In short
Raj Shamani's Figuring Out Podcast Notes
Episode Title
Real Estate Billionaire: How To Choose, Invest & Sell A Property? - BNW Founder | FO365 Raj Shamani
Episode Overview In this episode of "Figuring Out," Raj Shamani interviews Ankur Aggarwal, the Founder and Chairman of BNW Developments, a rapidly growing real estate company in Dubai. Ankur shares his journey from starting as a broker during the pandemic to becoming a billionaire real estate developer. He discusses various aspects of investing and selling properties, with an emphasis on the Dubai real estate market.
Key Themes and Highlights
Introduction
- Raj's Mission: To help individuals grow and succeed in various aspects of life.
- Guest Introduction: Ankur Aggarwal's background and achievements in real estate.
Becoming a Billionaire
- Starting Point: Ankur began his journey with no prior experience in real estate.
- Team Building: He quickly scaled his business by hiring over 150 agents in just nine months.
The Dubai Real Estate Market
- Investment Appeal:
- Low Taxation: Only 9% corporate tax in Dubai.
- Safety: Ranked as one of the safest cities globally.
- Appreciation Potential: Properties can double in value within a few years.
- Target Buyers: Focus on luxury properties, with buyers mainly from Russia, America, and the UK.
Selling Properties
- Psychology of Selling: Emphasis on understanding buyer motivations rather than traditional sales tactics.
- Marketing Strategies: Invested in digital marketing and social media to generate leads.
Investment Strategies
- Choosing Properties:
- Recommendations for investing in off-plan properties due to their appreciation potential.
- Importance of conducting due diligence on the market and property values.
Navigating the Market
- Partnerships: Collaboration with royal families and luxury brands enhances credibility and market reach.
- Future Insights: Predictions for emerging hot markets within the UAE, including Russell Kheima.
Lifestyle and Mindset
- Billionaire Mindset: Discussion on living a balanced life while striving for business success.
- Vision and Reality: Ankur emphasizes focusing on present achievements rather than getting lost in dreams.
Closing Thoughts
- Advice for Entrepreneurs:
- Be realistic about commitments.
- Maintain integrity and stay ethical in business dealings.
- Focus on building a trustworthy reputation.
Key Takeaways
- Preparation: Ankur stresses the importance of being well-prepared to seize opportunities in the booming Indian and Dubai markets.
- Investment in People: Reinforcing the idea that investing in human resources is vital for business growth.
- Understanding Market Dynamics: The significance of adapting to changing market conditions and buyer preferences.
Timestamps
- (00:00) – Intro
- (02:16) – How I Became a Billionaire
- (07:19) – How I Sell Properties
- (09:38) – Tips for Entrepreneurs
- (12:45) – Who Buys Properties in Dubai?
- (18:00) – How the Real Estate Market Works
- (32:03) – Best Places to Invest in Dubai
- (34:04) – Partnering with Members of the Royal Family
- (37:25) – How to Invest in Dubai from India
- (43:07) – How to Choose the Right Building in Dubai
- (46:33) – Unusual and Iconic Buildings in Dubai
- (49:29) – Partnering with Taj
- (51:04) – Billionaire Lifestyle & Mindset
- (01:04:36) – Outro
Resources
- Books Mentioned: Build, Don't Talk
- Follow Ankur Aggarwal:
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ankur.aggarwal01/)
- [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/ankuraggarwal01)
Conclusion This episode of "Figuring Out" provides valuable insights into the real estate market and entrepreneurial success, emphasizing the potential of Dubai as an investment hub. Ankur Aggarwal's journey serves as both inspiration and practical guidance for aspiring investors and entrepreneurs.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00In 3 years, going from just a broker to where you are is incredible. What is this in Dubai that people should invest in Dubai? Hi baby, come to Dubai. This is the reason. So the taxation is only 9%. It's the safest city in the world.
0:19And you are getting tremendous amount of appreciation. So if I invest in India today in a property, what can I expect in the next 2-3 years? If you will do the smart investment, it can be doubled in the next 3 years. Can you invest in India here? There is a route called LSR route, wherein you can invest 250 ,000 US dollar every year. You can invest in a lot of money, you can invest in a lot of money. If you pay this, do you get access to a few people who have never been there? No one has to be honest with you. And those who value you, don't have to value them. Tell me the top 5 principles that you should be an entrepreneur when you start something.
0:59So what have you learned from?
1:06team
1:20back and also a big billion dollars empire made in Dubai. Our guest is CA Ankur Agrawal, founder and chairman of B &W Development and billionaire real estate developer. This episode, we will know how to start real estate investment. Can every middle class person buy real estate? Dubai's real estate is growing so much? India is better investing than Dubai? and investment for the first time that Госудomo and both players can create a great empire. And we'll explain what happened as the end.
2:19I will break down this journey. In 2021, April, I started this company, Bricks and Woods, Brookridge LLC. And in four months, I hired one person. it took me four months to hire one person because nobody was believing me at that time what were you trying to sell then I was not trying to sell anything I was just hiring people to do the real estate brokerage for me, means agents I was looking for agents but why didn't someone believe you? because there was no background, no see when you have too many companies on your platter, you will go for the best that time how somebody could believe me how they will come and see that okay this will be the future in next four years you interview me four years before so that's the thing so they didn't say they didn't do the work with me it took me four months but when it all started with God grace with all the things went in our favor we successfully did a lot of deals and we did underwritings you understand underwritings no underwritings means like you will put a right on particular inventory units apartments whatever it is and you will be selling by yourself means like let's say I can put an underwriting on a certain developer with a certain amount and with certain number of units means this means 50 units is my I paid some amount and this rate is my Okay So upfront So you have 4 months I have a person one of your agents No, I have a person I have a person I have a person I have a person So I have a person I have a person A person A person A person What is this?
