From rags to riches: Shameer’s inspiring journey motivates millions

Living under the leaking roof of a rented house with his family of seven in a small town in Kerala, a 13-year-old child has nothing to his name except for dreams to study hard and obtain a job. But life had something more to offer him. His path was always filled with thorns and obstacles, but he was not ready to give up. If you wish to see him now, then you have to board a flight and reach his luxury villa in Dubai, the magic land that nourishes dreams and desires. You can see him living amongst the luxuries, but he is still the same young child he used to be with all his innocence. His name is Muhammed Shameer Ali, and the business empire he built in the UAE is MAKS Investments.

Shameer was the eldest of his family, which included his grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, sister, and younger brother. His grandfather was a PWD contractor, and life was somewhat smooth, just like any ordinary middle-class family in Pathanamthitta, Kerala. But misfortune struck their lives just like an unexpected thunderbolt. A project undertaken by his grandfather went bankrupt, and the family had to sell everything they owned in their name.

Since Shameer and his siblings were too young, the responsibility of saving the family automatically fell on the shoulders of his father, Muhammed Ali. After moving into a small rented house, which they could afford at the time, his father started a small business, which also faced huge financial losses. Later on, he had to leave the country for Saudi Arabia with his wife’s brother to pay back his debts.

With this, the young Shameer Ali decided one thing. He has to take on the responsibility of the household and work twice as hard as any other child his age. He decided to make small profits, and he unknowingly entered the world of business at the age of 13. His first business venture was the sale of his only asset, a bicycle, which was gifted to him by his dearest grandmother.

The rate at which the bicycle was bought was Rs 650, and he somehow managed to sell it for Rs 850. Even though it was not much of a profit, the budding entrepreneur inside Shameer was happy; at least he could save his family from the poverty they had to face frequently. Everyone except for his mother’s family abandoned him and his family. But this doesn't affect him, as he was a boy built with a strong heart and desire to live.

As the years passed, he continued to study and simultaneously did his side business of selling vehicles. It started with a bicycle, later reaching the Maruti 800 at the time of Shameer’s post-graduation. This little money he thought he could use for his postgraduate studies was not enough. As an elder brother and a son who was supporting his family, there was never enough money left for him to meet his needs, even when he was a part-time mango seller and an autorickshaw driver.

Shameer thought at that time that at least he didn't have to depend on his family or relatives for money. So when his post-graduation dreams flourished in his mind, he decided to approach some prominent politicians for help and banks for educational loans in his locality, but everyone rejected him and teased him, saying he was not a meritorious student.

"In this life, I am indebted to a man whose name I don't even know. He was the manager of the State Bank of India, which I approached for my loan. I had no merits to showcase, not even my academic marks. I just said to him, "Sir, I need to study. Please don't reject my application." At that point, Shameer knew that a ‘yes'  from that person could change his entire life. And to Shameer’s wonder, he said ‘yes’.

During his post-graduation itself, he secured employment offers from ICICI Bank in Mumbai and HDFC Bank in Bangalore. But due to his craze in the educational sector, he quit the job he had in 2006 and joined as an admissions officer at an engineering college in TamilNadu. Later on, he decided to leave the country and fly to Dubai for a better financial income and life. But life again decided to test his loyalty to his dreams. This time, bad luck came in the form of the recession. Businesses in Dubai had to face a serious recession, and Shameer had problems with his visa. He had no other choice but to return to India.

Upon returning, he again joined an educational institution, the Malabar College of Engineering and Technology, as an administrative officer, or, to be precise, as one of the youngest administrative officers in Kerala. His career progressed, and parallelly, he was planning for something big. To start his own business in the land that rejected him. In 2015, with a load of responsibilities and dreams, he and his younger brother went back to Dubai. With just three staff, he started off  with his dream company, District 3 Marine Services LLC in a 200-square-foot room. By March of the year, he was able to buy his first yacht, and the number of employees rose from 3 to 6. This was a huge leap for Shameer and his brother. The rest is history.

