Essex British expat in Dubai explains how he became a multimillionaire | Travel News | Travel
An estimated two and half million expats live in the tiny Middle Eastern oasis. Many British expats have travelled there to make their fortune.
In episode two, viewers were introduced to the lavish lifestyle of millionaire estate agent, Paul.
Paul swapped his nightclub management job in Essex for a life in Dubai and is now a property tycoon.
He said: “We live in an autocratic state with a benevolent dictator but it benefits me and that’s only how I can see things.
“The lifestyle we can offer the children growing up is just something that you can’t really get anywhere else.”
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Paul had paid just under £800,000 for his beachside property in 2005 but it’s now valued at £2.2 million.
The millionaire works in the property industry and now runs one of the city’s largest estate agents.
None of Paul’s agents are paid a salary but can earn a fortune in commission. For every million pounds worth of property sold, agents took home around £20,000.
Paul said: “They don’t sell, they don’t earn. So there’s pressure on.” He gets a cut from every sale and doesn’t stand for “slackers”.
One agent struggling to sell was Nadia, a Mexican expat who was on the verge of having to borrow money from family back home.
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She said: “When we came to look at our villa, the estate agent told us that David and Victoria Beckham rented the villa when David was on the way to do the World Cup in Japan.
“And so we have a bit of fun saying that David and Victoria have been in our shower and stuff.”
Although Gaynor grew up in Stoke in Trent she now lives in Emirates Hills, one of Dubai’s most desirable areas. She said: “It’s a very exclusive area, it’s a gated community, ultra private, because of the residents that live here.”
The pampered expat had a team of Filipino staff catering to her every need. Gaynor employed a nanny, a private chef, a housekeeper and a driver.
Gaynor said: “Our staff, they all live here with us. I’d like to think that we treat our staff really well. Everything’s included, they get all their food here and whatever they want really.”
The minimum wage in Dubai is about 1,500 dirhams (£300) per month but Gaynor said she paid her staff a “lot more”.
She said: “They want to be here, they’re really happy to be here. It’s a good arrangement I think.”
Once Gaynor returned to Jersey her chef, Hazel, and housekeeper, Anita, got a well-earned day off and went to a Filipino restaurant.
Hazel shared that she worked in Dubai to support her son, who was back in the Philippines.
She said: “I am doing this so he will have a better life than me.” She can only see her son once a year.
