Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar says the developer’s $2.4 billion dividend, announced earlier this week, is the product of decades of disciplined planning and reflects the strength of the business despite the ongoing regional uncertainty triggered by the conflict with Iran.
Speaking exclusively to Lana days after the announcement, and with the region navigating one of its most turbulent periods in years, Alabbar argued that this is precisely the moment a well-run company is supposed to deliver.
“Shame on us if we cannot build a resilient organization that can last almost anything,” he said. “That is not so easy to do unless you really prepare, prepare for years, and you are serious about it.”
That preparation has been tested repeatedly. From the 1997 Asian financial crisis to 2008, September 11 to COVID-19, Emaar has navigated every major global shock without retreating from its commitments. The philosophy behind that consistency, Alabbar says, comes from the top.
“Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid keeps telling me, there is a day and there is night, and the night comes. Are you ready for the night? Honestly, we are ready for the night every single night of our lives. It takes dedication, long term. It takes love for what you do, love for your company, love for your customer, love for your staff, love for planning, and now, love for AI,” Alabbar said.
Speaking against the backdrop of the current regional climate, Alabbar reflected on what recent events have revealed about the UAE itself, including some things that surprised even him. “The UAE is a great example of more than 40 years of planning. On the military side, it was unbelievable. This country is not a joke. We discovered now that it has gold standards of defense systems.”
On the question of Dubai’s long-term future, he is equally direct and buoyant, stating, “Nobody has a better tax structure than the UAE. Nobody has better education for my kids. Nobody has better quality of life. Nobody can get the best talent to come to a place nearby. Whatever has been built here, it is so difficult to replicate anywhere in the world.”
