My First Side Hustle: Network Upgrade for Four 5-Star Hotels in Dubai

How It All Started

In my company, we usually outsource network projects, handling hardware sales while third parties execute the technical work. Coming from a networking background, I always believed we should build an in-house team instead.

One day, I was involved in a technical proposal for a network upgrade of four 5-star hotels in Dubai. Seeing an opportunity, I told my boss that I had a trusted team that could handle the project at a competitive price. Given my boss’s nature—always looking for the best deal—he asked for a commercial proposal and, ultimately, entrusted me with the project.

Pricing the Project: A Tough Challenge

The hardest part? Figuring out the right price.

I had two partners—a cabling team and a networking team—who needed a share of the revenue. Since I had been involved in similar projects before, I used past third-party proposals and purchase orders as benchmarks.

With this data, I put together a competitive proposal and entered tough negotiations. Without a direct reference, I had to rely purely on my pricing strategy. After multiple rounds, I locked in the deal with a decent profit.

Building a Trustworthy Team

I had the option to hire cheaper, locally available engineers in Dubai, but I prioritized trust and reliability over cost. I reached out to former colleagues from Morocco—professionals I had worked with before.

In a side hustle, trust is just as important as technical expertise. You need a team that won’t leave you halfway through the project.

When Everything Almost Fell Apart

Just as we were gearing up to start the project, the client suddenly decided to delay execution.

At this point, we had already flown in the team, paid for visas, flights, and accommodation, and my colleagues had taken vacation time to work on this project. It felt like everything was falling apart.

I considered walking away from the opportunity. But with the encouragement of a friend, I regrouped and pushed forward. In any project, there will be doubts, setbacks, and unexpected hurdles—having a strong support system is critical.

Mission Impossible: Completing 3 Hotels in 1 Month

One month later, the client came back—this time with a mission impossible request:

?? Complete 3 hotels in just 1 month.

Some bold decisions had to be made: ? Cutting costs: Three of us lived in my studio for a month—it reminded me of university dorms, but it helped us sync up, problem-solve, and keep morale high. ? Non-stop work: With only two team members and 2 cabling teams, we worked seven days a week, including weekends. Careful planning with hotel representatives was critical to ensure downtime without disrupting guests.

When Migration Goes Wrong

"The absence of a problem is a problem in itself."

On the first night of migration, everything seemed fine: ? Team was on-site ? Downtime was secured ? Equipment was configured and installed

But during testing, we discovered a major issue—guest IP phones weren’t working due to a small configuration script oversight.

Rollback wasn’t an option. The team stayed up for 24 hours straight until the issue was fixed. Thankfully, there were no client escalations, but it was a hard lesson: triple-check everything, even the small details.

Trusting an Intern to Deliver

For the final hotel, we couldn't afford another trip for the team due to other engagements. Then, someone suggested a brilliant idea—giving the opportunity to an intern.

With remote guidance, the intern executed the work successfully. This proved to me that: ? Interns bring fresh energy and enthusiasm ? Everyone needs a first opportunity ? Some tasks are perfect for junior talent

Project Closure & The Pain of Payment Chasing

The most difficult part of any project? Closure.

Finalizing sign-offs can introduce last-minute scope creep, which is why clear documentation from the start is a must. Fortunately, we wrapped up smoothly.

Then came the waiting game for payment.

Since my boss had to receive the payment before processing ours, we had to chase it down with endless follow-ups. Finally, we got paid—well, most of it. (Hoping my boss sees this post and clears the rest! ??)

Key Takeaways from This Project:

? Seize opportunities, even if they seem risky ? Trust and teamwork are everything ? Mistakes are lessons in disguise ? Interns can be game-changers ? Chasing payments is an inevitable part of the business ??

Have you faced similar challenges in a side hustle? Would love to hear your experiences in the comments! ??