Nana Yaw, a Ghanaian based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), appeared on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide with DJ Nyaami, where he shared honest insights about working and surviving in Dubai.
Before traveling abroad, Nana Yaw worked at Kantamanto Market in Accra, where he sold plumbing materials. During the COVID-19 period, business slowed significantly, and life became difficult. At the time, some of his friends were already in the UAE, and they told him that things were better there. Through their help, he got connected and eventually traveled to Dubai in 2021.
Nana Yaw revealed that his first week in the UAE was extremely tough. “If I could have returned to Ghana by road, I would have done so,” he said. However, he arrived with direct employment, having secured a security job before traveling, which helped him survive the initial shock.
He explained that agents often exaggerate salaries to attract people. “I was told the salary was huge, but when I got there, I realized it was not as much as I expected,” Nana Yaw said. According to him, saving enough capital to return home and start a business takes time and strong discipline.
Nana Yaw has now spent four years in the UAE. He emphasized that without discipline, it is very difficult to save money in Dubai. However, he added that with hard work, even jobs like cleaning can help someone save if they manage their money well.
Comparing business conditions, Nana Yaw said that when you are in Ghana and earning “small small,” you may think you are not making progress, but in reality, it adds up. He noted that the European and UAE business systems are still moving, even though things may appear slow.
He also shared concerns about Ghana’s market. “When I speak to my friends at Makola, they tell me the Chinese have entered the market and are selling goods cheaply, making competition harder for local traders,” he explained.
Nana Yaw strongly warned Ghanaians against traveling to Dubai on tourist visas with the intention of finding work. “The system will outsmart you,” he cautioned. “After two years, you will suffer.” According to him, it is always better to travel with a direct employment visa, even though some Ghanaian agents charge very high fees for tourist visas.
In conclusion, Nana Yaw advised young people to do proper research before traveling and to focus on discipline, realistic expectations, and long-term planning if they decide to work abroad.
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