From a classroom in Ethiopiato three continents.
Yitayal Mesfin arrived in Dubai with no capital and no network. He became an award-winning partner, then founded Sofia Sands Realty, then Sofia Sands in Bali — and today leads Beit Nour Group, the House of Light. This is how it was built: one client, one call, one promise kept at a time.
- IThe classroom
A teacher in Ethiopia.
Before property, there was a classroom. Yitayal studied electrical and taught in Ethiopia — and when he became a father, he decided to build something of his own rather than wait for one to be handed to him.
- IIDubai, with nothing but a phone
No capital. No network. One call.
He arrived in Dubai without capital or contacts and started as a real estate agent at Driven. In his first month he sold a property over the phone to a buyer he had never met. That call set the standard he still works to: earn trust before you ask for anything.
- IIIThe climb
Agent. Manager. Head of international. Partner.
At A1 Properties he rose from off-plan manager to head of international business and then partner. He and his team studied Ras Al Khaimah before most of the market took it seriously, opened an office there, and closed deal after deal for international investors.
- IVRecognition
Top 3 agency. 89% from his own clients.
In February 2024 the agency was named one of the Top 3 agencies at the RAK Properties Brokers Awards — with 89% of that result built on clients Yitayal had earned over a decade. A year earlier, in 2023, he received a Prestigious Award in his own name.
- VHis own name on the door
Sofia Sands Realty.
Partnership meant shared decisions; his clients wanted more than one market. So he founded Sofia Sands Realty, licensed under RERA 41793 in Dubai and working across Ras Al Khaimah — a quiet, analyst-led brokerage with an AI concierge, Sofia, that answers every enquiry in the client's own language.
- VIBeyond one market
Bali, Zurich — and the House of Light.
Sofia Sands opened in Bali, Indonesia, so investors could diversify beyond the Emirates. Today the companies sit under Beit Nour Group — the House of Light — with ventures in real estate, technology, customer experience and hospitality across three continents.
Earned on stage, built on clients.
As partner and head of international at A1 Properties. 89% of the result came from his own client base.
Awarded to Yitayal Mesfin in his own name.
As featured on Kana TV.
On CEOs, Kana TV's programme on leaders and builders, Yitayal talks about leaving the classroom, his first sale, the climb to partner, and why technology should make real estate more transparent — not more complicated.
Watch on YouTubeከኢትዮጵያ የመማሪያ ክፍል ወደ ሦስት አህጉራት።
በአማርኛ ያንብቡThe House of Light.
Sofia Sands Realty is part of Beit Nour Group, the holding company Yitayal founded and chairs: eight ventures across real estate, technology, customer experience and hospitality.
I want to be remembered for trust and goodwill.
Meet Sofia.
Sofia is our always-on AI concierge, trained on our listings and market briefs. She answers day and night in the language you write in — English, Arabic, Russian, Amharic and more — and hands you to Yitayal personally once she understands what you need.
RERA 41793
Sofia Sands Realty LLC is a licensed real estate agency regulated by the Dubai Land Department's Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA 41793). Dubai property is registered with the Dubai Land Department; Ras Al Khaimah property, such as Bay Views and Bay Residences, is registered with RAK Municipality.