A week in the life of…
Henley and Partners senior client advisor Slim Habli spends his week travelling across the United Arab Emirates and Malta
Henley and Partners senior
client advisor
Sunday My day begins early with a 5am spiritual session, followed by a high intensity training session in preparation for the Desert Warrior challenge. I arrive at the office at 8am and spend five minutes visualising the week ahead. In the first hour of the day – my ‘magic hour’ – I revise my goals and strategies, and analyse my current status in order to improve the way business is going. My work days usually begin with a revision of my current cases followed up with telephone calls. My afternoons are spent dedicated to meetings with clients to develop a custommade citizenship strategy. My clients are my absolute priority.
Monday After my early morning workout and espresso, it is time to meet with a client who is already a global citizen and wants to expand his portfolio. The afternoon is dedicated to a seminar. Evening Dubai traffic may be frustrating for some but I have found a way to turn it into a positive and productive drive. It is indeed a blessing to have a driver to take you from point A to point B. This allows me to answer my emails and return telephone calls, giving me more time later to spend with family and friends.
Tuesday At 6:45am I am sitting in the Emirates business class lounge waiting to board a flight to Malta, on a phone call with a client who just landed there. After I am certain my client is satisfied, I follow up with the people I met and networked with at the seminar the day before. I believe in strong personal relationships. And while this may take a lot of time, I believe this is the key to long-term business success. By 3pm, I have arrived at the Mediterranean Conference Centre of Valletta, the capital of Malta, where my client and his family will swear an oath of allegiance in order to be registered as Maltese citizens.
Wednesday At 6am, I take a 10km jog along the coast. I visit my colleagues in our Malta office before I meet with a well-known family from the Middle East and North Africa region to assist their application for Maltese citizenship. I always help my clients meet their goals in the fastest and most efficient way possible, and today I assist the family with their medical examination procedure, a requirement for the Malta Individual Investor Programme. Afterwards, I catch the flight back to Dubai. It is important for me to personally assist and guide my clients through the entire procedure.
Thursday Thursdays are typically office days where I take care of the small details that a citizenship application brings. At 7pm, I host a gentlemen’s evening where I gather my closest friends and hold a so-called ‘private Majlis’ (a private assembly) at the iconic Al Qasr Hotel at Madinat Jumeirah. We review the week and talk about the future, and discuss business opportunities. Finally, I head to Abu Dhabi with my wife where we spend the night at the Ritz Carlton, located next door to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque where I will fulfil my Friday prayer.
Friday Friday is a day of spirituality, family and nature. I grew up in Switzerland with nature and mountains, which I tend to miss. As a result, we often visit other cities in the UAE to enjoy the outdoors. Today, we hike Jebel Hafeet, Abu Dhabi’s highest peak, and enjoy the fresh air and magnificent views over Al Ain.
Saturday After a rich Lebanese breakfast at home, we head to the ‘farmers’ market on the terrace’ to restock our supplies of local, fresh and organic produce. It is important for us to maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially in this dynamic environment where it is easy to rely on often-unhealthy quick bites. My wife and I attend our weekly calligraphy course before I hold a Skype conference call with the board members of the Swiss Arab Network, a non-profit business association that strives to deepen economic relations and promote friendship between Switzerland and the Arab world. The week ends with a phone call from a satisfied client, another affirmation that my services have a life-changing impact.