4:20No, brokerage means any developer Which you believe would be a person who would be a person وہ بیچتے تھے ہاں basically جو اس customer کو صحیح لگتا تھا کہ مجھے یہ خرید تو ہم اس کو help کرتے تھے simple developer ہمیں commission دیتا تھا تو یہ business تھا اور یہ کب تک چلا یہ چلا اور چلتا رہا ہے دو سال یہ چلا قریبا دوڑا سال تو 2023 تک یہ چلا Okay and اس میں how much money did you make here i started in a 1000 square feet office in 2021 april and we moved to a 8000 square feet office in february 2022 means in how many months 9 months and at that time i was having around 160 people i had 160 people in 9 months you said in 9 months you reached 160 agents so So, you'll understand the flow.
5:20How did it happen? Because how many people do business in property brokerage? This is hyper scale. So, the best investment is the HR investment, which I believe in. So, whatever I was earning, I was reinvesting it in my own company itself. So, I was having a dream that I will be having like 400-500 agents working for me. so the more the number of agents more the money you will be investing in the projects in the developers and you will get the more sales example let's say with the five agents you are making five deals a month and let's say you are making x money let's say okay let's talk about INR you are making a crore rupees commission right so what you will be five people with five people now it's easy in Dubai it's easy because commission is pretty high okay okay and luckily all the people with whom I was working with, they performed.
6:12So, how does it work? We invested in the marketing, we invested in the people, we invested in the services which they want. Like, whatever they are asking for. Right? I made one deal, I also invested in that money. I invested in two deals, I invested in two deals, I invested in three deals, I invested in three deals, I invested in three deals, I invested in three deals, I invested in the house as much as I was very bare minimum. So, when I invested in the whole money, reinvested, so what do you think in brokerage company in what kind of money? Yes, in brokerage company there is money in salaries which you hire people.
6:45Another money is marketing. Third money is rentals. In marketing, you mean brokerage yourself? No, you are doing the marketing, doing the lead generation for the property. Means you are finding the prospective buyers. Okay. So you have reinvested that money. And how did that do marketing? Marketing is like social media platforms and Google AdWords. and all these things. Digital marketing and there are many ways. But like Dubai is a market is major about deal flow access. If this is a new building in this building who will get access to which agent or registered agent that he will get to buy. So you were new so how did you get the right properties to buy?
7:27It's an organic process. One more thing the market which you're seeing today was not exactly the same back in 2021. In 2021 the market was recovering from the COVID so there was not many customers there and there was not the developers were not doing wow at that time they were even struggling for their sales now you see the market totally different way okay so 2021 we had something else in 2021 we had a deal and we were selling number of people see let's say you are working in some brokerage house and you are getting 12 ,000 salary so I can offer you 15 ,000 I can offer you better commission so why you will not be working with me that I understood that people take it take it put it in the market and put it in the market and then it was simple but the deal flow already was available because the real estate is empty sir look at 2021 the market has kicked and it was not in Dubai it was worldwide so you say that the window was the best again destiny worked out for us I didn't know that the market will be like but my decision was the right that I had reinvestment how would you actually target people who would buy target customer it's the job of an agent if your agent closes one deal in a month it's a humongous it's like enormous amount of money how much amount of money if it's 10 crore apartment how much commission is it then why don't you do this agent if it's 50 lakh 1 crore it's a sharing basis na 60 40 50 50 there are different mechanism the salary plus them salary plus you need to have a license to do the brokerage first second you will have to be registered with every developer so individually you will not do that and from where you will get the marketing expense so it's a full ecosystem only then you are getting those leads if i'll pull out one thing out of it then it's waste so as an agent independent if someone is a broker then he can't get so many leads as much as you can get because of the ecosystem he has to invest money tell me top 5 principles that a entrepreneur should be in day 1 when he starts something it depends on business to business first of all for you in this real estate business first of all talk only up to that level where you can deliver you heard that story one person says that I am very happy from you and what do you want he says that I need the land how much land he says that where my gaze goes I need the land so the king says that no matter I have sunrise sunset time you you can run where you can run wherever you can run where you can put your flag but there is one condition that you can run sunset before you can run this place you can run the same way so the person goes and goes now the sun is on the way and run and run so I will run so I will run so I will run when they do it, when they come back that point of view they go to death and the last one the land they need to be 2 gaj so the story is 2 gaj and this you mean that people this is the problem you run so far wherever you can come back you do so much ہی کیجئے جتنا آپ deliver کر سکے.
11:19So, یہ آپ کا پہلا principle. Pہلا principle. دوسرا principle ہے. You should learn to say no. To what? To a situation. Over commitment مت کیجئے خود سے. لوگ ایسے ادھر کے market میں, دبائی کے market میں کیا over commit کرتے ہیں? کچھ بھی کر دیتے ہیں نا سر. آج, ابھی یہ لے لیجئے. یہ تو اتنا تو ہو ہی جائے گا. یا میں کرا دوں گا. My experience with property brokers I'll tell you and this is India? No, no. No, no. Yes. Yes. If I buy commercial properties then they grow if I buy renting it best for them but I say that so I say it I don't test people but okay I just want I tell you that people in my circle are good.
