Take a break: a typology of immigrant enterprise growth strategies in non-traditional entrepreneurship settings

What is it about?

This study explores how Asian immigrant entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Unlike in Western countries, where immigrants are often pushed into low-paying or marginal businesses, Dubai offers a very different environment. With a population made up of over 200 nationalities and government policies that actively welcome business formation, immigrant entrepreneurs are central to the economy rather than outsiders. We interviewed 66 entrepreneurs from China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, and other transnational Asian backgrounds. From their stories, we identified four main ways they grow their businesses: Breaking Back – entrepreneurs who set up temporary businesses in the UAE but reinvest their profits into businesses in their home countries. Breaking Through – entrepreneurs who expand slowly within their ethnic communities, often duplicating small businesses such as shops, salons, or kiosks. Breaking Out – entrepreneurs who target mainstream Emirati and tourist customers, moving beyond their ethnic niche. Breaking Beyond – highly educated and well-funded transnational entrepreneurs who establish capital-intensive businesses (such as luxury rentals or clinics) that serve affluent global clients. These strategies are shaped by the kinds of capital entrepreneurs can access—financial, human, and social—and by how much risk they are willing to take. The study shows that Dubai’s multicultural setting allows for more diverse pathways than those typically described in Western studies of immigrant entrepreneurship. Our findings suggest that policymakers should support immigrant businesses not only through visas and financing, but also by offering language training and mental health support. This would help entrepreneurs who rely on long hours, low wages, and strong family networks to sustain their businesses. For researchers, the study provides a new typology that helps explain the different ways immigrant entrepreneurs grow their enterprises in emerging economies.

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