It was 1999 when a young woman from Bulgaria arrived in the UAE with little more than determination and a belief that hard work could change her life.
She didn’t speak the language well, she had no network, and nothing was guaranteed, but she had a clear goal: to build a future through effort, learning, and persistence. Step by step, through discipline and resilience, she began a journey that would eventually lead her from humble beginnings to building a UAE-born company designed to help others succeed.
In an interview with Dubai Newsweek, Kamelia Allow, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based BookBI AI, reflects on a journey shaped by resilience, learning, and an unwavering focus on structure and discipline.
Kamelia Allow, founder of BookBI AI
Kamelia Allow arrived in the UAE at the age of 23 with a simple but powerful motivation: to rebuild her life and become independent. With very limited English, she began working in a hotel in Abu Dhabi, handling basic tasks and long shifts, often unable to express herself fully.
“I came to the UAE with almost no English and no network. I started from the bottom, doing basic work, and many days were very quiet because I couldn’t communicate properly. But I knew that if I worked hard and learned every day, things would eventually change,” she said.
Instead of seeing language as a barrier, she treated learning as survival. On her days off, she spent hours in the library, reading children’s books with a dictionary, slowly building confidence.
“On my days off, I went to the library and read children’s books word by word. I learned new words every day, and within six months I was able to have conversations. That period taught me that when something is hard, you don’t give up — you find a way to learn.”
Discipline, structure and trust
The early years were marked by loneliness, long hours, and the pressure of building a life from scratch. Through this, Kamelia learned that motivation alone is not enough, progress requires structure.
“I learned very early that success is not about motivation. It’s about structure. I worked with purpose, took overtime whenever I could, and focused on learning every single day. That consistency is what helped me move forward,” she added.
By showing up early, staying late, and volunteering for responsibilities, she built trust and a reputation for reliability, something she considers essential in both careers and business.
“I didn’t wait for perfect conditions. I focused on delivering results, building trust, and improving step by step. That mindset stayed with me and later became my business mindset as well.”
Building business through systems
Years later, working in finance, Kamelia noticed a recurring pattern: most businesses struggled not because of lack of effort, but because they lacked proper systems.
“I realised that many business owners work extremely hard, but they struggle because they don’t have systems in place. Effort alone is not enough if the foundation is weak.”
Her first venture started small — just two employees and one client — but it was built around clear processes, quality control, and discipline. Over time, it grew into a company serving more than 3,000 clients before she exited the business.
“We built step by step, focusing on processes and trust. Ten years later, we had a strong team, our own internal technology, and thousands of clients. That journey taught me that systems come first, and growth follows,” she said.
The birth of BookBI AI
BookBI was born from everyday realities faced by small businesses in the UAE. As compliance requirements increased, many founders struggled with bookkeeping, VAT, and Corporate Tax obligations.
“Business owners move very fast, but compliance can slow them down or expose them to serious risks. Today, clean records are not optional — banks and regulators expect them.”
She saw that most accounting softwares were built for accountants, not business owners, and often failed to reflect UAE-specific workflows.
“Many startups can’t afford a qualified accountant from day one, and global tools are full of jargon. We wanted to build something simple, UAE-first, and designed for business owners who want clarity, not complexity.”
Launched in September 2025, BookBI quickly gained traction among small UAE businesses.
“BookBI issues invoices in seconds, captures expenses quickly, runs double-entry accounting in the background, and shows clear reports in one place. The goal is accuracy without fear, and structure without confusion,” she told Dubai Newsweek.
Bulgarian Business Council
Beyond her work with BookBI, Kamelia is active in strengthening ties between Bulgarian and UAE business communities through her role on the Board of the Bulgarian Business Council.
“Our role is to build bridges between Bulgaria and the UAE. That means practical support — helping businesses land correctly, understand compliance, and meet banking expectations.”
She believes clean and well-structured records make collaboration and growth easier for everyone.
“When businesses have proper structure and clean numbers, it becomes much easier to trade, partner, and access finance. This is where technology and community come together.”
Women, leadership, and confidence in the UAE
Kamelia describes the UAE as one of the most supportive environments for women entrepreneurs, while acknowledging the challenges.
“The UAE is safe, international, and performance-driven. If you are serious and focused, you can grow very fast. But confidence and balance are still real challenges, especially when you have family responsibilities.”
Her advice to women founders is straightforward and practical.
“Learn the numbers, build a support network, and start before you feel ready. A strong product and clean execution earn respect very quickly, especially here.”
Looking Ahead
Looking to the future, Kamelia’s vision for BookBI goes beyond software.
“Our goal is to make BookBI the everyday finance and compliance tool for small businesses in the UAE first, and then expand regionally and globally. The bigger mission is trust, helping businesses become bank-ready and investment-ready.”
Grounded by her family and guided by consistency, learning, and focus on fundamentals, Kamelia Allow, the mother of twin boys, continues to build with clarity and purpose.
“When things get complicated, I always return to the basics, people, process, and numbers. When small businesses get this right, everything becomes possible,” she concluded.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
