Kabir Joshi's journey from street-selling perfume in the US to becoming CEO of a major UAE property investment and real estate development firm, advising on transactions worth Dh1.5 billion, is nothing short of remarkable. "Dubai is now in my veins. I cannot imagine returning to live anywhere else, not even my home country," stated Kabir Joshi, founder and CEO of Vantage Capital and Vantage Properties.
Joshi is among the thousands of UAE residents who have made significant impacts in their fields after moving to Dubai, the land of opportunities. "Dubai has offered me opportunities that no other country could. I firmly believe that," he shared with Khaleej Times in an interview.
Born into a middle-class family with a military father, Joshi's childhood was marked by frequent relocations. "Every 13-14 months, we moved to a new city, necessitating leaving old friends and making new ones." Joshi moved to the US at a young age, attending the University of Central Florida. During a visit to India while still a student, he suffered a severe accident that left his right arm paralyzed. He underwent extensive medical treatment and completed his degree remotely from Punjab, India.
Upon returning to the US, Joshi found little value in his three-year Bachelor’s degree. He began selling perfumes in a Chicago parking lot, later moving to Washington DC and joining a call center, which led to a position at the Federal Emergency Management Authority. His exposure to real estate came through underwriting flood insurance for the sector in a US firm and later at a brokerage, sparking his interest in the Dubai property market after attending a property show in New York in 2003.
In 2004, after his wedding in India, Joshi explored Dubai and joined Dubai Holding’s sales team, propelling him into the Dubai property market. He later launched Vantage Capital Advisory in 2019, focusing on family offices and financial institutions, and in 2023, he started Vantage Properties, currently developing properties worth about Dh370 million.
Joshi's career has had several turning points, including his perspective shift while heading a real estate unit for a local bank, which taught him to balance risk-taking with risk aversion. Personally, his near-death experience in India gave him the confidence to face life without fear.
Joshi attributes much of his success to moving to Dubai and working with Dubai Holding. "I've been here for 20 years, and there's not a single thing I can complain about," he said. Advising brokers and young entrepreneurs, Joshi emphasizes the importance of focus and perseverance in career and business.
