In 1969, Ibrahim began work as a clerk at the government hospital in Malé. In 1973, he left the hospital to work as a manager at M/S Alia Furniture Mart. He also worked temporarily for Crescent, a government trading organization.[2]

In 1974, Ibrahim joined an outlet of the Maldivian government's Bodu Store, now known as the State Trading Organization. Two years later, in 1976, he set up his own trading business in commodities such as rice, tobacco, diesel, and kerosene, which proved to be profitable. The business experienced rapid growth. He later expanded his business with a small loan of US$2,000 from State Bank of India (SBI), which is still his primary banker.[citation needed]

After four years, Ibrahim was able to purchase his first shipping vessel, an old fishing boat converted to carry cargo and oil, to facilitate oil imports. By 14 April 1986, Ibrahim's business was registered under the name of Villa Shipping and Trading Company Limited (Villa). Since then, the company has diversified its business, gaining a substantial market share in diverse Maldivian industries including tourism, transport, construction, manufacturing, gas, the cement trade, and media/communication as well as general trading as the sole Maldivian distributor of international products. Shell and Agfa are among the brand names represented by Villa in the Maldives.[3]