What's it really like to leave everything behind and start over in Dubai – with your husband, your kids, and a business to build from scratch?
In this episode of Dubai Diary, I sat down with Mya – a UK-born entrepreneur and mum of two. Her journey has taken her from Leicester to London, from Singapore to Dubai. Over 14 years in Singapore, she built a successful stain-resistant furniture brand with her husband Manoj, became a mum, and cultivated a fiercely loyal online following through honest, often hilarious content.
Then, with no plan and zero prep, they took a leap and moved to Dubai.
From Telesales to Singapore: Where It All Began
Mya graduated with a mathematics degree in 2008 – right into the recession. Investment banking dreams gave way to telesales in London.
"You can't beat telesales though, right? What a great place to start. If you ask me now, I'd definitely put my kids in that kind of job."
At 22, she was offered a position in Singapore to turn around a failing team. She said yes before the CEO even finished his sentence.
The Culture Shock
Moving from London to Singapore was a huge adjustment:
- British banter fell flat – sarcasm didn't translate. When a team member arrived late and Mya said "nice of you to join us," they replied "thank you"
- Food was different – chickens hung with heads on, ducks with feet. Not the neat Tesco packaging she was used to
- Cultural norms – Singapore is more conservative. You don't interfere in others' business the way Brits might
Finding Love: The Dumpling Date
After a year in Singapore with zero dating prospects ("I wasn't really the type for the majority of people in Singapore"), Mya was about to move back to London. Then she met Manoj at a networking event.
"It was one of those moments where you meet someone and can talk for eight hours straight and it feels like a few minutes. We even talked about adoption on our first conversation."
The next day, he took her to a temple. Six months later, he proposed. They've been married 11 years with two kids.
Building Bless Brothers: From Tiny Showroom to Three Storeys
Mya was climbing the corporate ladder in banking and finance, but kept butting heads with management.
"I was too quick, too impatient. In corporate, there's layers and barriers. If I felt something would work better, I wanted it implemented instantly. People kept telling me to slow down."
Meanwhile, Manoj talked about starting his own business every single day. Mya finally told him to just do it.
The MBA Mindset
"Pretend you're doing an MBA," Mya told him. "What's the worst that could happen? You learn a lot, lose some money – that's what would happen with an MBA anyway. Except you don't end up with a business at the end."
He quit. They started the business. Then COVID hit.
Plot twist: Furniture was one of the few industries that boomed during COVID.
The Starting Showroom
Their first showroom was about 5x5 meters. Two bits of furniture and maybe a bed.
"Looking back at those photos, it's so delusional. Ex-colleagues asked why I was quitting banking for that. We just believed in ourselves."
Six years later: a three-storey gallery in Singapore, loyal repeat customers, and an expansion to Dubai.
Growing Through Content (Without Trying)
Bless Brothers' secret weapon? Founder-led content that makes people laugh.
The Ice Kachang Moment
One day, no one came to the showroom. Manoj was depressed. They went for dessert – he had durian ice kachang (shaved ice with that notoriously smelly fruit). Mya filmed him eating it, looking miserable.
The next day, customers came in and asked: "How was that ice kachang last night?"
That's when the penny dropped.
"The more real-life content we did, the more our furniture sales grew. If you ask me what I do, I say I run an entertainment business. We entertain customers every day. Selling furniture is just what happens off the back of that."
Viral Numbers
- 61 million views on one video (organic)
- 18 million views on another
- People they hadn't spoken to in years reaching out from around the world
- ~150,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook
Manoj gets recognized by his face. Mya gets recognized by her voice.
"I was in a lift and said 'level 14 please.' The lady turned around and said 'Oh my god, it's Maya from Bless Brothers.' My voice. Not my face."
The Real Truth About Working With Your Spouse
This is where it gets honest.
Different Strengths
- Manoj: Operations, logistics, pricing, accounts, relationship building ("He made two phone calls and two people quit their jobs to join him. I can't think of a single person who'd do that for me.")
- Mya: Marketing, strategy, growth, creativity, content
The Price of Success
"Would I do it again? Parts of me some days think I wouldn't. Other times I'm so grateful for what we've built. The success came at a price – showing him sides of me that maybe aren't so attractive."
Work-Mya is different from Wife-Mya. She's more assertive, wants things done immediately, gets frustrated when things move slowly. Manoj is more laid-back, more relaxed.
"He saw parts of me that threw him off. I didn't have to be assertive in our marriage before – we worked so well together. But in business, I was like 'Come on, this needs to be done.'"
When You're Married, Feedback Hits Different
If a colleague makes a mistake, you deliver criticism carefully. When it's your spouse?
