He is a mindful millennial who owns his home in the UK outright, races motorbikes for fun and has even been a DJ at top global spots for a year - just because, and due to the fact that he is somehow related to a DJ fixer-godfather type.
That's why he was on a plane headed to the UAE.
He has put his party years behind him and is cognizant of having a few more decades to live. He wants to do something exciting and different, and believes the Emirates is the place to be for the next 15 years or so. Not that he needs the money - although more would give him a better quality of life now that he has covered his bases.
Sounds like I'm making this up. I'm not. I found this out in the space of a chat on a flight recently. It was quite enlightening. A soon-to-be expat, who is deliberately becoming one after attaining financial freedom. Quite the opposite to most - financial betterment is a major reason people move to the UAE.
Another trend he is bucking is this: while he has saved and diligently spent on life's building blocks, many of his millennial countryfolk are marching in the opposite direction, deciding to enjoy their money now over saving and investing for the future. This is according to research just out in the UK, which finds that two in five under-35s live for today because thrift is throttling them.
You can't blame them. This is generation debt, and not just in the UK. It affects them deeply. To the extent that 27 per cent of those questioned in the survey think there's little point in investing, because debt is unavoidable as they see it. These sentiments are echoed the world over. Last year Nielsen, a company that measures consumer behaviour among other things, surveyed 30,000 people to look at what it called global generational lifestyles. Its findings are that debt is a fact of life for four in 10 millennial respondents (44 per cent) - and many are worried about how they will pay the money owed. I'm sure the figures are increasingly worse today.
To sum up, the younger generation feels debt is unavoidable and that they must incur it to buy the things they want and need.
But they don't want to live like this: 83 per cent of those who took part in the UK survey agree that they will only get the things they want by working hard and saving up for them. Over two-thirds (67 per cent) are worried by the long-term consequences of failing to save and invest, and 92 per cent agree that this would enable them to have a secure financial future. This is heartbreaking - imagine knowing something and living every day not being able to do anything about it. Because you can't afford to. Unfortunately, I believe this applies to a growing number of UAE expats.
It's said that half of the UAE's expats (51 per cent) are of ages between 18 and 35, compared to a global average of only 37 per cent.
Many under-35s surveyed think they will never be debt-free. How many young people here believe the same, and in doing so, put the rest of their lives at risk? Spend now because there is no stake in tomorrow.
If you're a millennial with these sentiments, or if you're however old and in debt, please don't give up. Part of this is believing you have a future ahead of you - dreams, goals and things you want to do and experience. Save up for them. And start living again.
Remember the mindful millennial? He told me he's not splurging during his stint in the UAE. He has worked out what he's going to be doing in his spare time and spending sprees don't feature. He'll be saving as much as he can. Unfortunately we're not all as wise as he is - but I urge you, please don't give up. Save the dirhams. It will make a difference. One day.
Nima Abu Wardeh describes herself using three words: Person. Parent. Pupil. Each day she works out which one gets priority, sharing her journey on finding-nima.com.
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Millennials are misled by instant gratification
Living for today rather than tomorrow is a worrying financial philosophy adopted by many millennials. The solution is simple: save your money because one you will need it.
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