Emaar Founder and Chairman, HE Mohamed Alabbar, shared his inspirational career and life story at NBO Chairman’s Speaker Series. Mayank Singh reports.
He grew up in a one-room house with nine siblings in the 1960s; but currently heads a company which has built iconic structures like Burj Khalifa – the tallest building and Dubai Mall – the largest shopping mall in the world, and is ranked as the world’s second most powerful Arab business leader after HRH Prince Al Waleed bin Talal.
For HE Mohamed Alabbar, the visionary founder and chairman of Emaar Properties, there is no shortcut to success. As a global entrepreneur with interests in real estate, retail, luxury hospitality, banking, mining and commodities, he has turned Emaar Properties into one of the world’s most leading developers. His success mantra has been: seek knowledge, do business honourably, have pride in your work, take calculated risks and work tirelessly.
HE Alabbar shared details of his incredible career and provided fresh ideas and perspectives to a distinguished audience of dignitaries, entrepreneurs and students, recently at the fourth edition of National Bank of Oman (NBO) Chairman’s Speaker Series, held under the auspices of HE Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed bin Said Al Mardhoof Al Saadi, Minister of Sports Affairs.
Mohammed Mahfoodh Al Ardhi, chairman of NBO said, “We were delighted to host the chairman and the driving force behind Emaar, HE Mohamed Alabbar. Given the pivotal role that Emaar has played in the development and diversification of Dubai’s economy, HE’s insights are particularly relevant to entrepreneurs, business leaders, and Oman’s youth looking to play a similar role here in the Sultanate.”
Al Ardhi added, “It was encouraging to see the high levels of engagement from students and entrepreneurs present at the event, which encapsulates the fundamental goal of this platform, and it will be exciting to watch these thoughts and ideas translate into actions and enterprise over the coming years.”
In addition to his work with Emaar, HE Mohammed Alabbar is also a board member of Eagle Hills, a private investment and real estate development company, and founding partner of Capital City Partners Limited, a private real estate investment fund.
The NBO Chairman’s Speaker Series was designed to bridge the gap between Oman’s hopeful youth and seasoned professionals, providing an interactive platform to learn and share experiences, ideas and aspirations. Each quarter, one of the leading influencers is invited to share their expertise, knowledge and best practice at an exclusive evening event in Oman.
The NBO Chairman’s Speaker Series was launched in 2014 as a platform where inspirational leaders from diverse disciplines can share their experiences, knowledge and innovative ideas with a cross-section of Omani society, from students just making their way in the world, to SMEs looking to grow their businesses, through to the Sultanate’s most senior businesspeople and government officials.
Previous speakers have included the former British Ambassador to the Sultanate, Sir Terrence Clarke, group CEO and managing director of Mubadala, HE Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, and space pioneer Dr Anousheh Ansari.
The fifth edition of the NBO Chairman’s Speaker Series event is scheduled for December 2015, and will host Deutsche Bank’s CEO, Juergen Fitschen.