By Staff Reporter
Dubai: Every success story has a defining moment. For entrepreneur Anas Abdul Latheef, that moment came in 2014 with a simple phone call to his mother.
He needed just Dh350.
Today, the amount may seem insignificant, but at the time it represented an obstacle that stood between him and an opportunity that could change his future. His young technology startup, Hash Include, wanted to bid for a government project, but first he needed to purchase the official tender document. Without it, there was no chance of competing.
With no money available, he called his mother in India and explained the situation. Without hesitation, she lent him the Dh350 he desperately needed.
More than a decade later, Latheef still remembers that conversation.
“Looking back, that Dh350 was probably the best investment my mother ever made,” he says with a smile.
What followed was not an overnight success story, but a journey of determination, sacrifice, and faith—one that reflects the dreams of thousands of expatriates who come to the UAE seeking a better future.
A Dream That Started Early
Long before he became an entrepreneur, the UAE had already left a lasting impression on Latheef.
As a child, he spent part of his early years in the Emirates with his parents before eventually returning to India. Yet even after leaving, the country remained in his thoughts.
“I always knew I wanted to come back and build my future here,” he recalls. “There was an energy and ambition in the UAE that was impossible to ignore.”
While many saw headlines about towering skyscrapers and rapid development, Latheef saw something deeper—a nation where people from different cultures and backgrounds could build new lives through hard work and determination.
Armed with a university degree and big dreams, he returned to Dubai in 2008.
Reality, however, was far from easy.
He arrived without influential connections, wealthy investors, or a ready-made network. Like countless expatriates before him, he had to start from scratch.
Learning the UAE Way
Latheef began his career as a software engineer, immersing himself in projects that exposed him to different industries and clients across the country.
Those early years taught him more than technical skills. They taught him how the UAE operates.
He discovered a business environment where expectations were high, competition was fierce, and success belonged to those willing to deliver results.
One project in particular shaped his professional mindset forever. While working on an event platform for the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, he and his team were given what seemed like an impossible deadline: complete the project in just one week.
Many would have doubted it could be done.
But they delivered.
“There is no room for excuses in those environments,” Latheef says. “You either deliver or you don’t.”
The experience taught him one of the most important lessons of his career: in the UAE, ideas are valuable, but execution is everything.
The Challenge of Earning Trust
Building a technology company brought a new set of challenges.
Hash Include was a small startup competing against larger and more established firms. Winning projects wasn’t simply about having the best solution—it was about convincing clients to trust a young company with ambitious goals.
“We were competing against organisations with bigger teams, larger budgets, and stronger reputations,” he recalls.
Adding to the challenge was his own background.
Unlike many business founders, Latheef came from technology rather than sales.
“I had to learn how to communicate value, build relationships, and earn confidence,” he explains.
The process was slow and often difficult.
Every opportunity had to be earned.
Every successful project had to be delivered flawlessly.
Every relationship required patience and consistency.
There were no shortcuts.
Over time, trust became the company’s greatest asset, helping Hash Include grow from a small startup into a respected technology firm.
Success Is About People
Despite his achievements in technology, Latheef insists that business has never been primarily about software, systems, or innovation.
For him, success has always been about people.
“Technology is ultimately about people, not systems,” he says.
He draws inspiration from talented individuals in every field—engineers, entrepreneurs, artists, and athletes alike.
Some of his proudest moments have not involved contracts or revenue figures, but helping others discover their potential.
“Some of the most meaningful successes I’ve witnessed came from helping someone realise they were capable of much more than they believed.”
That belief has inspired him to mentor students and support aspiring entrepreneurs throughout his career.
Yet he prefers to keep these efforts private.
“Giving back isn’t about publicity,” he says. “It’s about helping talented people gain confidence and move forward.”
More Than a Loan
Today, Latheef’s life bears little resemblance to the uncertain days when he first arrived in Dubai.
Hash Include has grown into a successful technology company. He has served as a technology advisor to the office of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saud Al Mualla, Representative of the Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, and has earned recognition within the UAE’s technology sector.
Yet when he reflects on his journey, he does not think first about awards, titles, or business achievements.
Instead, he remembers a son calling his mother for help.
The Dh350 loan was eventually repaid, but the faith behind it remains priceless.
His story is one that resonates with countless expatriates across the UAE—a story of leaving home, starting over, facing setbacks, building credibility, and finding people who believe in you when you need it most.
Sometimes success does not begin with a major investment, a groundbreaking idea, or a detailed business plan.
Sometimes it begins with a mother’s belief, a small act of support, and a country that provides the opportunity to turn dreams into reality.
For Anas Abdul Latheef, Dh350 was never just money.
It was the first step toward a future he dared to imagine.
This version reads more like a professional newspaper feature or magazine profile, with stronger storytelling, smoother transitions, and greater emotional appeal.
Source: Gulf News
