From Boherlahan to Dubai - Padraic Hickey’s leap into a global property career

Boherlahan man and successful real estate entrepreneur Padraic Hickey, 42, is no stranger to risk. He has built a career that spans continents, turning ambition into results and opportunity into lasting success.

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From establishing himself in Dubai’s fiercely competitive property market to founding RealEdge, a company that now helps others follow in his footsteps, Hickey’s reputation is built on discipline, vision, and an unshakable focus. How did he get here, and where does his story begin?

 Speaking to the Tipperary Star, Hickey traces the turning point in his life back to the economic crash of 2008. “I fell into construction by default after college didn’t work out, it was what people did and it was a way of making money,” he says.

For nearly eight years he worked in the Irish construction industry, a steady but predictable path. “I always had a passion for  business and marketing but at the time there were no opportunities or doors opening for me in Ireland...every year I did construction I always told myself that next year I would find something else - so for me the crash was a God send,” he admits.

 The crash forced Hickey to reassess his path and consider options beyond Ireland. “I knew that by going to Dubai it was going to open some doors for me. At the time I didn’t know what that would be,” he says.

In 2011, he and his girlfriend  made the bold decision to leave home behind and start fresh in a city of opportunity. It was a leap into the unknown, but one that would shape the trajectory of his career and life. Hickey’s introduction to Dubai real estate was a trial by fire.

“I applied for a job online, did one interview, and I got the job,” he recalls, a faint smile hinting at the memory.  “It was a small agency and I was not a match for that company at all. They didn’t want to train me or support me and I needed training. It is no surprise that I failed there. I left after three or four months.”

Yet the city itself was a door waiting to be opened. “For me to get into real estate in Ireland I would have to do an auctioneer’s licence and be fully qualified. In Dubai you don’t need a degree or any qualification.

The only thing you have to do is pass a local course run by the Government, and it is a five-day course. You pass that and you are essentially qualified.”

Hickey’s next role was at Power House Properties, a far more established agency than his first. “They gave me an internal induction course, and after that you are on the floor and you have to find your feet,” he recalls.

“I was on a floor with 30 agents. Most were doing okay, making good money. I had everything I needed within this company, so I knew that if I didn’t make it here, I was never going to make it. It was sink or swim.”

He immersed himself in the work with relentless focus. “Making calls every single day, that is all I did for the first month - calling, networking, trying to develop my name within Dubai. I started to get a bit of traction, and in my third month I made my first sale. After that it kept going.” 

Guidance from someone in the industry helped him understand the next step. “As soon as you understand how Dubai works, that is when you really start to do well in this job. You have to know how to deal with the different nationalities.

It is such a dynamic city. Learning how to navigate and develop relationships with people from all over the world was a massive skill. I am glad to say that Irish people naturally have that likability factor, that trustworthy nature, and I used that to my advantage.”

Life was moving in the right direction for Padraic. Between 2014 and 2020, he steadily progressed within his company, climbing the ranks to become one of the top sales performers.

Alongside his professional success, he celebrated key personal milestones - marrying his wife, Rianne Fox, in Marbella in 2014, and welcoming their first child in 2016 in Dubai.

Eventually, in 2021, Padraic launched his own real estate agency, Phoenix Homes, in Dubai. That year was also marked by the birth of his second child.

Padraic and his wife set out a three-year plan with the goal of growing the business and selling it within three years so they could return to Ireland to raise their children.

After returning to Ireland, Padraic turned his attention to helping others achieve the success he had found in Dubai.

At RealEdge, Padraic Hickey provides more than advice - he offers a structured programme designed to prepare aspiring agents for life and work in Dubai. The training covers all aspects of launching a career in the city’s competitive property market.

Topics include Dubai real estate sales techniques, understanding key geographical areas, and navigating the legalities of buying, renting, and selling property.

The programme also focuses on practical skills such as gaining listings and securing exclusivity, handling enquiries and viewings, and managing interactions with both sellers and buyers, including phone and in-person etiquette.

Marketing, lead generation, and networking are taught alongside insights into everyday life in Dubai, giving candidates a realistic view of agency office environments and the city itself.

Candidates also learn how to select the right agency to work for, recognising red flags and making informed choices.

The training concludes with CV and interview preparation, ensuring each participant is fully equipped to take the leap and start their career with confidence.

For Padraic, the goal is clear: to give others the tools, knowledge, and mentorship he wished he had when starting out, helping them succeed faster and with fewer mistakes. Harnessing his 13 years of experience in Dubai’s fiercely competitive real estate market.

The idea for RealEdge grew organically from Padraic’s own experience. “Irish people used to ring me up when I was an agent in Phoenix Homes, and they continued to ring me even after I moved back to Ireland and was no longer an active agent in Dubai,” he says.

“They would call looking for advice, and I always helped them free of charge. I prepped them for interviews, told them which companies to apply for, and explained what to expect when they moved to Dubai.” It was through these conversations that the concept for RealEdge took shape.

He did some market research and saw that people were doing recruitment, but no one was training them.

For Padraic, RealEdge is not about selling a dream, but about preparation, honesty, and giving people a realistic chance to succeed in one of the most fiercely competitive real estate markets in the world. 

More information is available at realedge.ie, where prospective candidates can book a free 30 minute consultation call.

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