12:17So what's the third principle? Your integrity level is so strong. Explain. I give you now$1 million without any interest. And I say that I don't need to give you after one year. If you have a feeling that I give you a million, then you will get a million. So you are a winner. Fair. okay coming back towards initial time that you have built a whole ecosystem you have brought your agents the agents sold the whole money you had to give in company and other people hire reinvestment again and again buyer profile who are the most number of people who are the kind of people who buy in Dubai or in UAE it's all across the globe who can be able to buy anywhere from anywhere give me some percent it's 100 buyers most number of the people are from Russia and America UK Indians ka kitna profile see Indians ka joh profile hao humare liye itna applicable nahi hota hai because humare we basically deal in luxury properties to us mein Indians ka profile jahater mediocre they like to have those assets which get them the more rental values luxury properties mein you will get lot of appreciation so customer base is a little different but yes Indians also are normal so what was the base price anything it's like 1 million dirhams even less than that so 20-25 crore properties no 2 crore 1 million dirhams 1 million dirhams that is for Indians right you said that they have anything you have 20-25 crore properties definitely anything anything you just have to do the AML check anti-money laundering check okay that's important it's a compliance okay so that's a compliance so first if you have a profile you say that buyer profile you sell all luxury properties mostly and Indians sell less 10 % 20 % yeah definitely 10-15 % maximum percentage Russians at that time when I was doing the brokerage yes because they were because of war because they were putting full money there do you feel Dubai's appreciation was also in wars because it was a war people were moving from there and this money might go back this is misconception actually a lot of people talk about this a lot of people talk about it because they don't know the fact just about the global economy boom the credit should go to the initiative of the government only they have investing heavily in the infrastructure and this is the reason why people wants to come here so you don't feel that war can take Russia that's a misconception so the money flows so why specifically Russians are investing here so sir, everywhere you go how much FDI is in India how strong it is after that you understand after the Covid the property prices in India also it's getting almost double but it's Indian locally Indian is selling but the FDI is very high it's very low
15:40we are almost touching 4 trillion dollar economy now so at that time I think pre-COVID it was 2 trillion so it almost doubled so you feel that the global boom will be going to be regardless of wars in the UAE specifically it's just because of the initiative of the government so then that boom came after COVID the world wanted to come here because you have seen that the property prices are growing and infrastructure is getting better. So this was the flow that you actually enjoyed. Okay and that's why everybody enjoyed and your company became bigger. Now, 160 agents in 9 months, you have made reinvest reinvest reinvest.
16:27Now, you haven't released anything from the company. It hasn't released anything from now. Okay. Now, there hasn't been anything from now. But lifestyle has been upgraded. kari hoi is us mei itna paisa nahi lagta hai thik hai na certain system ke baad you don't need much my life my family is very simple okay so aisa we don't spend too much and wo abhi 160 agenting jab brokerage business taab tak invest kar diya ta lifestyle bada li thi nahi shahas tak invest karte hai nahi wo usse lifestyle bada hi thi lifestyle thoda definitely it get improved but it's not like that you will be buying a supercar every month okay aisa nahi hai na it's not wastage of money so we don't do that, a little two cars you bought and then that's your necessity, that's it alright, then what happened after that?
17:13so I was doing brokerage for entire 2022 and we invested money in our ecosystem only, we hired more people, more people, more people and we were promoting lot of projects we were doing lot of marketing everything was very good, maximum which area you were selling where did you sold the most specifically we sold so much so much we were number one at one time nice so you have to pay a lot of money and pay a lot of money how much money you have to pay a lot of money give me some number units price revenue we were number one at that time around we were selling like 300-400 million dirhams annually so this was your 2022 what happened what happened so now what exactly we did at that time I believed on a news that I told you before that a casino is coming in in the Middle East that news was published in Arabian business back in 2022 okay so the people to whom we were selling those apartments and all these things I asked them why don't you buy a plot there and we convinced them in the past of the past we called it Al Marjana Island so I asked him why don't you buy a plot there and somehow we got them convinced and they bought the plot then we designed one business idea which I it was kind of a PMC structure wherein we were managing the whole development show okay so you are an investor money is yours not mine because I was not having money to buy a plot but I want to be a developer so I thought of making a development brand on somebody's assets so land will be another but I shall be developing the project we will also make we will also sell so the whole money which I earned out of brokerage I invested the whole money in the PMC in my infrastructure for the development PMC is what?
19:36PMC is Project Management Consultancy Okay Why did you pay for money? HR you need people you need people in marketing you need people in sales you need people in project you need people in administration you need people in finance PRO legal you need lot of people it's like paying around 3-4 million salary a month. Okay so jitna pisa we hain se kamaya wo eek idea pe lagaya kye ek idea meri paas. Idea pe lagaya yes. Meera idea hai ki main udar jitna land hai joh bhi meera land aapka hai joh bhi udar land hai. Beecho ga mein okay. Banao ga mein beecho ga mein thiq hai. Toh ab iske liye aapko concept, idea, design, ye sab barana jitni jayze gogi sab karay.
20:22Sab kuch hum karay. Toh joh bandha plot khari da raha hai since he is not a developer but he trust on us okay so what was your bias was that they were selling plot which had already a favor exactly so they had trust that he bought the plot from that so he said that plot now PMC we have built infrastructure after we asked them a sweat from them I said that I have sweat what is sweat equity equity in the project if you 10 % 20 % 25 % So I got profit. Let me manage the show. I am investing in my infrastructure. HR infrastructure. I am managing the project. I am doing everything. So I got two things.
