Why Real Estate Agents FAIL (and How to Close Your First $1M Deal)

This week on Keys to the City, Kameron sits down with Emma Kerr to explore her incredible journey from professional ballet dancer to successful real estate agent in Dubai.

They dive into the challenges and rewards of making a major career change, the discipline and resilience Emma carried over from ballet, and how she navigated moving to a new country to start a commission-only role. Emma shares how she built momentum in lettings before transitioning to sales, overcame early setbacks, and achieved a milestone by earning more from a single transaction than she did in an entire year as a professional dancer.

They also discuss the importance of support networks, staying focused under pressure, and why embracing new opportunities can be life-changing. Emma opens up about balancing her career growth with personal development, showing how dedication and persistence can lead to extraordinary results in Dubai’s real estate market.

Life Before Dubai: Discipline Behind the Spotlight

Before joining Allsopp & Allsopp, Emma spent over a decade performing with Birmingham Royal Ballet. Her career involved months of rehearsals followed by live performances, touring across the UK and internationally, demanding consistency, adaptability, and physical endurance. Learning early on that ballet is as mentally demanding as it is physical.

Knowing When It’s Time for Change

Despite loving ballet, Emma always knew it wasn’t a career that would last forever. By the age of 30, she faced a decision: continue for a few more years or embrace a completely new path. Teaching was an option, but not a passion. Instead, she chose something unfamiliar - real estate.

A recruitment event in Birmingham introduced her to Kameron and the opportunity in Dubai. At a time when retraining in the UK felt like a long, uncertain road, Dubai represented possibility, progression, and momentum.

Moving to Dubai: Starting from Zero

Emma moved to Dubai alone, six months before her husband joined her, to begin a commission-only role in an industry she had never worked in, without ever having visited the city before. What surprised her most wasn’t the skyline, but the safety, cleanliness, and sense of structure compared to city life back home.

Learning the Foundations in Lettings

Emma began her real estate career in lettings, a role often described as the industry’s training ground. Working in Dubai Hills Estate - an area known for its competition - she found the first few months challenging and, at times, overwhelming.

Rather than questioning her decision out loud, Emma focused on fundamentals: following the process, listening to management, and sticking closely to the playbook. That discipline, shaped by years in ballet, became her advantage.

Transitioning into Sales

After gaining momentum in lettings, Emma made the move into sales, suddenly and without hesitation. While the transition meant starting over once again, her area knowledge, confidence, and client experience she’d built in lettings carried through.

Her first sales deal was far from straightforward, involving multiple contract revisions and shifting circumstances. But closing it marked a turning point.

A Defining Moment of Success

One deal, in particular, changed everything. The commission exceeded Emma’s entire annual income from her ballet career. It was the moment she knew she’d made the right decision.

That success wasn’t a one-off. In her first year, Emma achieved Senior status - requiring consistent performance and monthly targets over 12 months. For her, it wasn’t just about earnings, but about setting a goal and seeing it through.

Support, Humility, and Long-Term Growth

Throughout her journey, Emma credits strong leadership and support within Allsopp & Allsopp, alongside her own approach: staying grounded, open to learning, and focused on long-term growth rather than shortcuts. Highlighting the importance of environment and being surrounded by people who encourage progress, accountability, and ambition without ego.

Advice for Anyone Considering a Move to Dubai

Emma’s advice is honest and measured: Dubai offers opportunity, but only for those willing to work hard, stay resilient, and push through uncomfortable moments. Success doesn’t come instantly, but for those prepared to commit, it can be life-changing.

A New Chapter Ahead

The episode closes on another exciting milestone - Emma’s upcoming journey into motherhood. Approaching it with the same calm determination she’s shown throughout her career, she reflects on the importance of support, balance, and taking things as they come.

For the full episode head to our YouTube channel