My Dubai Salary: ‘I started on Dh250 a month and now earn Dh66,000 a year as a partner'

Ajab Ali invests in training courses to upskill herself and in gold to secure her son’s future

Ajab Ali, head of marketing and public relations and a partner at BrooksMe, is debt-free and manages her finances prudently. Pawan Singh / The National

Ajab Ali, an Indian national in the UAE, graduated in computer science and software development from the University of Wollongong in Dubai during the global financial crisis in 2008.

With information technology jobs drying up, she decided against working for a multinational firm and instead to look for employment with a growing company.

After a sabbatical, Ms Ali, who was raised in the Emirates, started working remotely for Brooks Group, a management consultancy and company formation firm in Dubai, in 2019. She has risen up the ranks to become a partner in one of their divisions.

She is also their creative director and oversees social media and website content, as well as implementing strategies for digital marketing and brand growth.

Ms Ali has a master’s in international business, an honours degree in research writing and wishes to pursue a PhD.

She lives in Al Mamzar, Sharjah, with her husband, who works in the retail industry, and their six-year-old son.

What was your first job and salary?

My first gig was an internship with a South African company at Dubai Airport Free Zone, where I earned Dh4,000 ($1,089). It was enough to keep me fuelled with shawarmas and dreams!

Tell us about your current role. What is your salary now?

I started off in the marketing department of BrooksMe with a humble monthly salary of Dh250 five years ago. Today, I'm the head of marketing and public relations and a partner in one of the divisions, so technically, I don’t get a salary any more – I get a slice of the pie. Partners don’t get salaries; we do 50 per cent of business partnerships.

BrooksMe is a management firm, a company set-up firm and provides digital marketing solutions and accounting, book-keeping and tax services. We are based in Business Bay in Dubai and have a branch office in Sharjah. We have a global presence in Pakistan, Africa, the UK and China.

I had a long career gap because of multiple personal and health reasons. My business partners, Hozefa Saifuddin and Mazahir Kaizar, have been very supportive and approached me in November 2019 to start working remotely. I started on a salary of Dh250 and today I earn approximately $18,000 (Dh66,000) annually.

Do you manage to save? What asset classes do you invest in?

Saving in the UAE? That’s like trying to keep ice from melting in the desert.

Instead of focusing on assets, I’ve picked up a tip from my partners – I invest in education. So, whenever I get the chance, I splurge on training courses. Knowledge is my real asset.

I have ancestral gold, which I don’t plan to sell. Also, on my son’s birthday every year, I buy a gold coin, whatever I can afford, whether it's two grams or five grams, for his future.

Have you purchased property here or in your home country?

I haven’t made any new property purchases. I’m lucky enough to have ancestral property – so you could say I’m living off the family legacy.

Do you have any debt?

No, I’m as debt-free as a bird soaring through a clear blue sky. I achieved this status thanks to my financial advisers at BrooksMe – they’ve helped me navigate my finances smoothly and remain free of debt as much as possible.

It’s all about flying high with a solid strategy and a lot of good advice. I have one credit card, try to keep my bills to a minimum and pay for all my expenses using cash.

Have you ever inherited a sum of money?

Sadly, no hidden treasure chests have come my way yet. Still waiting for that surprise windfall from a long-lost relative.

Growing up, were you taught how to handle your finances?

Yes, my parents gave me a crash course in financial management early on. We had to stretch our pocket money to last the whole month – talk about learning the art of budgeting.

Now, I’m still picking up new tricks from the financial wizards I’m surrounded by.

What are your major monthly expenses?

It’s a trifecta of school fees, Salik and our nanny. With all the toll gates around, it feels like Salik is a monthly subscription.

Have you started saving for retirement? At what age do you wish to retire?

Absolutely! I’m saving for retirement, but here’s the twist – I’m not planning to retire until BrooksMe hits the billion-dollar mark.

But retirement isn’t really my style. I want to keep my mind and body buzzing with energy for as long as I’m around. To me, retirement is like hitting the snooze button on life, and I’m not about that.

Ajab Ali credits her business partners, from left, Saleem Shahid, Hozefa Saifuddin and Mazahir Kaizar for helping her navigate financial decisions. Pawan Singh / The National

What do you spend your disposable income on?

With the cost of living in the UAE, disposable income is more like a unicorn – magical, but rarely seen.

Do you worry about money?

Not really. I've got brilliant mentors who have my back, so I know I can navigate any financial maze with confidence.

I believe that no matter what happens, I will find a way to make it work.

What are your best money-saving hacks to offset inflation?

With inflation creeping up at around 3 per cent to 4 per cent annually, I like to play it smart. I stash my money in an account that earns 4 per cent to 5 per cent interest.

It’s like giving my cash a little workout to keep up with inflation – because if my money’s not growing, it’s just sitting there getting lazy.

What are your short-term and long-term financial goals?

Short term, I’m aiming to double my income so I can stash away more cash. Long term, I dream of setting up my company [BrooksMe] so smoothly that it practically runs itself.

Imagine a business that’s like a well-oiled machine, cranking out income with minimal effort while I sit back and enjoy the view.

What is your idea of financial freedom?

It's like having a golden ticket to life's adventure park – where I get to ride the roller coasters of opportunity, skip the lines of financial stress, and enjoy the view from the top without worrying about the next drop.

It’s about making choices based on passion, not pay cheque, and living every day like it's a thrilling, well-budgeted adventure.

Do you want to be featured in My Salary, a weekly column that explores how people around the world manage their earnings? Write to [e-mail] to share your story