21:10One is my brand. I got B &W. One is Sweat. Okay. Now I got more money. I started increasing that sweat. I started increasing that. So I started. Buying. my own projects from the people I mean if I was 10 % share then I got 30, 30, 40 40, 50, 50, 60 paypal give it paypal give it paypal give it because I got all the money I got HR I got people I got marketing I got fast track you got news 45 crore I got breakdown so one news I read in Arabia newspaper and then Middle East in a casino you have to admit news on that basis on that casino the land which was plots the plots that you have to buy investors which you have to buy money which you have so what was the price that was the price that was around 375 dirhams per square foot okay so that you have started to buy now the price is 2000 so on top of the riders than to buy the amount of price and then we purchased my deans
22:37all the husbands quits on the home we have to buy this we have the first two projects in which we had PMC in which we had a sweat and shared we have left because of some reason with the investors then after that we have many projects which we have launched basically what is plot B &W initially but at the time of launch plot B &W in which we have become a part now it is not important not that B &W plot is 100 % or 50 % or 60 % the important point is B &W is delivering that project this real estate industry works like this plot is someone's who is making, who is the developer, who matters joint venture can also say it okay, so you started this, you didn't have plot that time, we took it how did that take it?
23:41look, initially you got sweat
23:54Casual Fuиной
24:13we do not make a acquisition of cost but we make a valuation. So it's a win-win situation for all of us. This is your advantage and my advantage. But if an investor has done his advantage and you've never made a contract with him, that I will buy something later, then you can trust. So they trust you enough that you've made so much money, then you can take it and make it more. That's how it is. Look, if you are right, you are working with trust, you are working with all things that are right so you will not trust me okay so we do this we do this we do this we do what we do today come and buy a plot we invest in your plot and let us build the valuation valuation I want to build now there is a factory in which you make a shirt and who I am?
25:05Gucci okay you have 100 rupees I made it 1 ,000 ,000 so if I give you 100-10 ,000 then you will or not obviously why not my interest is in Gucci my interest is in shirt but then this 100 do you think it's wrong ethically sir look this development business you have made this valuation this valuation you give a good project it matters and how does it become? if you buy a land you think suppose that 100 rupees and you think you think 700 rupees and you think 1500 rupees then how much profit is? 800 rupees double and you think 1500 rupees is the market but but if you have 600 to get 400, you can get that but if you actually have 600 to get 600 then people who will buy?
26:14you will buy or you will buy another? you will buy another basically, the gap is so big if you work well, then you will be good if you work well the project is not barren land, barren land not a value, barren land you can make a project that you can execute well then it will be a value It's a It's a It's a It's a It's a It's a It's a It's a It's a It's a It's a It's a It's a It's a Then What do you Do
26:46What do you Developers With We work on Open Book Structure With Developers It won't Do But If you Are An Investor You want To Develop With The Investor You want To Invest With The Developer You Have Only Two Options Either You Will be buying their projects or you will be getting a certain amount of specific interest or return whatever you say you have a ROI fix developer will not give you a book but what we do is take you to open book structure we say that you come and you will be a developer you will earn and I will earn how much you earn is my percentage fix my PMC will give me 20 % okay and usually developers uLTA KERTE HAYA DEVELOPERS ULTA KERTE HAYA KIE AAPKA 20 % FIX HAYA MAH KITNAY MAHI BECHU AAPKA KOI HEADAK NAYASA EXACTLY SO YOU TURNED AROUND THIS THING SO AB MEN AAPKO DUBARAH IS PPER BATAHA TOO MERE NANA JI NAYE MUJHE EK PRINCIPAL SIKHAYA Kİ BETA APNI CHAVANNI DECHO DUSAREKA RUPEYAH MAD DECHO MIRKO APNI CHAVANNI SE MATLAB HAYA OR TO YIE MARKET MAHUR who is not doing it.
27:54I think that today is not doing it. And this is the reason that you became this successful in the last three years. I give you an option. Now you work with fund house, banks, structured family offices. Our investors are these people. All structured money. If you give genuinely returns to them, why do you go? My bad is that asset backed model the land is in your name not in my name you are secured now valuation if I have thought that there will be casino and that's why I have something I have bought something I have invested and if I didn't because before Middle East with Seasons Palace you should have to do SWAT analysis you should have strength and weakness all of your you have to see the gap how big is it before you see Russell Khema right Russell Khema yes so that's a dead area there is something no sir this is a dead area I'm sorry to say this but it's not it's a most happening area people are dying to get the plots and the apartments there but what is it now tourism it was before it was such a lot it's very low there is Dubai Abu Dhabi here 20 % 25 % here or New York if real estate growth is secured people know that infrastructure is good tourism is very strong everything there is nothing there is risk that there will be high returns if you have a casino or tourism has increased but high risk there is not a risk there is no risk why not I can tell you basically you can say it unexplored area but underdeveloped it is not underdeveloped it is unexplored people have seen see not.
29:48So, football has never been bigger. So, there are so many supply as much demand. Now, when the demand will be more, the supply will be more. The population is 6 ,000 ,000. If the population is 9 ,000 ,000 ,000, 3 ,000 ,000 ,000, then the growth will be doubled. But today, I have a risk, right? As much anticipated in the area, because there is a news, that there will be a casino. It is confirmed now. It was before Caesar's Palace. No, Caesar's Palace was not. never even. I think this is the first gaming license in the Middle East. But what was the case of Seasers Palace? What was that thing? No case.
