My Journey
The Story
Behind the Success
Resilience, discipline and a belief in people — the journey of Maqsood Muhammed, from a young man supporting his family in India to Founder and Chairman of AFM Holding in Dubai.
Chapter I · India
Responsibility from a young age
Maqsood Muhammed was born in India in 1978. Responsibility came early: while still studying, he worked to help support his family, with his uncles behind him every step of the way. That is where he found the drive that would carry him through everything that followed.
Chapter II · Technology
Learning the hard way
He started at the bottom, as a trainee. Information technology was the pull — first as an education consultant, then as a hardware engineer. The rejections were many. He kept going, earned his industry certifications and, one role at a time, made a place for himself in a crowded field.
Chapter III · 2000 – 2005
Discipline, precision, purpose
In 2000 he moved to the UAE and joined the UAE Navy as an IT systems engineer. He served for four years, and AFM Holding still describes those years as the foundation of the discipline, precision and mission-first mindset that define the group today.
In 2005 he joined Dubai Municipality as a network engineer, building the expertise he would later bring to business.
Chapter IV · 2022
Making dreams a reality
In 2022 he founded AFM Properties in Dubai. The idea was never just to sell homes; it was to make dreams a reality — words that became the company’s tagline, “Making Your Dreams a Reality.” With his brother, Mr. Ameer, and close friends Mr. Zakir, Mr. Eran and Mr. Osama, he branched out: alternative energy with Geo Power, digital marketing with Digistromer and media production with Media Stream.
That year he also launched his own cryptocurrency, MNGTS — his first step into digital currencies.
AFM Properties went on to win Best Agency – Off Plan at the Ultimate Realty Awards two years running, in 2025 and 2026.
Chapter V · 2024
Building, not just selling
In 2024 the story moved from selling homes to building them. AFM Developments unveiled its first project, Bonito Residence, at a pre-launch in September and launched it that October, with Salman Khan as Chief Guest and a promise of affordable luxury living.
That December, as CEO of AFM Developments, he partnered with Da-Bangg The Tour Reloaded and lit up the Dubai night sky with a drone display.
“This is just the beginning of how we’re redefining the future of innovation and entertainment.”
Chapter VI · 2025
A story the region noticed
May 2025 brought AFM Properties its first Best Agency – Off Plan award, at the Ultimate Realty Awards. In October he was honoured at Icons of the UAE – Season 3, presented by NKN Media and India Today, and talked about his journey on the red carpet. In December, Aaj Tak and India Today broadcast his feature.
That October the group also opened a new door: Funky Souq, its e-commerce venture.
Chapter VII · AFM Holding
One vision, one team
Today he leads AFM Holding as Founder and Chairman: a UAE-headquartered group of more than 300 people, with ventures across real estate, construction, energy, media, digital marketing, fashion, e-commerce, health technology and interiors.
The group’s mission, in its own words, is “to build businesses that create lasting value for our partners, our people, and the communities we operate in.” Khaleej Times, Gulf Business and Fast Company Middle East have all followed its progress, and in December 2025 The Gulf Time reported growth of around 20% for the year.
Chapter VIII · 2026
Partnerships for what comes next
In May 2026, AFM Holding welcomed actor and entrepreneur Sanjay Dutt to Dubai and announced him as a partner — the start, in the group’s words, of a partnership built on shared ideas across many industries. The same week, AFM Development and NKN Media announced an official signing, and the two men sat down with Gulf News, City 101.6 FM and Construction Week to talk about the UAE’s resilience and its rise as a global centre for business, investment and innovation.
July took AFM Properties to New Delhi, for a two-day real estate expo organised by NKN Media at Taj Palace. In September, AFM Holding became Supporting Partner of Falcons of Majlis, a startup funding show that backs bold founders. And in October 2026 he was Guest of Honour at the Inspiring Business Awards – Dubai Edition.
Principles
What guides him
Never give up
The words he has lived by since his first job as a trainee.
Lift others
“Strength is not always about constant success. It’s about lifting others while you’re still getting back up.”
People first
Lasting success, he believes, is built on people, not just profit.
Timeline
Milestones at a glance
2000
Moves to the UAE and joins the UAE Navy as an IT systems engineer, serving for four years.
2005
Joins Dubai Municipality as a network engineer.
2022
Founds AFM Properties in Dubai and, with his brother and close friends, ventures into alternative energy (Geo Power), digital marketing (Digistromer) and media production (Media Stream).
2022
Launches his own cryptocurrency, MNGTS.
Sep 2024
AFM Developments celebrates the pre-launch of its first project, Bonito Residence. Source ↗
Oct 2024
Launches Bonito Residence with Salman Khan as Chief Guest, and announces a partnership with Da-Bangg Reloaded. Source ↗
Dec 2024
As CEO of AFM Developments, brings a drone display to the Dubai sky during Da-Bangg The Tour Reloaded. Source ↗
May 2025
AFM Properties wins Best Agency – Off Plan at the Ultimate Realty Awards, Season 2. Source ↗
Oct 2025
Honoured at Icons of the UAE – Season 3; Funky Souq launches. Source ↗
Dec 2025
His Icons of the UAE feature is broadcast on Aaj Tak and India Today. Source ↗
Feb 2026
AFM Properties wins Best Agency – Off Plan again, at the Ultimate Realty Awards, Season 3. Source ↗
May 2026
AFM Holding welcomes actor and entrepreneur Sanjay Dutt as a partner; AFM Development and NKN Media announce an official signing. Source ↗
Jul 2026
AFM Properties takes part in the NKN Media real estate expo at Taj Palace, New Delhi. Source ↗
Sep 2026
AFM Holding becomes Supporting Partner of Falcons of Majlis, a startup funding show. Source ↗
Oct 2026
Guest of Honour at the Inspiring Business Awards – Dubai Edition. Source ↗
Moments
In pictures
In the press
Coverage
Gulf Business
AFM Holding focused on steady growth with diversified, tech-led strategy, says chairman ↗
April 2026
Fast Company Middle East
AI is retail’s ultimate advantage — and its biggest risk. Here’s why ↗
February 2026
TahawulTech
AFM Holding engineers future of retail via technology, data and intelligent platform ↗
January 2026
The Gulf Time
AFM Holding records 20% growth in 2025, sets execution-led strategy for 2026 ↗
December 2025
The Gulf Pulse
Saudi Arabia is transforming the region’s future – and we are paying attention ↗
December 2025
The Integrator
How technology and global reach are reshaping the future of UAE real estate ↗
November 2025
This story is compiled from Maqsood Muhammed’s official Instagram (@maqsood_muhammed_afm), posts by AFM Holding and event organisers, the AFM Holding website and published press coverage. Each dated milestone links to its source.
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