Mary Grace Porto is the owner and CEO of Dubai-based Privato Group. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

From a broken engagement in Singapore to building one of Dubai’s fastest-growing property service groups, the founder of Privato Group proves that every setback can be the start of something beautiful.

When Mary Grace Porto packed her bags for Dubai in 2018, she wasn’t chasing a business dream. She was chasing healing. “I came here after a breakup,” Grace shares with Expat Media. “I was already engaged, but I knew if I walked away, it had to be final. I needed a fresh start.” Grace, who grew up in a small village in Batangas, Philippines, had already built a stable career in Singapore’s education sector, working for Raffles Design College for over seven years. But in Dubai, she found herself starting from scratch. Her first job? Selling balloons at a mall kiosk for Dh150 a day. “I worked from 10am to 10pm on weekends. It helped me get by while waiting for something better,” she says with a laugh. That “something better” came when she joined a local college as a student services manager. Then, the pandemic hit. “I lost my job. It was scary. I had rent in Dubai and a mortgage back home for my beach house. I remember thinking, ‘What do I do now?’” A Google search would change her life: best jobs during the pandemic? The answer—real estate. “I said, why not? I had nothing to lose,” she says. She joined a real estate company and started selling holiday homes. Within three months, she closed her first big deal in JLT that sparked the idea of running her own business someday. In 2021, she launched Privato Holiday Homes. It started with one property owned by a friend. “When the first guest checked out, I called my sister and said, ‘We’re cleaning this ourselves!’ We spent six hours scrubbing that place,” Grace laughs. It was a humble start, but it became the cornerstone of what is now Privato Group, a fast-growing company that includes Privato Cleaning and Technical Services, with over 30 managed homes and a growing team of professionals. Beyond her role as CEO, she’s also a wife, a mother, a licensed real estate broker and a proud member of the Women Business Circle in the UAE, where she mentors and supports fellow women entrepreneurs. Today, Privato Group stands as one of Dubai’s emerging names in integrated hospitality and property management—a far cry from the days Grace sold balloons at the mall. “I realize everything I went through led me here. Privato isn’t just my business, it’s my journey in motion.”

Inside Privato Holiday Homes

When the world shut down during the pandemic, many industries were at a standstill. But out of that uncertainty rose Privato Holiday Homes, a company that would soon redefine the idea of a home away from home. “People wanted safety and comfort at the same time,” says Grace. “That’s what we aimed to provide—privacy, convenience, and a personal touch.” Since its launch in 2021, Privato Holiday Homes has grown into a full-fledged hospitality service with over 30 premium properties across Dubai, from Bluewaters Island and Downtown Dubai to Dubai Marina and Business Bay. Each property undergoes a strict in-house evaluation to ensure it meets Dubai Municipality standards and the brand’s own high benchmark. “We have our own technical team and designers to make sure every unit is worthy of being called a Privato home.” What sets Privato apart isn’t just the luxury. It’s the thoughtful attention to detail. From the moment guests open the door, they’re greeted by a fragrant scent, spotless spaces, crisp towels, and a perfectly made bed. “First impressions last,” Grace says. “That’s why we make sure everything feels just right the moment you step inside.” But behind the scenes is what truly makes Privato shine: its integrated service model. Its cleaning and technical services arm ensures every property under their management maintains five-star quality. Today, Privato Group has evolved into an all-around service provider, catering not just to its own holiday homes but also to residences, shops, and offices. Its technical division handles everything from maintenance to full renovations, backed by engineers and architects. “We offer A to Z services,” Grace says proudly. “We even arrange airport transfers, yacht charters, and curated tour experiences through our partner network. We go the extra mile because a stress-free guest is a happy guest.” It’s this combination of personalized hospitality and all-in-one service that makes Privato Holiday Homes one of Dubai’s most distinctive names in the holiday rental space. “Holiday homes are becoming the preferred choice,” Grace adds. “They’re private, they’re spacious, and guests get the full home experience—complete amenities, freedom to cook or host, and comfort that hotels can’t always match.” CAM/Expat Media Book a Privato holiday home or inquire about property management via privato-group.com. A condensed version of this story also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine
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