'Dubai taught me to think bigger': Why this Dubai resident is embracing the 'Dubai-it' mindset

Dubai: Live in Dubai long enough and something begins to change. When you witness a city turn into a global hub, in real time, around you, the ambition rubs off. For many residents, that mindset is now shaping how they approach their own careers, businesses and personal goals. That is why His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai's newly launched 'Dubai-it' initiative has struck a chord with so many people across the country. Defining it as a verb, Sheikh Mohammed described 'Dubai-it' as achieving something extraordinary with excellence in record time and turning ambitious ideas into reality. For Indian expat, Divya Singh, who has lived in the UAE for seven years, the initiative immediately clicked, because her Dubai experience has been a masterclass in ambitious thinking. "Dubai has taught me to think bigger, move faster, and embrace possibilities that might seem ambitious elsewhere. What stands out most is the city's belief that challenges are opportunities to innovate rather than barriers to progress," she said. As the Head of Marketing at a UAE free zone, Singh said living and working in the UAE has fundamentally changed the way she approaches opportunities. "As a marketing leader, this philosophy has influenced how I approach goals. Instead of asking, 'Is this achievable?', I ask, 'What would it take to achieve this?' Whether it's launching strategic partnerships, entering new markets, or building initiatives that create long-term value, Dubai has reinforced the importance of being bold, agile and relentlessly focused on execution," she said. Dubai-it ‘We say what we do, and we do what we say’ For Singh, the appeal of ‘Dubai-it’ lies in the fact that it captures the ambition residents witness every day. "The Dubai work philosophy is a unique combination of ambition, resilience, innovation and action. It's a mindset that encourages people to dream boldly while maintaining a strong bias toward execution," she said. "Dubai doesn't wait for the perfect conditions. It creates them. It brings together people from diverse backgrounds, fosters collaboration and creates an environment where talent and ideas can thrive." That culture, she said, is visible everywhere, from government initiatives and major infrastructure projects to entrepreneurs building businesses from the ground up. "What I admire most is that Dubai celebrates achievement but also encourages continuous improvement. Success is never viewed as the finish line; it's simply the foundation for the next milestone. That culture of constantly raising the bar is what truly defines Dubai for me." How she plans to 'Dubai-it' Inspired by the initiative, Singh has already identified a goal she wants to pursue this year. For her, 'Dubai-it' is about creating opportunities that have a lasting impact on people. "If I were to 'Dubai-it' something this year, it would be to create greater opportunities for entrepreneurs, creators and businesses to connect, grow and thrive," she said. "For me, 'Dubai-it' means taking an idea that creates value for people and scaling it into something that can make a lasting impact."