In this customer spotlight, we speak with Dhanapaul Selvan, General Manager at Property Pros, a new Owners Association management company by Meraki Developer, which manages its first project on ADDA. With over 18 years of experience in property and community management in Dubai, including more than 10 years specializing in Owners Associations and Jointly Owned Properties, Dhanapaul shares what his role involves day to day, why technology has become essential, and how ADDA helps him stay on top of collections.
Can you please walk us through what a typical day looks like for you? What are you constantly juggling?
A typical day starts with reviewing the building’s operations, checking service requests, monitoring collections, and making sure all essential services are running smoothly. I coordinate with contractors, the Owners Committee, developers, and regulatory authorities as and when required.
Every day involves balancing financial management, maintenance activities, resident concerns, compliance requirements, and vendor performance. No two days are the same, which is what makes this profession both challenging and rewarding.
What’s the hardest part of this job that people from the outside don’t see?
Most people only see the visible side of community management, which they often assume is limited to cleaning, security, and general maintenance. Behind the scenes, there is much more involved.
We are responsible for financial management, service charge collections, contractor performance, regulatory compliance, budgeting, statutory inspections, resident communications, dispute resolution, and ensuring the smooth operation of the entire community. Balancing all of this while meeting the expectations of owners, residents, contractors, and regulators takes careful planning, sound decision-making, and continuous coordination.
How many years have you been in this business and what got you into it?
I have over 18 years of experience in the property and community management industry in Dubai, including more than 10 years specializing in Owners Associations and Jointly Owned Properties.
I have always liked to keep my mind engaged and challenged. After completing my M.Sc. in Mathematics, I worked as a Mathematics teacher for two years. Although I enjoyed teaching, I realized the work was quite repetitive, and I wanted a career that would challenge me and let me solve different problems every day.
That’s what attracted me to community management. Every day brings something new, whether it’s a technical issue, financial management, contractor performance, regulatory compliance, or a resident’s concern. You can never predict what the next day will bring, and that’s what I enjoy the most. It’s a dynamic profession that keeps you constantly learning, adapting, and thinking, which is exactly the kind of environment I thrive in.
How important is technology in running a community or property management business today?
Technology has become essential. It improves transparency, reduces manual work, provides real-time information, and enables better communication with owners and residents. It also helps management teams make faster, more informed decisions while maintaining accurate records.
Today, efficient community management is almost impossible without the right technology platform.
What happens to a business in this space that doesn’t adopt the right technology?
Without technology, processes become slower, more prone to human error, and less transparent. Important information can easily be missed, communication becomes inefficient, and reporting takes much longer.
As communities grow, relying solely on manual processes simply isn’t sustainable. Technology lets community managers focus on delivering quality service instead of spending time on repetitive administrative work.
What does your day look like now compared to before using these technologies?
Before adopting digital platforms, many activities required manual tracking, spreadsheets, phone calls, and paper records.
Today, information is available instantly, which makes it much easier to monitor collections, communicate with residents, and track operational activities. I can spend more time on strategic planning and improving community services rather than searching for information.
What is the one feature in ADDA that you use every single day?
The feature I use almost every day is Collection Report No. 46. I regularly monitor service charge collections and track the outstanding balances of unit owners.
Having this information in real time lets me follow up proactively with owners, spot potential collection issues early, and maintain healthy cash flow for the community, which is one of the most critical aspects of effective community management.
Is there a specific result you can point to: time saved, complaints reduced, or owners happier?
One of the biggest improvements has been immediate access to collection information and community data. It has significantly reduced the time we spend preparing reports and following up on outstanding payments.
Faster access to information also helps us respond more efficiently to owners’ queries, improving transparency and overall satisfaction.
What would you say to another Property Manager in the UAE who is still doing this manually?
Property management has become increasingly complex, and technology is no longer optional. It’s a necessity. My advice is to embrace digital platforms as early as possible.
The right system improves efficiency, enhances transparency, and lets you focus on delivering better service to your community instead of spending valuable time on manual administration.
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