30:28Because they were expecting to open a casino and then they didn't get their license. Many people talk a lot. But you should believe on the authenticated resources only. Okay, so this one's coming. I think it's like Dubai. Everyone knows. I mean, whoever has seen Dubai 10 days, seen, he feels like I know all. He has 10 places, so he feels like 10 places. No, it's not. It's all governed in a very, very, very mature way. So now, rumors, rumors are a lot of because people travel here and go to their own idea and go to their own and they used to speak a lot about it. They feel like this is is not this.
31:17This is the first gaming license. We should not call it casino. We should call it gaming license. Got it. And when is this gaming license coming? 2027. 2027. This is one element. It's a pivotal element. It's a big one. Of course. This property can double or triple. It was 37 times in the Makao. Now think about how much gap is. so there's a hope so that's what people are investing in exactly na so you have to make money why don't you I to abhi bhi logo ko yehi bolu ga ki agar abhi bhi souch raha ho to late ho jayega abhi bhi you feel ki rasal kama me zaada growth hai than dubai nahi dhekhayi comparison nahi karna chahi kabhi bhi comparison nahi hai koi bhi woh ek different market hai ye different market but as an investor agar aaj mein family office mein pas kuch paisen lagane ke liye where should I invest BMW but BMW we will talk about 12 projects we will talk about it you are secure but if you had to choose one Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Rasul Kama as of now in new project I will say Abu Dhab there are many elements which will take place in future I think so and Abu Dhabi is investing heavily in the real estate market so you will get a real boom there in how many years 2-3 years so that's you feel that's number 1 number 2 number 3 Dubai if you need a category it's okay it can change my category it's a very dynamic market so dynamic why are you saying this dynamic when you will start thinking about buying something and when you will actually invest your money the whole dynamics will change in our India we have to think we have to ask ourselves we have to talk about it so it is so fast here it is very fast you are saying one news can just turn around categories 1 to 3 we have trust in news but the people who are actually buying there is based on some logical grounds There is no logic that makes some news.
33:43Yes, it is not. When government is declaring something, you have to believe. So you think government can declare at any point anything and then it will boom. Yes, it exactly happened in Dubai South as well. So when their government is investing heavily in the South side of Dubai. Yeah, South side. The area is in the boom right now. So how do you become a member with your family?
34:07How did it become a joint venture? we went for a proposal to buy us a particular piece of land and we asked them if they can help us in getting that plot and then we discussed a lot and we seek for their blessings we said that okay we want to work under your umbrella and they did their due diligence and after a few months we got their reply and they accepted our request so this is how it went but it's not just only my case there are many people who are doing under the guidance of his okay and why do you need to be under their umbrella what makes it easy for you what is the benefit it's not for any kind of benefit it's just about that you have to have someone who can guide you through the right process.
35:07It's about the long-term relationship with a particular country. You understand my part? It's a model which is available in this country. But since India is a democratic country and many countries, so they don't have certain, this kind of a model. But here, if you work as per the guidance of the rulers and if you work with the blessings if you want to grow they will support you okay what do you mean by guidance yeah guidance means you want to do something you want to buy a particular piece of land they will guide you either you should go there or no if you want to launch a certain project let's say they will guide you do it in this way they will they will support you in a way you understand at my point.
36:02Okay. So, I mean, they're saying that in this place you're thinking about the project, do you make or don't make that in the next five years? No sir, nothing happens. They don't say that. The thing is, they used to guide it as per their prudence level. Okay. And whatever they say, you have to follow it. But does it get easier? Easier in what sense? To get your work done here? Because you're in joint venture with the royal family? No, it's not like that. If you think like that, we are doing joint venture to make things easier. It's a total misconception. Okay. It's not like that. It's just like that.
36:39You have to respect a certain system. You have to go by that only. See, at the end of the day, nobody can change the law. Law is for everyone. Law is law. There is not a 0.001 % deviation from the law. First of all, you have to understand this. If his highness is with you, he is in a joint venture partnership with you. It means that you are seeking the guidance and the blessings of the his highness always. You have to respect that in certain way. You know, it's not just like that. They will give you a way to do business. No, people sees like that, but it's not true. Okay. How people sees it, it's not in my control.
37:22I can give you the reality and the truth only. Okay. I want to ask very few basic questions. which are many Indians specifically related to Dubai, UAE and the whole market. And there's no better person to answer these things than you. Not only because you've turned your life around and you've become one of the most inspirational developers here. In three years, going from just a broker or just a CA to where you are is incredible. Thank you. That is one. and the second is also because you're a CA from India so in turn you can answer like few questions very very nicely okay first is ki Dubai mein aisa kya hai jis ki waisay logo ko invest karna chihyeh like what is here kyun all of a sudden pora india marcoi baat kar hai ki ar hum Dubai what are the top three reasons better lifestyle invest in India or here haa karo I can't say that don't invest in India I'm an Indian first first of all so for me my country is the highest but if you will still ask me what are you doing the invest obvious reasons so the taxation is only 9 % means corporate tax is only 9 % in India it's way more for different reasons it's the safest city in the world there's no crime your family is happy here and you are getting a tremendous amount of appreciation for your investments what can you expect it can be doubled in one year and the rental values are like 8 to 10 % if you will compare it with India it's like only 1.5 % in India here you will get 8 to 10 % of your rental values the bank rate of interest is very less the economy is back to the dollar means currency so you will get the dollar appreciation as well so if I invest from India today here in some property what can I expect in the next 2-3 years in my opinion it totally depends on where you are investing but if you will do the smart investment it can be doubled easily in next 3 years and still you will get rental returns of 8-10 % annually annualized.
