connected to her cultural roots while embracing a wide array of global experiences.

“The UAE, with its dynamic and multicultural environment, serves as a bridge between East and West, allowing me to celebrate my heritage while being part of a vibrant, international community,” she shares. 

Saad Ansari

At the edge of innovation: Saad Ansari’s 20-year tech evolution in the UAE

“Working for a tech industry in UAE is both exciting and demanding. The country’s vision for the future is bold, and it pushes you to stay ahead of the curve,” says Saad Ansari.

Ansari came to Dubai in 2005, where he started his career at Microsoft Dubai. Having extensive experience in the field, he worked across emerging markets in inside sales. Since 2009, he has assumed several roles across corporate sales, mid-market, and is now heavily engaged in corporate engagements across Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.

“Each role has added a new layer to my own learning, and it has broadened my understanding of regional markets,” he says.

In 2020, Ansari’s career journey took an unexpected turn when he joined Oracle’s cloud team in the UAE. This new role brought him to the realm of new learning in a highly sophisticated tech industry. Being at the centre of innovation and advising enterprises on how to modernise using cloud, data, and AI was all very enriching for him.

“My aspiration, over the years within UAE, has been to join the entrepreneur club, capitalise on my business and tech experience with the opportunities Dubai has to offer, and create something impactful,” he says.

There is a real sense of acceleration in how technology is being adopted across industries in the UAE. From daily interactions, Ansari sees businesses moving rapidly to the cloud, embracing AI, and rethinking their digital strategy altogether. The UAE stands out as one of the few countries where innovation is deeply embedded in its national vision. “It is remarkable to see how quickly the country transforms strategy into action, whether through AI regulations, smart city projects, or platforms like Hub 71, DIFC Innovation Hub, Dubai Future District, etc. UAE is definitely on the global innovation map,” he says.

This can also be seen in the growing trend of people moving from all over the world to Dubai, where everyone wants to live, work, and be part of the vision.

Ansari attributes the UAE’s economic success to its visionary leadership, strategic diversification and attracting global talent. The country has successfully moved beyond oil, with over 70 per cent of GDP from non-oil sectors.

Dubai alone added a hundred thousand new residents in 2023. The world-class infrastructure, thriving business environment and unmatched quality of life makes the UAE difficult to replicate.

“Dubai isn’t just where I work, but it’s where I have built my life, in its tech world, over an extensive period of 20 years. I have grown both personally and professionally in the UAE. It offers stability, opportunity, security, and an unmatched quality of life,” Ansari concludes.