An Edinburgh businessman who found a more positive entrepreneurial spirit in Dubai is marking a fifth year of growth in his property firm after turning his back on the UK’s “blame culture”.
Calum White quit Britain after becoming disillusioned by the negative attitude to success and is now reaping the rewards of setting up a business in the Middle East.
White & Co. Real Estate began with just eight employees in January 2021 and has since overseen a remarkable rise to prominence in the UAE.
The company now employs 600 people and has posted a record turnover of £63 million (307m UAE Dirhams).
Profits have soared to £8.6m, and the 32-year-old insists the success validates his decision to quit the UK ten years ago.
“Growing up in Scotland, I was determined to get out into the world. I had become disillusioned with life in the UK and wanted to leave so moved to Dubai 10 years ago initially as a leasing broker,” he said.
“We have had five years of sustained growth, invested a lot into the expansion of the company, and it’s pleasing to see the results.
“If anyone in the UK is feeling like I was 10 years ago, I want them over here so I can help change their lives.
“There’s a blame culture in the UK with too many people dragging each other down and that doesn’t exist in Dubai. In my opinion the UK is set up for business owners not to be successful. It’s effectively based on experience and length of time served whereas in Dubai it’s based on performance.
“Yes, the politics are the complete opposite of the UK but every year my life gets better. How many people can say that about living in the UK?
“Over here it’s a different world. They say ‘well done’ when you’re doing well and genuinely mean it. We have a government that helps and encourages entrepreneurs looking to better themselves instead of one which seems intent on penalising success.
“If people like the UK and it’s great for them, that’s great. I just want to make a difference to people’s lives.”
It has been a remarkable success story for the Edinburgh-born businessman, with White & Co. Real Estate now occupying four floors of 56,000 sq. ft. of office space in Control Tower in its Motor City headquarters.
With 90% of staff from the UK, White & Co. Real Estate is now the largest ‘western’ brokerage business in Dubai.
Around 400 brokers work on a commission-only basis, while there are 200 salaried staff in one of the region’s fastest-growing real estate firms.
Mr White added: “I knew we were going to do well, I just didn’t know quickly we would get there.
“Our top broker last year took home £4m in tax-free earnings. It’s commission-only for all the brokers so they know what they have to do when it comes to selling or renting property and we give them all the tools they need to do that.
“We have making people successful down to an exact science and the only way it won’t work for people joining us is if they get distracted by the flashy lifestyle. Dubai is the best place in the world for opportunity but it is also the best place for distractions.”
Mr White is eyeing further growth in the coming year, with a revenue target of £83m (400m UAE Dirhams).
“Dubai real estate is a brilliant sector to be involved in at the moment. More and more people are coming here and seeing success quicker than ever before as the market is so strong,” he said.
“Our aim is to keep growing. We have ambitious targets for the coming year but they are ones I’m confident of hitting.”
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