For him, success is built on resilience, patience, and the way you treat people throughout the journey.
Dubai: When Preet Vasudev first moved to Dubai, his stay was short-lived. He left the city just nine months after arriving in 2013, convinced it was not the right place for him.
For many, that would have been the end of the story. But in November 2016, he returned—marking a modest restart that ultimately became the foundation for everything that followed.
A second chance
Vasudev has described his return to Dubai as a deliberate decision to commit fully, even without knowing how things would unfold. The early months were challenging.
“The first six months were incredibly difficult. I didn’t have a driving licence, I was living in a shared apartment, and I was selling software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions at a time when restaurant technology was not widely adopted,” Vasudev told“My mindset was simple: I didn’t need everyone to trust me, I only needed a few people to take a chance. Once they did, everything else started falling into place.”
Moving fast
According to Vasudev, Dubai doesn’t allow people to stand still, but it also doesn’t reward noise—it rewards consistency.
“What made me stay was something unique about this city. Dubai rewards people who are patient, work hard, and conduct business with integrity. If you consistently show up, deliver on your promises, and act ethically, the city gives back in ways very few places do,” Vasudev said.
Still, he noted that the environment has never been predictable.
Each day meant pitching an idea that many people were not yet ready to accept. But instead of trying to convince everyone, he refined his focus and targeted the right audience.
“The biggest lesson Dubai taught me is resilience. Things move incredibly fast here. A supplier can disappear overnight, an employee can suddenly leave, and a business plan can shift within weeks.”
In such an environment, stability isn’t something you find—it’s something you learn to build within yourself.
“You quickly realise that setbacks are part of the journey, not the end of it. I’ve learnt to fail fast, adapt even faster, and never stay stuck,” he said.
And in a city that is constantly evolving, he believes one principle always holds true.
“No matter how successful you become, you can never afford to become complacent. The city keeps moving, and so must you.”
People come first
Over time, Vasudev said his definition of success has shifted beyond growth and results to focus more on people.
Today, his company, Varak, has sponsored visas for more than 35 employees, supports staff with their children’s education, and, whenever possible, helps connect their family members with job opportunities.
But for him, it is often the small gestures that matter most. In the kitchen, every delivery rider is offered a dessert and a bottle of water.
“It’s a small gesture, but it’s our way of recognising the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the city moving,” Vasudev said.
For him, such moments have always been deliberate and intentional.
“The greatest contribution any employer can make is treating people with dignity. Creating a workplace where every individual feels respected, heard, and valued has always been more important to us than simply growing the business.”
Starting again
For him, the UAE offers a rare opportunity for people to restart and rebuild.
“The UAE gives people the opportunity to build at a pace that’s hard to find anywhere else. If you have a strong product, work hard, and execute consistently, you can build relationships with customers, investors, and partners in a relatively short period of time,” Vasudev said.
But beyond business, he added, it is the people who make the real difference.
“The diversity of people in the UAE also creates significant opportunities to learn from different cultures, industries, and perspectives. It is one of the few places where someone can arrive with very little, build a network from scratch, and create something meaningful within a few years.”
A lesson worth carrying forward
For those arriving in Dubai with big ambitions, Vasudev emphasises that there is no such thing as “overnight success.”
“Come prepared to work harder than you’ve ever worked before, be patient, and earn trust one relationship at a time. This city owes no one anything, but if you are honest, consistent, and willing to keep showing up even when things are difficult, the opportunities are endless,” Vasudev said.
Looking back, he doesn’t describe his journey as a traditional success story. Instead, he sees it as something quieter and more enduring.
It is a reminder that in a fast-moving city, it is not only what you build that defines you, but how you build it—and, more importantly, how you treat the people you meet along the way.
