After a single visit changed his perspective, the expat entrepreneur decided to build his future and businesses in Dubai.
For many entrepreneurs, relocating to another country is a decision that takes years of planning. For Ukrainian entrepreneur Ivan Kroshnyi, it happened almost instantly.
In late 2020, Kroshnyi was preparing to settle in Andorra, drawn by its quiet lifestyle and favorable tax environment for international business owners. But a short visit to Dubai completely changed his direction.
“Dubai immediately matched my pace and mindset,” Kroshnyi said. “It felt open, fast, and ambitious.”
Within weeks, he canceled his European residency plans and relocated permanently to the UAE in January 2021.
Today, Kroshnyi oversees businesses across fintech, brokerage, hospitality, and logistics operating in 19 countries. But according to him, the most valuable thing Dubai taught him was not expansion. It was learning how to embrace calculated risk.
The Million-Dollar Decision That Changed Everything
Soon after arriving in Dubai, Kroshnyi met another entrepreneur through a business networking club. What started as a conversation quickly evolved into a business proposal that would later become Roasters Specialty Coffee House.
The opportunity arrived with pressure attached.
A prime retail location had suddenly become available, but multiple parties were competing for the space. The decision had to be made within hours.
“I had only a few hours to decide whether to invest my first million dollars into a retail sector that was completely new to me,” Kroshnyi recalled. “I thought about it for two hours and said yes.”
The decision became a turning point.
Roasters Specialty Coffee House later established itself within the UAE’s competitive café market and is now preparing for international expansion. For Kroshnyi, the experience reinforced a principle he continues to follow today: intuition matters, but only when backed by logic, research, and timing.
Why Dubai Rewards Ambitious Entrepreneurs
According to Kroshnyi, one of Dubai’s biggest advantages is how quickly the city moves from ideas to execution.
“What I like most about Dubai is that the word ‘impossible’ does not carry the same weight here,” he explained. “If you have a serious idea, the question is usually not whether it can be done but how quickly and how well it can be built.”
That mindset later encouraged him to launch Eco Way, an electric motorbike infrastructure project focused on improving delivery logistics and supporting cleaner urban transport systems.
For Kroshnyi, entering the logistics sector was not a safe or predictable move. But he believes Dubai creates an environment where entrepreneurs are encouraged to test scalable ideas connected to the country’s future direction.
“If a project solves a real problem and creates long-term value, there is usually a path forward in the UAE,” he said.
Looking Beyond Surface-Level Success
Dubai’s business environment also taught Kroshnyi an important lesson about partnerships and credibility.
“In a city where success and status are highly visible, you learn to look deeper,” he explained. “You need to understand who has real substance, who can build long-term value, and who is simply presenting an image.”
That ability to evaluate people carefully became increasingly important as his businesses expanded across multiple industries and international markets.
According to Kroshnyi, long-term success in Dubai depends heavily on trust, consistency, and financial discipline rather than appearances alone.
Building Businesses During Global Uncertainty
As global markets continue to face economic pressure and geopolitical uncertainty, Kroshnyi believes diversification has become essential for modern entrepreneurs.
Rather than depending on a single market or industry, he focused on building businesses across multiple sectors, including hospitality, fintech, logistics, and brokerage services.
“That balance matters,” he said. “It protects the wider system and creates more stability for the teams and partners depending on the business.”
For him, sustainable growth today is not only about expansion. It is about building structures strong enough to absorb volatility during uncertain periods.
Mentoring The Next Generation Of Entrepreneurs
Beyond his own businesses, Kroshnyi has increasingly become a mentor for founders looking to enter the UAE market.
With more than 200,000 English-speaking followers across social media platforms, he frequently receives questions from entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in Dubai and the wider Middle East.
His advice is usually direct.
Many founders arrive with ambition but underestimate the importance of local market understanding.
“Some entrepreneurs assume they can copy a business model that worked somewhere else,” he explained. “But long-term success here requires understanding culture, respecting the market, and maintaining financial discipline.”
According to Kroshnyi, ambition alone is never enough. Execution, adaptability, and preparation matter far more.
Dubai As A Place To Build The Future
Even after several years in the UAE, Kroshnyi says Dubai’s pace continues to motivate him.
“There is always a new infrastructure project, a new technology initiative, a new national strategy, or a new opportunity being created,” he said.
For him, the UAE represents more than a business hub. It represents a place where entrepreneurs can actively participate in shaping the future.
“The UAE gives people a real chance to grow,” Kroshnyi added. “But it rewards people who come prepared. Dream big, move fast, but make sure the foundation is strong.”
Source: Gulf News
Photo: Ivan Kroshnyi, co-founder of Roasters Specialty Coffee House, Virendra Saklani / Gulf News
