Stephen Fairhall isn’t your average real estate guy — he’s part strategist, part community connector, and part real estate therapist (yes, he’ll even help you move your pets). After globe-trotting through construction sites and boardrooms, this Aussie-turned-RAK-resident now helps investors worldwide build smart portfolios — all while raising a family in Ras Al Khaimah’s scenic, zipline-ready backyard.
From managing thousands of assets to launching his own agency with a buyer-first twist, Stephen’s rewriting the RAK property rulebook — one deal, one connection, one AC repair at a time.
Interview Highlights
✈️ From wanderer to resident: Stephen originally came to the UAE for “just one year” — 20 years later, he’s still here, happily settled in RAK with his family and two kids.
🏗 Built from the ground up: Raised in a builder’s family, studied engineering, mastered construction, and pivoted into real estate — with all that behind-the-scenes know-how still driving his strategy.
🌱 Sustainability meets strategy: Helped develop the iconic “Sustainable City” project and now blends his passion for green living with smart investing.
🧠 Real estate… reversed: Instead of listing and waiting, Stephen starts with client goals and builds backward — like a real estate ninja with a whiteboard.
🌍 Not just local: Helps clients invest across the UK, US, UAE, and more — whether they’re in RAK, Singapore, or sipping tea in Surrey.
🐐 Weekends with goats and ziplines: RAK life isn’t all spreadsheets — the family’s regular haunts include Jebel Jais, beach resorts, and feeding animals at the local welfare center.
🏦 Crypto? Cash? Inheritance? Stephen explains what agents should be asking (but usually don’t) to keep buyers, sellers, and the system squeaky clean.
📰 Shoutout to WOW-RAK: Stephen praises WOW-RAK for helping shine a spotlight on the community and keeping both locals and newcomers in the loop — a faithful ally in promoting RAK’s potential.
Pull Out Quotes
“I wanted to do real estate slightly differently — starting with the client, not the listing.”
“The Wynn Casino is great, but people are missing the bigger RAK picture — that’s where the real opportunity is.”
“Some of my clients end up becoming friends — because I’m helping them with everything, not just a transaction.”
Nominate a RAK Icon
Know Someone Who Deserves the Spotlight?
We’re always on the lookout for everyday legends, creative rebels, and behind-the-scenes changemakers. Nominate a RAK Icon who’s shaping the future!
NOMINATE NOW
Just send us an email with the following details to: 📧 info@wow-rak.com
Please include:
- Your name
- Nominee’s full name
- What they do (profession or passion)
- Why they deserve to be a RAK Icon
- Any contact info or social handles for the nominee
⚠️ Disclaimer: Submitting a nomination does not guarantee a video interview. All nominations are reviewed by the WOW-RAK x E-Find RAK team before selection.
About the Collaboration (WOW-RAK × E-Find RAK)
When storytelling meets discovery — you get a front-row seat to Ras Al Khaimah’s most inspiring journeys. That’s exactly what happens when WOW-RAK, the city’s lifestyle voice, joins hands with E-Find RAK, the digital compass for local talent and businesses. Think of it as your backstage pass to the people shaping RAK — with heart, hustle, and a whole lot of personality.
Together, we’re lifting the curtain on the movers and makers behind the emirate’s glow-up. From boardrooms to beach walks, RAK Icons brings you real stories from real legends — all rooted right here in Ras Al Khaimah.
Together, we’re putting the spotlight where it belongs: on the people behind the scenes — the dreamers, doers, and change-makers who are building, creating, and inspiring in Ras Al Khaimah. From accountants to artists, chefs to CEOs, RAK Icons is our way of saying, “Hey, have you met this amazing human yet?”
Because Ras Al Khaimah isn’t just about the views — it’s about the visionaries. And this collaboration is here to tell their stories, one incredible local at a time.
- E-Find RAK YouTube Channel
- WOW-RAK Homepage
- Submit a Story Tip (info@wow-rak.com)
