In 2015, a 23-year-old Nigerian woman named Gift Solomon arrived in the UAE with big dreams, like many others hoping for a better life. She had high hopes for her future in Dubai, but the road to success turned out to be much more challenging than she had imagined.
Despite the obstacles, Solomon’s story is one of grit, determination, and the will to never give up. What began as a struggle for survival eventually became a journey that saw her build a multi-million-dirham real estate company in one of the most competitive markets in the world.
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Challanges Upon Arrival in the UAE
When Gift Solomon first landed in the UAE, her plans were ambitious, but reality soon set in. She had connected with an agent back home, expecting that this would lead to smooth sailing in Dubai. However, her first three months in the country were far from what she had envisioned.
Without a job, Solomon lived in shared accommodation in Sharjah, constantly commuting to Dubai for interviews. Her days were filled with frustration and disappointment. Despite her efforts, she couldn’t secure a position. “I told my family I was working, but the truth was that I had no job and was desperately in need of one,” Solomon recalled. “I was ready for any sort of job.”
Her situation was tough, but Solomon refused to give up. She kept going to interviews and relied on friends who helped her look for opportunities.
A New Beginning at Freedom Pizza
After months of searching, Solomon’s persistence finally paid off when she landed a job as a waitress at a local restaurant in Dubai Marina called Freedom Pizza. It wasn’t her dream job, but for Solomon, it was a crucial first step toward a brighter future. Earning Dh2,500 per month, she was grateful to finally have work.
“I was proud of myself,” Solomon reflected on those early days, serving customers and taking orders. Although it was a modest start, it marked the beginning of a bigger transformation. “It became a stepping stone to something much bigger,” she said.
While working at the pizzeria, Solomon noticed that delivery riders were earning more than her. This realization sparked a new idea. Determined to increase her income, she decided to learn how to ride a motorbike. With her company’s support, she enrolled in driving school, and soon after, she passed her test on her first attempt. This opened up new opportunities for her, and Solomon transitioned from being a waitress to one of the first female food delivery riders in the UAE.
Becoming the UAE’s First Female Food Delivery Rider
For two years, Solomon worked as a food delivery rider in Dubai, delivering pizzas across the city. She earned Dh3,200 per month, which was more than she made as a waitress, but her ambitions didn’t stop there. While navigating the streets of Dubai, she never stopped dreaming of more.
Solomon’s life took a new turn when she started sharing her experiences in Dubai on social media. She posted pictures of herself visiting iconic landmarks around the city, which began to attract attention from people back home in Nigeria.
“People started noticing, and they would reach out, asking me to take them to different places,” she said. What started as simple photo-sharing soon became a gateway to a whole new venture.
A Leap into Tourism
After being approached by a client to show them around Dubai, Solomon realized that she could make a business out of her knowledge of the city. When the client paid her over Dh1,000 for her services, Solomon understood that there was a real opportunity in the tourism sector.
On her days off as a delivery rider, Solomon began organizing tours for her Nigerian and African friends. Her side hustle quickly blossomed into a full-fledged business, and she founded Dubai Gateway Travels, a tourism company that helped clients organize their trips to Dubai, complete with personalized itineraries.
“It started as a favor, but it grew into something much bigger,” Solomon said. Her passion for showing people around Dubai became profitable, and she discovered a whole new way to generate income while doing something she loved.
Transition to Real Estate
During her time in the tourism industry, Solomon began noticing another opportunity. Many of her clients from Nigeria started asking her to visit properties in Dubai on their behalf. They trusted her to evaluate potential real estate investments.
Before long, Solomon realized that she had become an unofficial real estate agent. Recognizing the potential of this new venture, she began learning about the real estate market in Dubai. Encouraged by her clients’ trust in her, she took the plunge and founded Giffy Real Estate in April 2024.
In just a short time, Solomon has already made major strides in the real estate industry. One of her biggest achievements was selling seven units within 42 hours. This marked a turning point in her career as a real estate entrepreneur.
Building a Multi-Million-Dollar Empire
From starting as a freelance real estate agent in 2023 to founding a company now valued at over Dh15 million, Solomon’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. “We are doing millions of dirhams in transactions every month,” she proudly stated.
Her client base, which initially consisted of Nigerian and African investors, has now expanded to include clients from the United States, India, and even Europe. “Now, investors from all over the world know me,” Solomon said. Her company is actively working on tapping into the European and Russian markets as well.
A Vision for the Future
Looking back on her journey, Solomon attributes much of her success to the support of her family back home in Nigeria. “They are really proud of my journey,” she said.
But even with her success, Solomon’s ambitions are far from fulfilled. “I’m still building,” she said. “We are only getting started. We have our eyes set on even greater heights in the competitive Dubai real estate market.”
From a struggling job seeker to a pioneering businesswoman, Gift Solomon’s story is one of inspiration. Her unwavering determination, ability to spot opportunities, and resilience in the face of challenges have enabled her to build a multi-million-dollar empire from the ground up. And according to Solomon, this is just the beginning.
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