Brazilian Maria Pavani launched Dubai-based brand Tres Marias Coffee Company in 2019 after a decade as a coffee specialist, including judging competitions globally.
Her company specialises in producing environmentally conscious coffee from beans sourced around the world.
Now 31, Ms Pavani became a barista in 2009 while studying in Portugal. In Brazil, her interest grew before taking a head barista role in Dubai in 2013. She later became general manager of the region’s first speciality roaster.
Tres Marias also produces plant-based milks for baristas in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar, with other territories and retail planned.
When they married, we had our own house. We started having problems and by the time I was eight; they had to sell.
My father was a journalist and local TV presenter, my mum got a scholarship to do her masters and PhD when I was 12 and went to Portugal.
My father was fighting to bring food to the table. It was a struggle.
From very early, I understood I had to work, build my life and fight for what I really want.
How much did your first job pay?
I was 16, my father helped me to get a part-time job at the traffic department, combined with high school.
I would work four hours per day and get (equivalent today) Dh350 ($95) per month. I was able to have credit on my phone, get my first mobile.
My friends were doing other stuff, because most didn’t work. I knew I had to because I wanted to buy my own stuff. Starting work early on gave me an advantage.
What led you to Dubai?
A friend working in a hotel who was hiring a head barista. I wanted to travel, but knew in Brazil it would be much harder. My only option was finding a job abroad.
When I came to Dubai, the industry for speciality coffee was just starting. I saw an opportunity to create my career.
I always wanted my own business. I knew the first step was becoming a coffee professional, respected here but also in the coffee community worldwide.
For that, I had to travel a lot and do certifications. Travelling the world for barista championships and exhibitions gave me good insight.
So you invested in professional growth?
It was the most valuable thing I have done. It was clear the path I had to walk to achieve what I wanted, but at that time, the profession was low paid, so I took loans and had credit cards funding my certifications. You have to pay for plane tickets, hotels, a week of food.
I’ve cleared my debts now, but many times it was a lot of pressure, especially during Covid, running my business — you prioritise your team rather than yourself.
But tough and good situations come and go, so we must find balance and focus on the bigger picture.
Do you manage to save?
Not at the moment, but 2023 is time to start a new financial phase in my life.
Acquiring my own apartment in Dubai is part of the plan, and creating a savings account for emergencies. I have some savings, but I don’t save regularly right now because my priority was to clear debts.
I’m not hungry for newest stuff, a bag or shoes. I use everything until I cannot use it anymore
Maria Pavani, founder of Tres Marias Coffee Company
I learnt how to live with the basics. I’m not hungry for the newest stuff, a bag or shoes. I use everything until I cannot use it any more.
Any cherished spends?
I went to Brazil after four years and dad was in a tough situation, unable to pay rent for months, so I purchased an apartment and put my father there without rent. Today, it is fully paid.
I was only able to do that because I grew my career.
When I left Brazil the first time, my dream was to acquire a house for my family. I didn’t see it as “I’m buying real estate”.
At that time, I was 26 or 27 and it was not like a choice. But it is a big part of my journey — my hard work in Dubai was being realised.
Now, I have different dreams.
What else have you put money into?
I bought a beach house owned by my grandmother. She passed away during Covid.
As kids, we would go there during summer vacations. It is special for me and I would like to one day rebuild that connection we had as a family through these memories.
I work to become better myself, but also to give more stability to my family and, at some point, start spending more time with them.
Maria Pavani loves spending on good food, her family and travel. Antonie Robertson / The National
How else did the pandemic affect you?
We grew the business three times in the first year of the pandemic. A lot of people were at home, we had a website, were delivering a lot of orders, selling coffee kits for home. We turned the downstairs of my villa into my factory, packing coffee.
It was a great moment for us to come out with the brand because everybody was in front of their phones or their computers.
How do you feel about money?
It doesn’t really impress me. I never did anything I do for money — it was always for a better life.
Of course, money is needed and without it, I couldn’t do what I did and want to do into my 40s, 50s, 60s.
I came from a humble family that gave me great values based on the essential things in life.
Money is a tool that allows me to stay true to what I love, but it’s not what will rule my life.
What do you enjoy spending on?
Good food. I love to go to a nice restaurant, but not because I want to show that I have the money to eat there.
And family … whenever I can, I bring them to visit me. Also, I love to travel.
Any financial choices you would change?
When things started to get a bit more comfortable for me financially in Dubai, I decided I wanted a bigger home, so moved to a townhouse.
But I was paying a lot of money and would barely spend time there because I was working and doing sports.
I had to remind myself to think smarter and use this money to do something else. I don’t regret it because I learnt from that. Today, I live in a small apartment.
What are your future financial goals?
To have more properties and I have been studying different types of investments, for example, blockchain and digital coins.
Sometimes I go to workshops. I’m not the type of person to do things unless I’m 100 per cent sure.
I would love to be part of start-ups. Having my brand succeed would make me confident to guide other entrepreneurs that have the same dreams. That could be a potential way to invest.
My goal is to make Tres Marias a global brand and find more ways to keep growing my wealth, making sure that when I’m 40, I’m able to retire if I want to.
THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood. Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues. Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity. Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