"It's like 'Are you dumb? What were you thinking?' Because we're so open with each other, you say things you'd never say to a colleague. But it hurts more coming from your spouse."
After six years, they've calibrated. Mya knows when to hold back. Manoj knows when to speed up. But it took work.
The Big Move to Dubai – With No Plan
Revenue in Singapore became stable. Predictable. For Mya, that meant: what's next?
Why Not the UK?
Mya was homesick. 14 years away from England. But Manoj researched expanding there and said absolutely not – taxes, cost of doing business, the tax man takes everything.
Why Dubai?
- Manoj loves Dubai (connected through import/export business)
- Closer to customers in Africa
- 7 hours from England, 7 hours from Singapore – perfect middle ground
- Low taxes, great for entrepreneurs
Mya's initial hesitation: "I always thought Dubai was quite pretentious. I love nature, greenery, even drizzle in the English countryside."
But they made the decision quickly. No preparation. Just jumped.
"We didn't plan our move to Dubai – we just booked the flights and figured it out later. That's just how we live our life. If it doesn't work, we'll move back to Singapore."
Setting Up in Dubai: The Reality Check
What's Similar to Singapore
- Ease of setting up a business
- Low taxes
- Great environment for entrepreneurs
What's Very Different
The biggest culture shock: things don't get done unless you micromanage.
In Singapore, contractors say it'll take X weeks, and it takes X weeks (give or take). In Dubai, they say X weeks and six months later it's still not done.
"The biggest difference between Singapore and Dubai? In Dubai, you have to micromanage everything."
The Sleeping Contractors Story
Mya and Manoj pulled up to their showroom during renovation. The workers were asleep on the ground. The moment they saw the car, they grabbed the nearest paintbrush and started painting.
Did they say anything? No. They just pretended they didn't see it.
"We're just not confrontational like that. But we learned – you have to be on top of things here. A neighbor was sleeping at the hotel across the road just to supervise his renovation."
Female Founder in Dubai
The energy is contagious:
"Everyone's hustling. Everyone's trying to make it. You talk to female entrepreneurs and feel buzzing afterwards. It's happening every day – always something to go to, people to meet."
But there are adjustments:
- In some meetings, people address Manoj instead of Mya
- Rather than getting upset, she adapts: "I'm here now. I've got to adjust to Dubai rather than people adjusting to me."
Raising Kids in a "Bubble"
One thing that concerns Mya: her kids grew up in Singapore and now Dubai – two of the safest places in the world. They're not street smart.
"Our kids were born in a bubble. I worry they don't have street smarts – that's on us now."
Example: Visiting grandma in the UK, her son saw a hockey stick in the bedroom. "What's that for?" Grandma: "To protect myself if anyone comes in." His face dropped. He had no idea people lived like that.
In Singapore, you can walk around with your bag unzipped. In the UK, you need your wits about you.
Advice for Families Moving to Dubai
| Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| Secure a job first | At least one of you. Cost of living is high – schools, housing adds up fast |
| Don't expect quick jobs | Some friends took a year to find work. The interview process is slow |
| If you're an entrepreneur | Go for it. The growth culture is amazing. Everyone's hustling |
| If you're single | Maybe come without a job and find one here |
| If you're a family | Get things in order first |
Advice for Starting a Business in Dubai
"You don't need to be loud in Dubai – but you do need to be seen."
Key takeaways:
- Human connection matters – founder-led content builds loyalty
- Be visible – there's so much competition, you need to stand out
- Be authentic – whatever comes naturally (humor, educational content, behind-the-scenes), lean into it
- Plan your positioning – in furniture, prices range from hundreds to $50,000. Where are you placing yourself?
What Mya's Most Proud Of
Not the revenue. Not the three-storey showroom. Not the viral videos.
"The day someone called me just to say my content got them through the week… I knew we were doing something right."
A woman called the Singapore showroom to say: "I've got a kid with autism. It's been really difficult. When I watch your content, it helps me get through the day."
Messages like:
- "I was watching your video on the train and had to get off because I couldn't stop laughing"
- "Your content kept me going"
- "You've made a difference in my life"
"Those moments mean way more to me than the business success. That's what motivates me to keep filming even when we're tired."
Where to Find Bless Brothers
If you're in Dubai and need high-quality, affordable furniture (stain-resistant, kid-proof, life-proof), check out Bless Brothers.
Follow their journey on Instagram and TikTok – you'll laugh, you'll learn, and you might just end up with a new sofa.
Thinking about making the move to Dubai? Take my neighbourhood quiz to find the right area for your family, or check out the relocation package if you want hands-on help with the whole process.
From one expat family to another – you've got this. ❤️