'I was sent back on my first day of arrival'

Meet Dr Khalid Maniar, founder & managing partner of Crowe Horwath in UAE, who shifted his career from London to the UAE in 1981.

My first day in the UAE could have been September 9, 1981. I was 29 years old when I reached here to help a client from London where I was practising as a chartered accountant. But my ambition was to establish chartered accountants firm in Dubai with the experience I gained working at Siddique & Partners in the UK, whilst pursuing my Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) qualification..
However, my first day was deferred as the transit visa I had was refused when I first reached here. The profession on passport was student and the visa was of business. I had to go back to India and change my profession to business. Finally I landed here again on September 16, 1981.
My client wanted me to supervise and manage the backlog of accounting and this was my first assignment. My first salary was Dh12,000 as I was helping my client while trying to complete the legal process of trade licence.
I remember getting my salary and first thing I did was to visit the municipality legal adviser to find the procedure to establish licence. Initially, I felt discouraged as my professional qualification was not accepted for establishing the licence.
Back then, the process was very lengthy and many documents were needed to be legalised/attested by different authorities. Today, after three decades, I see people are far more disciplined and organised, and required processes are in place to expedite business procedures.
Crowe UAE was founded in 1981 and since then has gone from strength to strength. The firm was established under the name of Mak & Partners at an office apartment on Al Maktoum Road.
During my initial days in Dubai, I discovered that people here are very cooperative and have a friendly culture. And still they are. Being a Muslim, I found that fundamentals were the same.
I got used to the climate here as I was then residing in London, where it was too cold. This place is indeed warm in many ways that they make you feel at home.
In 2007, the firm joined the global top 9 accountancy network Horwath International which became Horwath Mak.
Horwath Mak, during 2016, was ranked as the UAE's 5^th largest and Middle East's 7^th largest audit firm, with 16 partners and close to 200 professionals in the UAE. Globally, we have more than 752 offices and more than 33,000 staff. When I look back, I only thank Allah for what I have achieved and the life I am living with enormous opportunities to explore. I am blessed with a son who keeps me active on social media platforms.
My principal, under whom I qualified, always advised me: "Be good and you will only come across good people."
And I follow a golden rule: Look for the perspectives of others who may get affected with what you do or say before doing or saying anything.
I strongly advise to the new comers that they have to expect the unexpected but be cool, in the end, things will happen and fall in place.
I admire Mahatma Gandhi and love the book, Flashes of Thoughts by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
My favourite movie is Amitabh Bachchan starring Dewaar. And the wish, I always cherish is to visit  holy city of Makkah again and again.
(As told to Sandhya D'Mello)