BY SHABANA FAROOQ, MANAGING PARTNER & COO, URBAN PROPERTIES
When I think about women succeeding in real estate, especially here in Dubai, it’s not just about jobs or deals it’s about heart, quiet strength, and genuine connections. There’s something powerful in how women listen : really listen, sensing what clients are feeling before they even find the words. That empathic touch builds trust that turns a client into a long term partner, someone who refers friends and comes back again.
Yes, there are real challenges. I’ve met women who felt dismissed in boardrooms, whose ideas were overlooked or credited to someone else, simply because they’re juggling family and career. They were told they’d never break through. And yet, faced with that pressure, they grew stronger. They learned to stand their ground with calm confidence, to prove their worth not by force, but by quiet determination and unwavering professionalism.
What draws so many women to real estate here is the flexibility, the chance to create a schedule that works for their lives, whether they’re a mom, an entrepreneur, or simply someone who values autonomy. And beyond the flexibility, there’s something liberating about building financial independence on your own terms: closing a deal, seeing the pride in a client’s eyes, and knowing that you helped them begin a new chapter.
There’s also beauty in the way women shape spaces, making them feel like homes, not just buildings. In every conversation, you’ll hear stories: the single mother finding a safe haven for her kids, the first-time buyer taking that exciting leap, women pooling their resources with friends, supporting each other to invest in their future.
I’ve seen the community that forms through this work: small circles of women supporting each other, offering emotional encouragement, sharing insights, and celebrating each hard-earned milestone. They’re not competing, they’re lifting Ωeach other up.
In Dubai’s fast paced real estate world, women are bringing an energy that’s compassionate, purposeful, and deeply human. It’s not just about closing deals, it’s about offering genuine advice, care, and connection. It’s about resilience: even when doors close, they find new paths. And it’s about leading not just in sales but in creating a workplace culture that values integrity, respect, and warmth.
If you’re a woman considering real estate, whether as an agent, investor, or simply someone curious, now this: your empathy matters. Your insight matters. Your story is unique and powerful. This industry needs more women who bring heart as much as hustle, So claim your place, not just in boardrooms or transaction ledgers, but in the culture of an industry you are helping redefine. Because when women lead with heart and hustle in real estate, they don’t just succeed—they transform the very landscape they serve.