Their entrepreneurial endeavours didn't stop there. They ventured into the trading of marine products and eventually acquired DM International, which they rebranded as MMGT (Maks Marine General Trading). In 2018, they established two subsidiary wings: D3 Marine Services, which offered D3 Yacht rental services and watersports, and District Marine Services LLC, dedicated to maintenance. Over time, their business expanded into various other fields. In 2019, they founded D3 Realtors, a builders and developers company in India. In 2020, Thamvos Interiors Decoration LLC, a design-build company, was established in Dubai.

The year 2021 marked the launch of D3 Teck, an IT and marketing company in India, as well as Sport my Trip, a travel and booking company. In 2022, Shameer made investments in Prudential Holdings, an Africa-based company, and developed a timber exporting company in South Sudan. Additionally, they entered the hospitality sector. He also meticulously designed and developed a breathtaking 4-star hotel that exudes elegance and charm, named Azur Regency in Dubai. The same year, they launched Thamvos Advertisement, an advertising company in Dubai. In 2023, they plan to consolidate all these companies under the name “MAKS Investments”.

In other words Muhmmed Shameer is a business magnate, with his businesses spread across the globe who has enterprises that cover almost all luxury and entertainment services around the globe, including interior design consultation, digital signage, real estate, cafes, hotel apartments, IT and digital marketing, marine general trading, yacht brokerage, travel and tourism, water sports, etc.

Today, D3 Yachts stands as one of the leading luxury yacht companies in Dubai. In addition to his new investments, Shameer is committed to refining existing companies to meet futuristic and international standards. They have established numerous offices for their business in various locations, with a total of more than 200 employees. Every year, without fail, they organise an Iftar meeting for their employees.

Similarly, they celebrate various festivals such as Onam, Christmas, Eid, and Ramadan by providing lunch to their employees and their families. One of Dubai's most highly anticipated celebrations takes place in Dubai Marina, featuring a luxury yacht show organised by D3 Yachts. As the flag is raised, all the yachts of the company gather in a circle. Following the flag-raising ceremony and cultural display, there will be a two-hour procession from Dubai Marina to the surrounding area. Afterwards, guests will enjoy a scenic boat ride through Dubai's landmarks, including Atlantis, to conclude the event.

Shameer has future plans to establish a furniture manufacturing company in India with a focus on creating value and delivering aesthetically pleasing products. He has successfully manufactured and supplied under his brand MAKS marine products such as life jackets, life rafts, and insulation tape etc. Recently, he signed a dealership distribution agreement with USA/German based import company Positech (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited.

Even when all these fortunes embraced Muhammed Shameer after his struggling journey, he was still a simple man of his word. He remembers the suffering he had to face during his childhood. That's why he gives a portion of his wealth to the education of underprivileged children. He had a non-governmental organisation named Fidha Education Trust. For Shameer, Fidha is not just a corporate social responsibility activity firm. He sees himself in every child that he sponsors. Apart from the education of children, this organisation also assists in the rehabilitation of widows and patients. In the near future, Fidha is also planning a dialysis unit for marginalised and underprivileged patients.

Currently, Shameer Ali and his brother Shafeeq Ali own a villa in Dubai, are well settled, and live with their family. When asked about his family, Shameer had a graceful smile on his face. "I am thankful to the Lord for giving me all these fortunes. I definitely have to thank some of the most important women in my life: my grandmother, mother, chinnamma (my mother’s sister), and my wife. They were there with me during my ups and downs in life.

I want my children to learn that life is a rollercoaster and that what is important is to get an education and become mature citizens." His financial struggles and childhood business experiences have shaped him into a successful businessman. Through proper strategy, structural management, and a cooperative approach, Shameer has established a strong foundation and achieved business success. To the upcoming entrepreneurs, he has advice: "The world is a potential market; identify your place in it and work for it with a focus on the goal. After all, everything in life comes with a price, and let that price be the struggles you undertake”.