Leaders for change
Some of Arab business leaders featured by Gulf Business in recent months who are making an impact across industries
Professor Ammar Kaka Provost and vice principal, Heriot-Watt University Dubai Sector: Education
Education has been required to rapidly adapt in the last year and among those leading the change is Professor Ammar Kaka. Despite the pandemic, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, with a student population of 4,000, is set to open its new campus this year, which has been designed to enable a transformational and digital learning environment. Professor Kaka, also professor of Construction Economics and Management at the university, has contributed significantly to transnational education in Dubai. Having authored over 100 research papers, he has held numerous funded research grants and supervised more than 25 PhD students to completion. He is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Youssef Al-Bahar Executive director, Al-Bahar Advocates and Legal Consultants Sector: Law
Talk cyber-crime and Dubai-based lawyer Youssef Al-Bahar will list out all the legalities surrounding the issue in the UAE and the practical application of the laws. Passionate about his profession, the Emirati is focused on growing Al Bahar Advocates and Legal Consultants, the firm founded by his father.
An internationally certified arbitrator and regular columnist in the local media, he describes his job as a “noble profession”, which supports the application of justice in society. The lawyer is also confident about the future of his firm, which specialises in all types of lawsuits and has strategic partners in more than 400 offices around the globe.
“Innovation means possibilities are infinite. Innovation breaks moulds not limited by opinions or agendas” JORDAN’S QUEEN RANIA AL ABDULLAH
Professor Mohamed Salem President, University of Wollongong in Dubai Sector: Education
Mohamed Salem, a former IBM software engineer with a PhD in Computer Science, was previously the dean of faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences at the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD). He was appointed as president of the oldest foreign university in the emirate in 2015. Last year, UOWD opened a sprawling 200,000-square-foot ‘Campus of the Future’ facility in Dubai Knowledge Park and also introduced new courses to prepare students for jobs of the future. To ensure that graduates are prepared for the post-pandemic job market, UOWD also recently introduced a free 12-month career readiness programme for first-year students.
Ismail Al Hammadi CEO and founder, Al Ruwad Real Estate/ Biznet Consulting Sector: Real estate/Consulting
While the Covid crisis may have caused some to pause, Al Hammadi has taken a different route; late last month, he launched a new PR agency in Dubai – Al Ruwad Public Relations – to add onto his growing portfolio of companies. Meanwhile his Al Ruwad Real Estate also recorded sales transactions worth Dhs80m during the pandemic period. Having worked for several years with Tecom and Dubai Industrial City, Al Hammadi has the right connections with governmental entities. “Opportunities also come at a hard time, so grab them and convert a negative situation into a positive one to enhance your brand,” he advises.
Fadi Dabbagh Board advisor, AIX Investment Group Sector: Finance
Another company that has not braked its expansion plans is Dubai-based AIX Investment Group, which doubled in size last year and expanded its office space to include the 144th floor of Burj Khalifa, as it looks to manage its growing portfolio – currently in excess of Dhs1bn. A seasoned business leader, Dabbagh has been instrumental in the corporate restructuring of the company to help it scale operations. “We have a resilient and balanced portfolio of products and we will continue to find new opportunities to grow our business,” he says. Dabbagh also sits on the boards of other organisations and was recently appointed member of the international advisory council of Eco Capacity Exchange.