Monika Singh arrived in Dubai 12 years ago with a dentistry degree and a clear plan: clear the licensing exams and set up practice. Life had other ideas. A few dance fitness classes, taken mostly to unwind, turned into a passion and then a profession. Today, according to The National, she runs her own women’s wellness coaching business in the city and earns between Dh42,000 and Dh45,000 a month, roughly Rs 10.9 lakh to Rs 11.6 lakh.
From exam prep to the dance floor
Monika moved to Dubai planning to take the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) licensing examinations and work as a dentist. While she was preparing, she started going to group workout classes and fell in love with dance fitness. What began as a personal interest slowly started to feel like a calling.“I was never into fitness, honestly,” she told The National. “I started attending dance fitness classes, and it just kind of stayed with me, and I was like, ‘Oh wow, I really want to do this.’” She shared her feelings with her husband, and he was very supportive.
Building a career, one class at a time
She began by teaching group exercise classes at studios across Dubai. These early jobs gave her a foothold in the industry and the experience she needed before starting out on her own.Her dental background turned out to be a real advantage. Having studied anatomy and physiology, she understood how the body works, and she built on that by training in women’s wellness, particularly during midlife. Her approach avoids pushing the body too hard, and focuses on helping women reach their fitness goals without excessive strain or pressure.
A full client list, and a careful approach to money
Monika now coaches 23 clients in Dubai. Despite a comfortable income, she says she has not started investing yet and is still focused on saving.She explained how she manages her money: “I do save. I’m not investing yet, but I do take care of my daily routine. I have a boy, seven years old, so I manage his school fees, then take care of my car loan, and some house chores. I keep around Dh3,000 to Dh4,000 (approximately Rs 78,000 to Rs 1.03 lakh) aside for household expenses, and the rest I save. My husband takes care of the rest of the house.”
What comes next
Her immediate goal is to launch an online portal and app for her wellness business. Development costs are high, so she has been saving up for it. Further down the road, she hopes to buy a bigger house for her family once the business grows and brings in more income.
