A candid sit-down with the visionary behind the Burj Khalifa and Emaar empire.
Introduction
If Dubai is the city of dreams, Mohamed Alabbar is one of its chief architects. As the founder and chairman of Emaar Properties, his name is etched in the skyline — from Burj Khalifa to The Dubai Mall and countless residential marvels.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
Alabbar didn’t inherit wealth — he built it. After working with the government under Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, he took on real estate like no one else. Emaar quickly became one of the world’s most valuable development companies.
Interview
Q: What drives you to keep building in a market full of saturation?
A: The Arab world is young. We need infrastructure for the future — not the past. That excites me.
Q: How do you balance ambition with risk?
A: You never remove risk. But you prepare. Study the market, build strong teams, and listen to the people.
Q: What’s your advice to young Arab entrepreneurs?
A: Don’t wait. Start small, fail fast, and build things the region actually needs.
Beyond Real Estate
Alabbar also leads Noon.com, one of the region’s largest e-commerce platforms, proving his ability to pivot from brick-and-mortar to digital dominance. He’s also vocal about digitizing the Arab economy and encouraging tech-based startups.
Conclusion
Mohamed Alabbar represents the perfect fusion of vision and grit — a rare combination that’s still building legacies across sectors in the Arab world.
