This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the incredible women in Dubai’s real estate market, those who have redefined real estate success and made their mark in an industry that has long been considered male-dominated.
One such powerhouse is Shazia Soorty – (Shanze), who’s an Associate Director at Espace, and her journey in Dubai’s real estate market is nothing short of inspiring.
From 0 to 100: Shanze’s journey into real estate
Shanze was born and raised in Dubai to Iranian/Pakistani parents and completed her schooling here. With a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Sharjah University, she had aspirations in the field, but at 20, marriage led her down a different path. After becoming a mother by 23, she spent nearly a decade in Romania before returning to Dubai in 2004.
With two young children at home, Shanze was a stay-at-home mother, and pursuing a full-time job seemed impossible until her sister joined a real estate firm and introduced her to the industry. Curious and eager, since Shanze had never worked prior to this, she took a leap in 2009, stepping into the world of real estate.
Since all of Dubai was chasing after the real estate rise, Shanze started as a sales broker at Waterfront Properties where she spent her early days driving around Dubai, learning the communities, studying the market and connecting with people. Her first major breakthrough was closing a villa deal in Green Community, followed by another in Jumeirah Islands. That was the moment where she became ‘addicted’ to working in real estate!
Breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry
In 2011, after two successful years and many deals, Shanze joined Espace, when the company had just 25 employees, and she was the only female broker. It would have been easy to feel intimidated, but she was determined to rise above the challenges and was resiliant enough to know her worth. With the mentorship of industry leaders like Peter Calamari, Roberto Perez Lorenzo and John Lyons, she quickly built her network, and applied her knowledge to practicality by closing her first deal in Meadows.
Still Shanze believes that even as the industry evolved, one thing remained constant which was that women had to work twice as hard to make their mark. “If you don’t command respect, you will always feel intimidated,” she said. But instead of looking at the negatives, she paid attention to her work.
Mastering the art of negotiations
We asked Shanze, what sets her apart[IA5] from the other agents? It is her approach, honesty, knowledge, and client-first service is the key.
Her strategy? Complete transparency. From market insights to future projections, she puts herself into her clients shoes and understands what it is they are looking for. This level of trust has helped her build a loyal client base, with referrals coming in from relationships built 15 years ago and now turning into good friendships.
When it comes to negotiations, she is assertive, data-driven, and strategic. “I always back my insights with industry statistics, recent transaction data, and real-time market trends. When clients see the facts, they listen.” She said.
And the results speak for themselves. Among her career milestones, she’s closed deals worth AED 21 million and put AED 4 million in commission on the board – talk about living large!
The balancing act – Motherhood and work
Now a single mother, with one child studying abroad and another preparing to leave, Shanze shared that she managed the delicate balance between work and family. But it hasn’t been easy. In an industry that doesn’t operate within typical work hours, she’s had to set boundaries, stay disciplined, and lean on her family for support.
“Real estate is like breathing for me. I can’t switch off—I love it too much,” she said.
The future of real estate – Can it become equally dominated?
Despite making strides, Shanze feels that the real estate industry still has a long way to go in terms of gender equality. Women remain the minority, but Shanze believes the key to success is persistence and resilience which is something women do really well.
“If you don’t make your mark, you won’t survive,” she says. “You have to push, be confident, and take up space.”
And for those looking to enter the industry? Her advice is simple, be honest. Whether selling, leasing, or advising, always put yourelf in your client’s shoes. When you operate with integrity, clients remember you and that’s how you build a lasting career.
Celebrating the women who make Espace stronger
Shanze’s journey is just one of many successful women who work at Espace, whether as agents, or in back-end support, but it’s a powerful reminder that women in real estate are shaping the industry in ways that cannot be ignored.
At Espace, we celebrate Shanze and all the women who have created history with this us!
Looking to buy your next home with Shanze?
You can contact Shanze – HERE and browse your next set of homes!
As a truly customer-centric real estate agency, we offer a range of related services that are designed to make your property journey stress-free and successful from start to end.
