A Vietnamese entrepreneur in Dubai has transformed her nail art skills into a successful business, earning lakhs of money every month and planning for an early retirement. Nguyen Phuong Anh, popularly known as “Fullah”, moved to Dubai six years ago and went from working as a salaried nail technician to owning her own salon, Beauty by Fullah, in Jumeirah Village Circle.
The 32-year-old entrepreneur earns between Dh30,000 and Dh40,000 per month (around Rs 7 lakh to Rs 10 lakh), after building a loyal customer base with her detailed nail designs and business approach, according to The National.
From Vietnam to Dubai: A journey built on nail art
Fullah started learning and practising nail art more than 12 years ago in Vietnam. Her speciality was creating detailed 3D nail designs featuring flowers, animals and decorative charms.
After moving to Dubai, she initially worked at a small salon under a two-year contract, earning Dh3,500 every month. When the contract ended, she decided to work independently and began building her own customer base.
Working long hours without regular breaks helped her increase her earnings significantly. Her focus on creative designs, especially for younger customers, helped her stand out while keeping her services affordable.
Turning skills into a business
In June 2026, Fullah launched Beauty by Fullah, her own nail salon in Dubai. Instead of taking money out of the business, she chose to put her earnings back into expanding the salon.
She expects to start paying herself again after around three months and hopes to reach the income level she earned earlier while also creating jobs for others.
Despite her success, Fullah has maintained a simple lifestyle. Before opening her salon, she shared a studio room with a friend before moving into her own small space.
Her monthly expenses are around Dh6,000, including Dh1,000 for food and Dh5,000 for rent and petrol. She also sends Dh5,000 to Vietnam for investments and owns two houses there.
A 20-year dream beyond the salon
For Fullah, nail art remains the foundation of her journey. She now wants to expand her business by opening more branches and building a team that can generate steady income in the future.
"I want to invest more and open more branches – maybe five, not just in Dubai but in other emirates like Abu Dhabi or Fujairah," she said during an interview with the outlet.
Her long-term goal is to step away from daily work in about two decades and spend time closer to nature.
"In 20 years, I want to be retired. My plan is to buy more houses in Vietnam and maybe a farm. In 20 years, I'll just be on the farm with all the animals, growing vegetables. I like nature."
