LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT
Jordan , Egypt , Lebanon , Morocco , Turkey , India , and as far afield as the US . And so too did Alabbar ’ s reputation for delivering results .
In a historic first , as a non-Saudi , Alabbar was tapped by King Abdullah to oversee and develop one of the Kingdom ’ s most ambitious projects – the US $ 26 billion King Abdullah Economic City .
Not content with just expanding geographically , Alabbar extended the Emaar reach beyond his real estate empire to hospitality , healthcare , education , retail , residential and leisure .
Alabbar partnered with the Giorgio Armani brand to open Armani Hotels in Dubai and Milan and has also rolled out three homegrown brands , including Address Hotels + Resorts – think nine properties in some of the most sought-after locations .
An avid golfer and passionate polo player ( he served as Chairman of the UAE Golf Association ) Alabbar is behind Dubai ’ s most sought-after golfing destinations , like the 18-hole championship desert link course at Arabian Ranches . The prestigious Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club , home to 300 stables and two polo fields , and an enviable portfolio of world-class yacht clubs also features among his many projects .
With a market cap of US $ 16.77 billion , and revenue in the first half of 2023 growing to US $ 3.3 billion , there is little doubt of Emaar ’ s success , not just as Dubai ’ s largest listed real estate firm but one of the world ’ s most valuable and admired developers – one that has set the architectural and design bar high and landed many awards for excellence , efficiency and eco-friendliness .
Among projects in the works , a resort in the hills of India , a mega malll project in Kashmir , a US $ 20 billion luxury waterfront property development ( The Oasis ) in Dubai and a second super-tall skyscraper , which may eclipse Burj Khalifa as the world ’ s tallest .
From real estate to tech investment After more than 20 years leading Emaar , Alabbar stepped down as Chairman in December 2020 – but continues as Managing Director .
For most business leaders , that success would have been more than enough to retire on , but not Alabbar – he already had ambitions elsewhere , with an eye on championing innovative technologies .
EXECUTIVE BIO
A global entrepreneur , Mohamed Ali Alabbar has interests in real estate , retail , hospitality , e-commerce , technology , logistics , F & B , and venture capital . A graduate in Finance and Business Administration from Seattle University , Alabbar also holds an Honorary Doctorate from Seattle University , an Honorary Doctorate from LSE , and a Political Science Honorary Doctorate from Sun Moon University in South Korea .