With over 15 years of experience, Maria Gallabov is well known in Dubai’s property industry. She built her reputation through an award-winning career in real estate sales before establishing Knotch Real Estate. Born in Moldova, Maria arrived in Dubai at 18, carrying with her the hopes of a new beginning and the weight of leaving family behind. She learned early on to rely on herself, take risks, and keep moving through uncertainty, often drawing comfort from small reminders of home.

Having left so young and built her adult life elsewhere, she now sometimes feels like a visitor in the place she once called home—a bittersweet reminder of both how far she has come and what she has left behind. Maria believes that those who step away from the familiarity of home at an early age often develop a special kind of resilience. They become more willing to take risks, move beyond their comfort zones, and make sacrifices in pursuit of a larger vision, all while carrying pieces of their roots in their hearts.

Yet she attributes her journey to more than ambition. Faith, integrity, and service shape both her definition of success and the way she approaches business. Her priority is building long-term relationships with clients, putting their needs first and providing transparent advice in a competitive market, using market data to help them make informed investment decisions. In this conversation, Maria reflects on leaving home, beginning again, creating spaces that support wellbeing, and the values she refuses to compromise.

Q. Maria, was there ever a time when you thought you might build your life somewhere else?

In 2018, after a heartbreak, I left Dubai for Bali because I needed space to heal. I imagined that nature, yoga, and a quieter pace would help me reconnect with myself. I soon realized island life wasn't for me; I didn't blend in. I also found it difficult to connect with other people there. Moreover, I could not work confidently in a property market that felt far less regulated than the UAE.

That experience taught me that no place can heal you unless you seek that renewal within yourself and trust God's plan. When I returned to Dubai, I found not just a new job, but a sense of belonging I had missed. This city gave me structure, safety, energy, and the warmth of a community that embraced me. I understood how deeply connected I already was, and I have never left since. Dubai became not just a place to live, but a place to call home.

Q. What does success mean to you and what is the key to yours?

A. Above all, I believe my success was a miracle through my connection with God. Plenty of people leave their homes, take the risk, and work really, really hard, but their story may be different. I have met people fighting addictions or trauma, experiencing anxiety, mental health disorders, or panic attacks, or feeling lost and uncertain about their direction. Some appear to have everything yet still feel lonely and empty inside. I believe this happens when you’re not connected to God and you don’t put your faith in a higher purpose. I put my faith in God; I believe I did what’s right, kept straight with my intention, and this is how far He brought me.

Success cannot be separated from peace, a full heart, a healthy mind and body, integrity, responsibility, and the ability to contribute to other people's lives. Professional achievement matters, but it cannot be the only measure. How we treat people, the relationships we build, and the values we preserve are equally important. Success loses its meaning if it costs you your principles, your health, your loved ones, or your connection to what truly matters.

One moment that made this especially tangible for me was realizing I had the resources to change someone else’s life. I helped a woman from Uganda find work caring for our home and dog, enabled her child to attend a good private school, and helped her mother secure a roof over her head. Over time, she became more than just someone who worked for us—she became family. Watching her child thrive, seeing her mother safe, and knowing I could give them hope brought me a joy deeper than any professional achievement. There is something profoundly moving about changing the course of another person’s life for the better. It reminded me that success is not only measured by what we achieve, but by the love and generosity we share.

Q. How do you balance professional ambition with family life?

A. When you are building a start-up, balance can disappear because the work never seems to end. Working at a company with good practices offers more structure. Real estate also brings flexibility, but many professionals work without a fixed salary and are paid only when a deal closes. Success comes with long hours, uncertainty, rejection, and time sacrificed with family.

Balance becomes possible when you have enough support and are clear about your priorities. For some people that means more time with a spouse and children; for others, more attention to health. The UAE gives you opportunities to create that balance, but it depends on your phase of life and the choices you make.

Q. What do women need to thrive in business?

I would like to see a society where women are genuinely supported in pursuing fulfilling professional lives without feeling they must choose between their ambitions and their families. Flexible hours, hybrid work, and support after maternity leave can make that possible. At Knotch, we introduced remote-working policies and a children's room at the office. Supporting women should not simply mean helping them work more; it should create the conditions for meaningful work and a strong family life. Children become the adults who shape society, so this reaches far beyond one family.

Q. How do our surroundings influence the way we live and work?

A. Our surroundings affect how we feel, think, and perform. Workplaces should feel welcoming and considered, with natural light, greenery, music and areas for quiet reflection. When people feel at ease, they are more engaged and creative. Wellbeing should be part of the space and culture, not something separate from work.

