Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov recently explained how his growing coffee shop business started from a simple personal inconvenience – rather than a carefully planned investment strategy.

Speaking at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival, Khabib explained that every visit to a restaurant or café would turn into a lengthy process because of his popularity:

Because in Dagestan, when I was meeting with people, I go always to see them in restaurants, coffee shops. In every restaurant, to go in and come out is take time for me because I have to take pictures with people, with kids, workers, like always.

Eventually, he decided to solve the problem himself:

I’m like: “Okay, I’m going to build my coffee shop. Even if it’s going to be a minus. I’m not going to make money. At least I’m going to feel comfortable.”

What began as a convenience quickly evolved into a successful business venture:

I build my coffee shop and this coffee shop become very success. And I’m like: “Okay, why not?”
And I build my team step by step.

Nurmagomedov also revealed plans to continue expanding the business, particularly in the UAE:

Even now in UAE, I’m going to open this year two coffee shops. 2027, maybe three more.

Despite the growth ambitions, he emphasized that he has no interest in expanding too quickly:

I don’t want to rush. I don’t want to rush and I build my small empire.

Khabib added that customer service is critical:

Sometime you come to a coffee shop and the people working there, they treat you very bad. You’re never going to come back.

It’s have to be with good smile, with good adab, good akhlaq.
And of course, it’s have to be good product.

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