Dubai has the unique ability to captivate hearts, and this is precisely what occurred for Lebanese national Mohamad El Kurdi and his German wife, Fiona Erdmann, making their decision to venture into business here an obvious choice. They established FNM Properties, concentrating on the off-plan property market. The company offers services such as direct developer sales, rental management, and property resale.
“Dubai has provided the ideal setting for our journey, both personally and professionally. It’s where we met and decided to embark on this thrilling venture together as husband and wife. The city’s vibrant atmosphere and boundless opportunities made it the perfect place for us to launch our business and construct our future,” Mohamad explained.
Born and raised in Saudi Arabia, Mohamad has resided in Dubai for over 13 years. The 33-year-old father of two, who is passionate about football and gym workouts, left his corporate career three years ago to establish his marketing agency and real estate business. Meanwhile, Fiona, a 35-year-old German celebrity and model, has called Dubai home since 2017.
“The UAE has played a crucial role in my success. It provides peace of mind and safety, allowing me to concentrate on my work without interruptions. The diversity here has also been incredibly enriching, exposing me to various cultures, ideas, and business practices,” Mohamad noted.
As a family business, building personal and trustworthy relationships with clients is paramount to the couple. Since launching FNM Properties, they have assisted numerous clients, focusing on the off-plan property market. “We’ve already developed strong connections with many developers. At FNM Properties, we take pride in our expertise, commitment, and exceptional customer service, helping our clients achieve their property objectives and fulfill their dreams,” Fiona stated.
“The UAE’s rapidly expanding economy and business-friendly environment have created endless opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation. The combination of these factors has fostered the perfect environment for us to grow both personally and professionally,” she added.
Mohamad arrived in the UAE in 2011, and from the outset, the idea of establishing his own businesses was always on his mind. “My plan was to purchase an apartment, secure an investor visa, and then start working hard to build businesses and startups. For me, this is just the beginning — there’s still a long road ahead and many more goals to accomplish,” he said.
Mohamad credits his entrepreneurial drive to his father and mentors. “My father has been a significant influence on my entrepreneurial aspirations. While he faced numerous challenges as an employee, witnessing him navigate those difficulties inspired me to take a different path. I wanted to push myself, take risks, and step outside the conventional employment route by starting my own business. His experiences taught me the importance of resilience, but I chose to embrace entrepreneurship to create my own opportunities and challenges.”
Mohamad’s mentors, who are senior leaders in firms he’s worked with, include Jamie Atherton, the current MD/CEO of Yazle Media; Damian Murphy, now Sales Director at Intren; Moustafa Mahmoud, former CEO at Cognitev and now founder of Camlist; and Dimitris Tsoukalas, former managing director of Project Agora and current co-founder at Serfers.
“Each mentor had a distinct and mostly positive impact on my business skills. Some pushed me out of my comfort zone, while others taught me the dynamics of fast-paced and lean startups,” he added. “I also gained valuable insights into Western business practices and experienced healthy work environments, which shaped my leadership style,” said Mohamad.
“Interestingly, I also had one negative experience with a challenging manager, but even that helped me grow. It pushed me to challenge myself and pursue my own business. I likely wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t gone through both the positive and negative experiences,” he concludes.
