Cart puller to UAE content creator: How a viral video changed this 24-year-old's life

Khaleej Times

20-05-2025

Mohammed Sinan, a 24-year-old from Thalassery in Kerala, never thought he would become a content creator in Dubai, especially not one working with someone as popular as the famous Emirati influencer Khalid Al Ameri.
'I couldn't complete my studies. We had financial problems,' said Sinan. 'But I loved making videos. My friend was a videographer and editor, and I used to watch him work. Slowly, I started learning by watching YouTube tutorials.'
Back home in his village, Sinan would film random videos, capturing the simple life around him. He didn't have a plan, just a passion.
After working for a month at a textile shop in his hometown, Sinan decided to take on a challenge that would shape his outlook on life. 'In May 2022, I managed to conquer Hampta Pass (14,100 ft), one of the most famous trekking routes in India. That was the moment I gained the courage to face any challenge in life,' he said.
The six-day trek through biting cold, sudden snowfall, and rain became a test of his physical and emotional strength. 'The tent swaying violently in the wind… the weather changing every second… it was terrifying,' he said. 'The moments at Hampta Pass were when I came face to face with death.'
'But the most interesting part? There were three of us climbing the mountain — only two of us made it to the top. Right there, we decided that the world should never know the name of the one who couldn't make it. A beautiful moment of friendship.'
A week after returning home, Sinan left for Dubai.
'Soon after reaching Dubai, the first person I rushed to see was my father. But what I witnessed was something no son would ever want to see, a man drenched in sweat, standing amid fire and smoke inside a cafeteria. That day, I made a decision in my heart.'
When he moved to Dubai, life was tough. 'I had no job, no connections. I saw my father working hard at a cafeteria and to support him, I started working as a cart puller. It was heavy work. One day of work felt like a whole week,' he said.
He earned Dh400 in the first month of cart pulling and later earned Dh1,000 for the next 5 months.
For six months, Sinan pulled carts and carried goods, but deep down he knew this wasn't where he belonged. 'I kept telling people, 'I want to work in media. I can shoot and edit videos.' But no one really took me seriously, until two of them did.'
Muhammed Chulliyan and Ajmal MC — who wanted to start a media company under the wider MD group — saw something special in Sinan's Dubai city tour videos, which he used to film in his free time. 'They called me, we met, and said they were starting a media company. He asked me to join. He said, 'Let's make a good team.' That's when things changed.'
Sinan got his first real break during the FIFA World Cup in 2022. A die-hard Lionel Messi fan, he was thrilled when his boss took him to a big public screening. 'I shot the crowd reactions, the cheering, the energy and my boss and obviously Messi's goals, reactions and emotions,' he said.
The next day, something unexpected happened. 'Khalid Al Ameri's assistant saw my video, called me and praised it. He said he wanted to post it on Instagram. Later, the video went viral. Khalid himself saw it.'
Soon after, Sinan was invited to freelance for Khalid's assistant's team and later in Khalid's team. 'My first big challenge came at a perfume event. Khalid invited me. I had to prove myself. That video was my chance, and I gave it everything,' he said.
From there, the doors began to open. Sinan started working regularly, both with his first media company and with Khalid's team. One of the biggest moments in his career came when he travelled with Khalid to Assam in India for a project.
'We had just landed and were eating snacks. I didn't speak much. My communication is weak, and I was nervous. But Khalid knew that. He trusted me anyway. He asked me how we could make a creative video,' Sinan said. 'I couldn't express my ideas well in words… but I let my work do the talking. He loved it.'
That trust meant the world to Sinan. 'Khalid always checks on me. He respects my work. Whenever there's a project, he calls me.
Interestingly, Sinan did not know about the creator and read about Khalid once. He was visiting my hometown back in 2015. I didn't even know who he was. I learnt about him when he started following me on Instagram. He supports me like a brother.'
For Sinan, the journey from pulling carts on Dubai's streets to creating videos for one of the region's most loved influencers is nothing short of a dream.
'Working with Khalid is not just work, it's full enjoyment. He's like family now. I want to continue doing this. This is just the beginning.'
Sinan documented his journey, from arriving in Dubai and pulling carts to eventually working with Khalid Al Ameri, and turned it into a heartfelt video that he shared on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Sinan (@cinan_._)
Today, Sinan has close to 6,000 followers on Instagram. But more than numbers, he's grateful for the people who believed in him and the chances he got. 'All I needed was one opportunity. And I am making the most of it.'
His next big goal? 'I want to witness the Northern Lights in Finland, and I have been working hard to make that dream a reality.'
With a message to dreamers everywhere, Sinan added, 'Everything comes from Allah. Your prayers can do wonders and we can never know how they will shape your life. I tell everyone, travel the world… Start dreaming… And be a good human being.'