“An expat who arrived in Dubai by boat in 1967 has spent 58 years living in the UAE, sharing his remarkable journey and experiences over nearly six decades.”
“Expat Shares Journey: Arrived in Dubai by Boat in 1967 and Has Lived in UAE for 58 Years”
“He would recall how they constantly altered the sails to match the wind’s direction. At times, the sea lay tranquil; at others, it raged fiercely. Yet, it was hope that carried them forward.”
“When the dhow at last reached the Omani shoreline, he dove into the water. ‘I was wearing just a lungi and a shirt, both drenched,’ he recalled with a faint smile. ‘I had to twist them with my hands to squeeze out the water before putting them back on.’”
From Dibba Al Baya, they were driven part of the way by van to the Oman–UAE border and then walked for hours to reach Khorfakkan. ‘We didn’t know exactly where we were going, only that this promised new opportunities,’ he remembered. There, he noticed a truck loaded with watermelons. ‘I bought a ride and jumped on—that’s how I made it to Sharjah,’ he said.”
When he reached the UAE, the country was still in its early days. Roads were unpaved, with only sandy paths linking Deira to Rolla in Sharjah. ‘Back home, people said the land seemed empty, but that it held hidden wealth beneath the sand. Everyone believed the desert had secrets waiting to be discovered,’ he recalled.
Upon arriving in Sharjah, he stayed with a friend who worked at a small grocery owned by an Emirati. ‘The shopkeeper always welcomed anyone in need. That spirit of generosity—that’s something I still see in Emiratis today,’ he said with deep respect.”
His first employment was as an assistant to a plumber, an African man named Mugeni. He earned five Qatar Dubai Rials a day but quickly realized the job wasn’t for him. “My hands would sweat constantly, and I couldn’t hold the tools properly. After a week, he told me to take a few days off—I didn’t understand then that it actually meant I was fired,” he chuckled. “Still, he paid me for twenty days, a total of 100 Qatar Dubai Rials. That was my very first salary in the Trucial States.”
Kunhu Mohamed tried his hand at various jobs—making fishing baskets, milking cows, and washing utensils. “I never refused any work. I believed that if I stayed sincere, Allah would always guide me to the next opportunity,” he said.
His hard work soon caught attention. “While cleaning utensils one day, I noticed my employer’s car was dirty. I washed it, polished it, and even burned bukhoor inside. He was impressed and raised my salary by 100 Qatar Dubai Rials, though I also took on the responsibility of maintaining the car,” he recalled. “That experience taught me a lesson: when you do more than what’s expected, people remember you.”
Eventually, he was entrusted with tending the family’s garden, using a mix of cow dung and wood ash as fertilizer. “The flowers bloomed beautifully,” he said. “It was the first time I truly felt proud of the work I had done.”
A major shift in his life happened when a friend connected him with Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the then Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. “I started working as a driver in the Sheikh’s household. I knew the basics of driving, but the sight of the Mercedes intimidated me,” he recalled. “I eased it into reverse very slowly, and that’s how I learned to handle it.”
Kunhu Mohamed served the Sheikh’s household for four years. “They always treated me with respect, and I learned the importance of trust and being responsible,” he reflected. During this period, he started selling vegetables from the Sheikh’s farm at the local market. “Because I kept my accounts accurate, I was given more freedom to trade. That’s how my business began—small, honest, and growing steadily.”
In 1972, he formally launched his business, Jaleel Traders, which eventually grew into Jaleel Holdings. With the Sheikh’s support, he purchased his first vehicle to carry goods. “He believed in me even when I couldn’t afford it. I’ve never forgotten that trust,” he recalled.
Jaleel Holdings expanded from a small food trading outlet in Al Ras, Dubai, into a leading group distributing fresh produce and FMCG products to retail stores, hotels, and restaurants. Today, the company has over 1,700 employees.
When I began in Al Ras, there were just thirteen traders—two Indians, a handful of Lebanese and Palestinians, and a few Iranians. Dubai was a very different place back then; everyone knew each other,” he recalled.
He remembers making 200 Qatar Dubai Rials while his driver received 350 Qatar Dubai Rials. “I always reserved a portion of my earnings for charitable work,” he said. “That practice has remained with me, regardless of whether I had a lot or very little.”
As his business developed, he branched out to the fish market, then to Hamriya, and eventually Awir. Along the journey, he experienced both success and setbacks. “I once suffered a loss in the Hamriya market and had to sell my properties back home to recover,” he recalled. “But setbacks never frightened me—they only showed me how much progress I had already made.”
Kunhu Mohamed didn’t just create a business—he fostered a way of working. “My advice to anyone coming to Dubai is straightforward: earn trust,” he said. “Look after your employees as if they were family. I make it a point to check on everyone’s wellbeing, and if I can’t speak to them personally, I follow up through HR.”
He has one principle he strictly follows—never postpone paying a worker’s wages. “The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, ‘Give the worker his pay before his sweat dries.’ That has always guided my actions,” he said.
Even at 79, Kunhu Mohamed continues to visit the office every day. “Not for the work,” he chuckled, “but to connect with my team. Seeing and talking to them brings me joy.”
He splits his time between Dubai and India, spending about two months in each location. His mornings start with yoga, while his evenings are often reserved for peaceful reflection. “Whenever I see the skyline today, I think back to the dusty road that once ran between Deira and Rolla. It’s a reminder of how much this country—and all of us—have progressed,” he said.
He has three sons—Sameer, Dr. Zakir, and Abdul Gafoor—with two actively involved in the business, and all three serving on the board. Dr. Zakir works as a consultant surgeon and is the regional medical director at NMC Healthcare. The company carries the name of his younger brother, Jaleel, whom he calls his good luck. “He has been a true blessing for me and our family,” he said.
Despite all his success, his humility has never wavered. “When I arrived here, I had nothing but faith,” he said, his voice softening with recollection. “I never imagined I would reach this point. It is only by Allah’s will that I am where I am today.”
He pauses, gazing again at the sea—the very same waters he crossed nearly sixty years ago.
“Every time I look at the Arabian Sea, I think of the day I plunged into it wearing nothing but a single set of clothes. Everything that came after… felt like destiny.”
