His Punjabi Sikh family left Al Ain for the US when he was a teenager, and Singh decided to stay in the UAE. From a job with a salary of less than AED2,000 a month ($550), he became one of the biggest tour operators in the UAE, and has nearly 20 companies spread across the GCC, India and the United Kingdom. His group is served by a team of hundreds of professionals and thousands of vehicles as well as desert camps, cruise ships, yachts and an extensive transport network.

He credits the UAE’s liberal government policies for his decision to stay and believes the UAE has a lot to offer (safety, security, tolerance and the business environment) to those who dream big. His dedication, hard work and ability to remain focused helped him overcome dozens of challenges. When Lama began operations, most tour operators were limited in their thinking and financial institutions were not comfortable lending to a startup. He helped remake the tour and travel business in the GCC. While most travel companies just issued tickets, he decided to offer comprehensive tour packages. He has changed how tourists expect to see the world, and he has helped revolutionise his industry.