39:53So 8 to 10 % annual is different? If you will invest in ready properties. Capital appreciation double, triple O's. If you will invest in ready properties. Okay. And what's better? To invest in ready properties? I think off-plan. I think off-plan properties. Means under construction. Why do you get more appreciation? I think yes. And it's easy to invest also. Means you can invest in a bigger asset by investing partially in fractions. like you will be paying in installments and it's easy for you as well and in a way you can invest in a bigger like higher number of higher amount of investment and that you can double in 3 years that's what it's quite easy and it's happening actually so that is one of the main reasons but another is if I live in India then I can invest from India and live in India so you have two mechanism by which you can invest there is a route called LSR route liberalization scheme wherein you can invest 250 ,000 US dollar every year government will give you the permission and you can invest through the ODI routes overseas direct investment by which you can take a RBI approval and you can transfer it through the bank.
41:09But it's not difficult sir if you have difficulty or easy to see then you don't have to invest it's a process you have to go by the process it's a very small amount as you remember people invest so if you invest in 250k you can do it so RBI easily approval if your company valuation is yes RBI allows you it's a mechanism you can invest four times of your net worth the only condition is that the company which is through which you are investing here should be the 100 % subsidiary of your Indian company so if it taxation benefit no when you get it not so then how how is the when you invest here so here you here and go and that's okay if you have to pay taxes but the taxes which you are paying here you will get the rebate then same thing then India will go in India If you have to go to India, then yes.
42:21I have to live there. So every year I will spend money, every 5 years I will spend. It totally depends on how you see the market. How do you see the market? I see the best market in the world. Dubai is the best market in the world. So you think you'll be there and you'll be there and you'll be there. Simple. Okay. Then, which area do you feel will grow the fastest in UAE in next 2-3 years? Russell Kheema. that you have vested interest no it's true I have my vested interest because I have invested there that means I believe there you believe more than Dubai will grow I believe in a particular for obvious reason and that reason is paying me off simple tell me one thing Dubai when you come to four and you see every building almost fancy every building there are all amenities in every building how do you decide which building good ones.
43:17If you say developer, then one-one developer 50-50 projects are all the same. How do you decide? When you go to Dubai mall to buy shoes, how do you decide which shoes you will buy? Based on brand. And every brand has many collections. So how do you decide? Whichever I like. Exactly. So you gave me the answer. Just whichever you like. You also do this way. Of course. which suits in my requirement I need flat shoes I need apartments I need three bedrooms I need floor in I need size I need this height I need this location I need this view there are certain fundamentals which fit in your requirement you buy simple but almost all the same like one person I would tell about me as a visitor.
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44:15It's a blessing in disguise. You have many options. I try to see Airbnb. And I'll put like Burj Khalifa view for example. Which is like the most common. Now at 2BHK Airbnb Burj Khalifa view It gives you 50. Which is 20 property developer Then 2-3 developer 2-3 developer as a buyer how do I choose which buyer I will do because these are all the same so the answer is before buying before choosing the apartment you should choose your agent first first of all you should decide how to choose an agent give me three tips how should I choose right agent no I told you in the before I checked these principal values if you're saying the truth then it's okay you will do as a buyer as a developer as an agency as a business which is actually hiring lot of agents I am buyer then how do I judge?
45:16See if you are investing crores of rupees smartness will come automatically when you go to buy a car you can see the showroom in the whole world the showroom the smartness of your own but if you don't do that websites like property finder or buyout tools definitely have You can check property finder by youth, and every developer has their own websites and brokers are doing the marketing and there are many ways by which you can get the information but at the end of the day you have to choose which is right for you. And that is for gut feeling. Not exactly, only gut feeling. I would like to buy gut feeling if you had an example.
46:04filthy you have if you feel like this you can buy an apartment then it means that you are satisfied with your six cents are you? yes 100 % you also go buy things based on six cents of course 100 % I think more from the heart and why do you think more from the heart? it's my nature
46:28and it has always served you? almost yes then tell me Dubai in Dubai I've seen so many properties so many projects that are coming tell me something like amenity which is absurd which you have felt that this is an amenity people are giving one building where you can park the car right next to your apartment even if it is on the 10th floor means your car will go with you to the 10th floor to the 10th floor so I thought that why they have wasted a space on the 10th floor wherein they could have done a living space so I didn't find it logical but do people pay premium for this because they might love it it's an X factor it totally depends on how you see we have to understand one thing about this Dubai market is that we as an Indian are not only the buyers people across people across 200 countries they are buying it everybody has their own upbringing their own mindset it's all their own different needs they are doing it so who your buyer is, who can be globe now you are building an apartment in Noda so greater Noda or Noda or Ghaziabad or Delhi people will come from Portugal no one will come from Monaco no one will come from here everyone will come from here everyone will buy anything everyone will come from here which is the best property you feel in Dubai?
