Amiebeth Caintoy, fondly known among Filipinos in this side of Dubai as 'Ma'am Ambhing,' opened the Al Rigga Restaurant in March last year.

By December, Caintoy's restaurant was expanded to accommodate more customers.

Caintoy is also opening two branches in Dubai and another one in the neighboring Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

'Bata pa lang ako, negosyante na ako (I've been venturing in business since I was young),' Caintoy, a graduate of Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City, told The Manila Times.

Caintoy arrived in Dubai in 2008, and worked as an accountant.

In 2013, she operated a bakery kiosk inside a hypermarket in Muraqqabat area in the Deira district in Dubai. The venture, however, operated for only a year as the store was closed down.

Two years later, she partnered with her schoolmates and opened a restaurant. Disagreements, however, led to its closure.

'Hindi magandang magnegosyo ng may mga kasama, lalo na kung mga kaibigan, kasi mahirap i-explain. Nasira ang friendship namin (It's not good to go into business with somebody else as partners, especially with friends. It's difficult to explain how the business should run. Our friendship was shattered),' Caintoy said, referring to her experience with a failed venture.

In 2018, Caintoy opened a food stall named 'Karendria' inside a supermarket also in Muraqqabat. The store continues to operate to this day.

Caintoy and her husband Noel also manage a Filipino restaurant in Business Bay in Dubai.

'Nothing can stop you from pursuing your dreams — not even failure,' said Caintoy.