Dubai expat left stable job of 20 years — now his real estate venture is booming

Dubai: For Sunnyy Kumar Tyagi, life was about doing the right thing — work hard, save consistently, and stick to a stable job. That’s how he was raised. It’s also how he spent the better part of two decades, rising to leadership positions in the UAE’s corporate real estate world.

But in 2024, something changed.

“I had spent years helping others build their businesses,” he says. “Eventually, I realised I had the insight and experience to build something of my own.”

Today, Sunnyy runs Under One Roof, a real estate firm he founded from scratch. His move from corporate life to entrepreneurship wasn’t abrupt. In fact, it was years in the making.

Sunnyy’s turning point came after a series of successful stints growing and scaling real estate firms. In 2017, he spearheaded international roadshows for a major Dubai developer, pitching Dubai as a smarter, more accessible property market to global investors.

“We travelled to China, the US, and Europe,” he recalls. “Each country had its hurdles — daily withdrawal caps, high taxes — and I could clearly show how Dubai offered freedom, affordability and long-term value.”

He was later part of a boutique brokerage’s leadership team, which scaled to a Dh3 billion valuation before being acquired. “That experience of mentoring people, understanding customer psychology, and solving practical problems gave me the confidence to go solo,” he says.

Starting the firm wasn’t about flashy offices or aggressive recruitment. Instead of hiring hundreds of agents and hoping a handful succeed — the industry’s typical “Probability Model” — Sunnyy opted for a “Precision Model”: a lean, highly trained team focused on client-centric solutions.

“Real estate is personal. Every buyer or investor has a unique story. If you’re not listening first, you’re not solving anything.”

His team doesn’t push products. Instead, they create tailored plans based on the client’s long-term goals, whether it’s ROI, capital appreciation, or securing a family home.

Long before becoming an entrepreneur, Sunnyy was a disciplined saver — putting aside up to 60% of his income. But over time, he realised that saving alone wasn’t enough. He began investing 30% of his income, gradually moving from a budget-based mindset to one focused on growth.

“I had to unlearn the habit of hoarding money and start using it to hire better people, build infrastructure, and take calculated risks,” he explains. “My team has returned that investment many times over.”

He’s also applied this thinking to his own property investments. In one case, he flipped a luxury home within 10 days for a 10% profit, using the earnings as a down payment on his first Marina apartment — financed through a 90% mortgage. “I saw it as a proof of concept. If I could do it, so could my clients.”

Sunnyy’s approach to both business and investing is data-driven, practical, and deeply local. Here are some takeaways UAE residents might find useful:

For Sunnyy, wealth isn't about fast wins — it’s about building durable assets that support your life goals. “Real estate is powerful, but only if you treat it as a long-term game. It’s not about flipping for quick profits. It’s about choosing the right communities, understanding demand cycles, and staying ahead of the curve.”

His advice to anyone considering a similar leap?

“Don’t wait to feel ready. Most of what I needed, I learned while doing. But prepare well, listen to your customers, and invest in the right people — that’s where real growth happens.”

So whether you’re an expat considering your next investment or a long-time resident dreaming of going solo, Sunnyy’s journey shows that with insight, strategy and consistency, success in Dubai’s ever-evolving real estate market is not just possible — it’s scalable.