Abdulrazagh “Abu Nader” Mohammadi is the CEO of Philippine Supermarket in UAE.  JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

When we meet Abu Nader, he had just come from paying his last respects at a funeral for a member of Sharjah’s royal family. Despite a packed schedule, the Emirati businessman walks in with a calm smile and a familiar warmth that has made him beloved in the Filipino community. “I had to pay my respects,” he says softly, adjusting his white kandura. “It’s part of life — showing up when it matters. I even brought my son. I want him to learn that lesson.” It’s that same philosophy — showing up for people — that has defined every chapter of Abu Nader’s life. And it’s what has turned his Philippine Supermarket brand into one of Dubai’s most enduring community-driven success stories.

Filipino food revolution in Dubai

When Philippine Supermarket opened its first branch in Al Muraqqabat, there was nothing quite like it in Dubai. It wasn’t just a grocery store — it was a piece of home for hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipinos craving the comfort of sinigang mix, pancit canton, or tuyo. “I was the first one to open a Filipino supermarket in Al Muraqqabat,” Abu Nader tells Expat Media with pride. “After that, I saw seven others open nearby. One even opened two branches on both sides of me! But still, our sales kept increasing. People come because they trust us — they know our prices are fair and our service is from the heart.” That trust has made Philippine Supermarket a household name. It remains a cornerstone of the Filipino community in Dubai; where customers not only shop, but often find a gesture of kindness from its owner. “Every night, I am there from 7pm to 8pm,” he says. “No child leaves my supermarket without a gift.”

More Philippine Supermarket branches coming

Two years ago, Abu Nader was invited by the Philippine government to attend a major food industry exhibition in Manila. That visit changed how he viewed the future of his business. “I spent five days meeting suppliers and manufacturers,” he recalls. “I saw how much the Philippines is moving forward in the food industry, healthier, more innovative, more export-ready products. There are new brands for everything now. I was really impressed.” He brought those products back to the UAE, many of which are now proudly displayed on the shelves of Philippine Supermarket. “Even my Emirati wife uses Filipino cosmetics now,” he laughs. “They’re very popular.” Abu Nader is expanding Philippine Supermarket— again. “We are eyeing the full ground floor of a new building in Dubai’s Al Barsha,” he reveals. “Hopefully, that will be our newest Philippine Supermarket. There are already five or six supermarkets in the area, but I believe people will come to us directly because we don’t just sell products, we sell trust.” Three more Philippine Supermarket branches are in the pipeline: Satwa, Al Barsha, and another Karama outlet in Al Attar Centre; with an eye toward opening the Al Barsha branch by 2026. Even as he grows his chain, Abu Nader’s imagination remains as boundless as ever. His ambitious Kabayan World project — an all-Filipino entertainment and lifestyle complex with cinemas, sports facilities, and hotels — is currently on hold as he seeks investors, but the vision remains alive. “Manny Pacquiao encouraged me to do it,” he says. “We already have the plans. We just need the right funding: at least Dh50 million. It will happen when the time is right.” He also dreams of launching Salon De Manila, a real estate company, and other ventures that will keep him connected to the Filipino community in the UAE that he loves so deeply. His hope for the future is simple: “To be remembered as someone who had a Filipino heart. Someone who helped others, built something that made life easier for many, and made Filipinos proud of their own products.”

Abu Nader’s legacy in the making

If you ask Filipinos in Dubai who Abu Nader is, you’ll likely hear the same affectionate nickname: “Ninong ng Bayan” — the Godfather of the Nation. It’s a title he earned long before the supermarket era. Through his now-defunct Al Wasl Travels, Abu Nader helped more than 300,000 Filipinos come to Dubai, offering them discounted tickets, visa assistance, and sometimes even travel on credit. “Sometimes when somebody didn’t have money, I told them, ‘You can pay me when you find work,’” he recalls. “I just wanted to help people reach their dreams.” That viral Expat Media interview a few years ago cemented his reputation as the Emirati with a Filipino heart. And he has lived up to it ever since. “I may be Emirati,” he says, “but people see me as having a Filipino heart more than anything else. Even at Filipino events, people joke and say, ‘The Philippine ambassador is here!’ That makes me very happy.” Beyond his business acumen, Abu Nader is known for his old-school discipline and compassion. “I always come on time,” he says. “Young people today wake up at noon. I wake up at 7am or 8am, take honey with hot water, read the news, then go to work. I tell my son that success starts with being early and consistent.” He has already begun preparing his son to take over the family business. “I have put the supermarket under his name,” he says. “I’ve trained my staff and my family. Life is like that. We must prepare for the next generation.” For Abu Nader, success is not measured by wealth, but by impact. “I grew up curious,” he reflects. “I read a lot. I learned that education and kindness are the two most powerful things a person can have. Be kind to everyone, and keep learning. That’s the best legacy.” It’s a legacy already in motion — one built on compassion, community and the biggest heart that beats with both Emirati pride and Filipino warmth. PIA/Expat Media This story also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine. 
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