Fragomen’s Murtaza Khan leads a business that is fundamentally people-centric, and finds reward in various aspects including collaborating with colleagues worldwide, assisting customers in navigating complexities associated with cross-border travel and work, and actively participating in pro-bono initiatives aimed at contributing to local communities.
Describe your current job role and business model?
Murtaza serves as the Regional Managing Partner for the Middle East and Africa at Fragomen, the world’s largest provider of immigration services. He also oversees the local operations of Nomadic, Fragomen’s business travel solution that harnesses the power of innovative technology, offering automated filing of online applications using Robotic Process Automation, GPS functionality, API integration tools and more to ensure a precise and accelerated travel process.
Murtaza collaborates with large global and regional private sector companies, public sector organisations, and SMEs, assisting in the transfer of skilled migrant workers into the region. His responsibilities include the implementation of various policies such as nationalisation schemes, short- and long-term skilled and unskilled migration categories, embassy, consular processes, and operations with government service centres. He plays a pivotal role in shaping immigration strategies and navigating complexities for businesses in the region.
What are the strengths that you bring to this role?
Murtaza has been based in the Middle East for over 17 years and has a deep knowledge of regional business immigration regulatory frameworks across the Middle East and Africa. The region has undergone such tremendous economic and social transformation and the possibilities from a business perspective are truly endless.
Murtaza emphasizes three pillars of leadership, authenticity, integrity, and trust, which have been fundamental in his approach. In all his interactions, whether with customers, colleagues across the firm, or all employees, Murtaza leans on these characteristics, considering them integral to his professional conduct.
Please describe expectations and pain points of customers?
Business travel has rebounded rapidly post pandemic, and that is especially evident in the MEA region. Business travellers and their employers are looking for efficient and innovative tools to help them move around the world faster but as countries are continually implementing new visa regulations, compliance is top of mind.
Of course, administrative processes such as gathering and maintaining complex sets of documents for visa applications, completing detailed forms, visiting application centres and securing embassy and consular appointments can be a huge challenge for customers.
Which technologies can make a difference to end customers?
Technologies that provide a full-service offering make a difference in today’s highly digitalised, fast-moving, and competitive world. With Nomadic, travellers have access to an online compliance management platform that provides a full scope of service including pre-trip assessments, compliance, visa support, and filing capabilities.
Nomadic’s technology places a central role in digitalising as much of the visa application process as possible, removing administrative challenges, and going a step further in maintaining compliance through tracking key dates, including expiries, entry, exits and so on.
How does the company plan to disrupt the regional market?
The UAE and other regional business hubs are continuing to position themselves as leading destinations for global talent, entrepreneurs, and remote workers. Nomadic’s state-of-the-art technology offers a solution that can be customised for corporate customers as well as individuals. The company is already a disruptor, not only by way of digitalising as much of the visa application process, but also the continued technology innovation.
Powered by a powerful combination of knowledge and experience of the world’s largest immigration provider and tech-forward solutions that seamlessly integrate with a number of systems, Nomadic is scalable for companies of all sizes across a number of industries.
Which non-competitive business do you admire?
Murtaza considers himself privileged to have collaborated with leaders of many great organisations, from large multinationals to start-ups that have grown from our region. He finds the journeys of these leaders truly awe-inspiring. Murtaza admires businesses that, in his view, stand out for their focus on purpose, culture, and people as the driving forces behind their success.
Which aspects of your job role are rewarding, which challenging?
Murtaza believes the common sentiment that the most challenging areas are often the most rewarding. From his perspective, the business is fundamentally people-centric, and he finds immense reward in various aspects.
This includes collaborating with colleagues worldwide, assisting customers in navigating complexities associated with cross-border travel and work, and actively participating in pro-bono initiatives aimed at contributing to local communities. The interconnected nature of these experiences contributes to the overall fulfilment Murtaza finds in his role.
How do you like to de-stress off work?
In an ever-connected world, especially within the fast-paced and dynamic region, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining harmony between professional and personal life. For Murtaza, this equilibrium is achieved through activities such as spending quality time with family and friends, indulging in travel, reading, enjoying automobiles, and immersing himself in the world of cricket.
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