I carried that philosophy into KNOTCH, which I built from the ground up, starting with a shell-and-core space of dust and cables. My sister Kate translated the brand's philosophy into its visual identity, and together we poured our hearts into every detail. We created jazz-lounge corners for relaxed conversations and quiet focus, carefully chosen art, and flexible work areas designed around the rhythm of a modern working day. It wasn't simply interior design; every corner was meant to express creativity, care, and wellbeing—a reflection of our hope that people would feel seen, valued, and at home. We wanted people not merely to come to work, but to feel that they belonged to something meaningful.

Q. You went back to the real estate development industry by joining Arada Group, why them?

God has a mysterious and beautiful way of placing the right things in your path at exactly the right moment. So that’s how I ended up joining one of the strongest developers in the UAE, and one of the few who prioritize wellbeing in their real estate projects and their working environment. I strongly resonate with Arada's values and vision, so it would have been strange not to accept their offer to join their Real Estate Sales department.

Their core purpose, ‘Connected Life', is the belief that when people and spaces connect, people can live healthier, happier and more meaningful lives.is closely aligned with my belief that people live better when spaces encourage connection and wellbeing. Wellbeing should not be treated as something separate from work; it should be embedded in the spaces and culture we create. The same philosophy applies to our homes. The places where we live should support connection, balance, and a genuine sense of well-being. Good design is not only about how a space looks, but also about how it makes people feel and how it enables them to live and have a sense of belonging. Arada’s philosophy brings these principles to its developments.

For example, Masaar uses nature, walking and cycling trails, community spaces and a forested setting to make active living part of daily life. Aljada combines homes with parks, fitness, hospitality, education, healthcare, retail and social spaces. Akala goes further by making precision wellness the destination's purpose. It brings together residences, five-star hospitality, medical diagnostics, preventive care, recovery, and personalized services. The home itself supports sleep, air quality, comfort and performance. To me, that is the evolution: Masaar offers wellbeing through nature, Aljada through connected urban living, and Akala through an entire environment designed around health. I had arrived in the right place for the right purpose.

Wellbeing is part of the employee proposition. As part of its rewards and wellbeing program, they incorporated medical and life insurance, wellness sessions, flexible work policies, financial incentives, as well as free access to Wellfit, (a leading mega-scale fitness and wellness center network), wellness programs, and a 4.5-5 day working week as part of its employee experience.

I strongly identify with this developer's values and vision, so accepting the offer to join its real estate sales department felt like a natural next step.

Q. Why do honesty, authenticity and genuine connection matter so much to you?

A. When relationships and honesty matter deeply, you may sometimes feel apart from a world focused on appearances. That is not a reason to compromise. Genuine relationships may be harder to find, but they mean far more when you do. In business, authenticity begins with listening without an agenda and making room for another person's experience. Over time, that attentive presence builds trust.

Q. What does Dubai offer that is still not fully understood abroad?

A. Freedom and safety. I mean freedom from excessive bureaucracy, street crime, corruption, and social intimidation. In the UAE, people of different faiths and cultures can live and celebrate together. Whether it is Christmas, Ramadan or Diwali, we have the freedom to observe it and often celebrate together in unity. That everyday security and mutual respect are easy to underestimate from abroad.

Q. What concerns do overseas property investors most often bring to you?

They ask about ownership, inheritance, taxation, and whether they need a lawyer. The UAE has a structured, transparent property system, and licensed real estate professionals are trained in the relevant RERA procedures. International buyers can purchase freehold property in designated areas, and the process can be remarkably efficient.

Inheritance planning still matters. I encourage clients to obtain professional advice and put a UAE will in place so their wishes are clear as their portfolio grows. The market's simplicity should never replace proper due diligence.

Q. What practical advice would you give someone moving to the UAE or starting a business here?

A. Do not rush to build a lifestyle or company before you understand the environment. If your resources are limited, first work in your field or partner with someone who understands the system. Observe, adapt, and learn; it can prevent simple but expensive mistakes. Even with substantial resources, start carefully and allow room in your budget for the unexpected.

Choose partners carefully, verify reputations, put agreements in writing, and understand the full cost of licenses, visas, premises, banking, accounting, insurance, and tax compliance. Select a mainland or free-zone structure according to what the business will actually do, not simply because one option appears cheaper. Build genuine relationships before you need them, protect your health and personal life, and think about what you can contribute to the UAE, not only what you can gain from it.

Maria’s journey is ultimately a story of finding her place—and understanding that meaningful success is measured not only by what we build, but by the values we preserve and what we make possible for others. Her belief that our surroundings can shape the way we feel, connect and live also finds a natural expression in her work with Arada.

Discover more in our companion feature, Connected Life: How Arada Is Designing Wellbeing into Everyday Living.