48:16B &W apart from you specific B &W tell me one specific project which you feel is the best yet to come we will announce it soon it will come before your interview what is it we are coming up with ultra high and luxurious the i i cannot name it because of certain reason but it will be the biggest it will be with the biggest indian brand in the world hotel brand so now you have to tell you now you have to understand you have to tell you either in dubai you are doing in dubai in rasil khema you are launching high and luxury homes build apartments apartments apartments we are doing with Taj okay with Taj you are doing and it's done logged starting announcing when hopefully by the time you will see it by the time podcast is out yes nice do you think it's a lot of difference from all these things because I saw Bengati that I will do I will do I will do I will do I will do brand does make a lot of sense because that gives you a different feeling and a different expector in your normal property.
49:28Okay, give me differentiation between B &W property, which is normal and a B &W which is with Taj what difference is in it? Because obviously Taj will be expensive there has to be a premium of the brand. No, it's not that expensive it's of course there should be some premium to it. Some premium, little premium but as of now we try to do only and only luxury buildings we don't want to do semi luxury or affordable housing we are only and only focusing on ultra high end luxury apartments only so even if it is non branded it it will be definitely very high end luxury apart see with the brand of course it makes a lot of value what will be different in both as in living not much difference so then why should somebody buy a Taj because they will get the return on their investment because Taj will be the operator for that building we are doing one project with fashion TV yeah so they will be the operators yeah but you will not get the models
50:42you will get a feel no they will be the operators right no if you are doing a fashion brand they will not be operator but if you are hotel brand yes operator okay so hotel brand operate because we will give hospitality so you will lease back your unit to that hotel brand what do you prefer mansions or penthouse for yourself I prefer a home only home should be a mansion or a penthouse look for me the home is where my family is a mansion or a penthouse there is no difference but
51:23but I'm not obsessed with any kind of… Prefer to choose one? Prefer to choose, of course, villa or mansion. I don't need a mansion. I need a small villa. Do you live in a villa right now? Yeah, I live in a villa. Where? I live in District 1. Okay. And, okay, what does your dream house look like? As a developer, because you give the amenities in the world, you work with global brands. So, what does your dream home look like? I don't know. Give me two, three features. This is my personality. I don't know. And I don't even dream anything. You don't dream anything? No. Why? I live in present. I'm like, what is it now?
52:04No, you have to live in the present, no? But isn't like, what will happen with my vision board? I will manifest this. So you will be stuck to that only. First, complete it. Then, make a new vision board. It's not logic. just be yourself it's like playing a test match life is a test match one ball at a time yes so world cup do you prepare for it that if it's a world cup so I'll practice what will I win in that time or not how do I know I'm opposite that's why I'm asking because I think of the world cup and then I play for it no and try to prepare myself no no no for me everyday is a world cup for me every match is a world cup match so you play every match I play every ball one ball at a time exactly this is the best which I can do I cannot manifest it I will take a bat like 50 runs I do that and I think it has worked for me in my life yeah but I do have a other side personality I don't live in dreams I live in reality I live and I don't dream much and I'm not obsessed with anything big houses supercars anything I don't like I prefer to live with my family tell me you have to live in present side but this is true you have to believe it me and my down-to-it side you're shown like that I believe in but tell me the other side which sometimes it will come a little bit it doesn't come honestly it doesn't come okay what all cars you have bought I have I have two Rolls Royce Phantom I have Bentley Continental GT I have Bentley Flying Spur I have BMW i7 like as a group I have like around 30-40 cars so what and you said I don't believe lifestyle you are absolutely lifestyle you don't you don't I understand what I was saying I I'm not obsessed to it because I'm telling you someday if I have to be in my original life from where I'm coming in I'm okay with it so my mindset is up to that level because that mindset comes from my family my family what I'm saying my mom what I'm saying my wife what I'm saying this matters a lot for me if they are okay with it I'm also okay with it and if they are not if they want me to choose this life or a certain thing if they will give me challenge I will die for it I will do it but they will never do it well they are not wired like that yeah they are not they are very satisfactory so this is life you make money but you are not obsessed to it and you should make money for your people as well from with whom you are working with it it's not everything is not for you you have to be a part of a distribution channel you know an important question was that this lifestyle has a difference in business do you think that like many people talk and it has written in books I don't believe in it but I want to understand from you because you came here and came to a glamorous world that there are cars and cars if you have a price then do you get access to few people which have you never been able to?
55:48People seem like that it's different from all things but it's not true so people don't like you that people value you? No, no, no it's not true and those people value you because of that you don't have value because they don't have your work true I believe in What is your work, it doesn't mean anything from your houses. You know, because I asked this question to almost everybody. Because I don't believe in everyone that you need such a house or a car. Or you need to show everything. But many people think that you have something to do. For your comfort, you can also wear something. Yes, whatever you like.
56:28Whatever you like. Whatever you like, you can also wear something. But many people buy something from their time to do something. So that they feel it to show it. It's a downfall for a day. even in your business you feel that's I have seen people actually this is a problem in our industry as well people used to spend a lot I see people they made money today and they spend everything tomorrow and then they again became hand to mouth and I feel pity on these people I just don't like this I keep on telling them please do your savings I was the same at one time by the way I was like that. What time?
57:08In my initial days, I had a lot of money. But I had a lot of money. What did you do? What did you do? What can I do? I bought a car, bought a car. What money you bought. What money you bought. When did you realize that you didn't do it? When the satisfaction of life came. When the shock was full. You live after boost it. Yes the people will become confident. But maybe some people don't like to shoot breaks. You will never do that anytime when your days are going to a place in your work… I'm taking a little bit further from age. Tell me, why are you talking? I know why I stillаем more likely, but Saturation is coming on.
58:10You have already started needing to get complete esto & लग गई उसके बाद धीरे -धीरे you will feel more inclined towards the God अभी आपको समझ आया कि you are a part of society where you have to give kindness थोड़ी भड़ जाती है यह ऐसा जनरली लोगों में 50-60 साल की एज के बाद आता है तो धीरे -धीरे मेरे अदर अभी आ गया और I'm very happy and I love being religious this gives me a lot of peace how much time do you spend it on that? 24 hours but is there a dedicated time that I will go a day or a half hour nothing from that it's okay, it's my lifestyle routine but nothing from that what's your routine? routine is like that I'm a night rider first of all, I used to wake up late then I go to gym then I come to my office 2 2 pm I used to work 6 hours 6-7 hours 6-7 hours do you like to work 15-20 hours do you like to work 6 hours you can't do anything you don't believe in hard work 24-7 hustle see at this position you don't need to do hard work if you have to judge people then judge by the time which they spent on themselves not on the business for yourself how much time you have to be on a certain level that means you are more organized
59:57that means I am not organized I don't know what I am doing Good yeah, just say top 0.001 % let's say Elon Musk for example Workaholic who is a dangerous he does now many times get time. He only talks about it just say you talk about it and you will see it and he will hear it who make you speak he talks about it and he talks about that he loves working a lot he thinks in the factory he doesn't go to the house he's an absurd level so today maybe he doesn't need everything but still he does it what do you think it's totally a perception of an individual how does it cease it's not like that this is correct what he's doing because he's successful the answer is no I might get success in the hours on which I'm working nobody can compare with Elon Musk he is the richest person in the world but at certain point of time I feel that I'm the richest person in the world why do you feel so?
1:01:11because I reach to a level of my satisfaction I keep on earning and I keep on distributing I'm not concerned with my wealth I'm not dying for it I'm doing it for my people and myself up to a certain extent got it you don't have to die for money what do you do entrepreneurs entrepreneurs you have to understand that you have to achieve you have to achieve a satisfaction level a lot of workaholic one thing is ік Ugh tonight Aeg Allain Musk's mind is not救 me otherwise doesn't equal connectivity so you say collect it no will be theCan be if he follow does he not thank you I'm sorry but tarde way. This is my way.
1:02:25The same way is good. Good is bad. I am who I am. Simple. And that's you believe that every entrepreneur who starts to start with his attitude or keep a level of reach? In my opinion, he should keep his attitude. Whether he is something or something. If he is a workaholic, he is good. If he is not, he is good. Only one thing should be you should not be dying for the money and you should work on the principle and the ethical values in truth and faith these are the most expensive things in the world sure, no one can hold it no one can hold it exactly agreed, perfect, thank you so much thank you it was a long one for you no no no, I am enjoying it I can even speak for one hour more thank you so much, I think I have covered pleasure is all mine thank you almost everything it was pleasure talking to you pleasure is all mine thank you so much i hope that these 15 properties date so 500 1500 and you keep growing on and on and on and all the best with everything that you're doing thank you so much and i hope that what will come in 2027 will be faster so that it just goes up now when we will do the next interview so numbers will change i am actually hoping for that perfect all the best it it gives this proud when you hear stories of which people are around the world from India and they are going to go to another country and they are playing at a level.
1:04:01It gives a different kind of I don't know some kind of proud feeling. I don't know you before. I don't have any meaning. I don't have any relationship. But as a brother it just makes me feel good. Wow. It likes that our people have fallen. And it's just not me. I think Indians have all the attitude which I really really like about our country. I don't know from Delhi. I don't know but my mom is Delhi side from Delhi. You are also Delhi from Delhi. That attitude came from. came from. Perfect. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you so much for watching the episode until the end. Now you have to do three things.
1:04:40First of all, subscribe to this channel because as much you will be better and valuable guests we will get to you. Number two, tell me in comments what you have In this episode, what you like and bad are you so that we can repeat those mistakes. And which guest you want to see in our podcast so that we can bring them and give you more value. And number 3, you have to share this episode with someone. Because one conversation can change someone's life. I'll see you next time. Until then keep figuring out.
1:05:27Keeping a Natürlich
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Timestamps:
(00:00) – Intro
(02:16) – How I Became a Billionaire
(07:19) – How I Sell Properties
(09:38) – Tips for Entrepreneurs
(12:45) – Who Buys Properties in Dubai?
(18:00) – How the Real Estate Market Works
(32:03) – Best Places to Invest in Dubai
(34:04) – Partnering with Members of the Royal Family
(37:25) – How to Invest in Dubai from India
(43:07) – How to Choose the Right Building in Dubai
(46:33) – Unusual and Iconic Buildings in Dubai
(49:29) – Partnering with Taj
(51:04) – Billionaire Lifestyle & Mindset
(01:04:36) – Outro
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In this episode, we have Ankur Aggarwal, Founder & Chairman of BNW Developments, a real estate company built from scratch in just a few years, now operating across Dubai with luxury projects and royal partnerships. From starting a brokerage firm during the pandemic to running a zero-debt development company today, his journey is a case study in spotting opportunities and scaling fast.
We talk about how he started with no background in real estate, built a team of over 150 agents in months, and cracked the Dubai market by simply doing what others weren’t. He shares his philosophy on hiring, reinvesting, and why selling in luxury real estate is more psychology than sales.
Ankur also shares how he evaluates properties, chooses partners, and what makes Dubai such a strong market for investment.In the last segment, we get into his partnerships with global luxury brands and royal families, how he spots the next big location, and his definition of a dream home.
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