At one of the most important industrial events in Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Alabbar, the founder of Emaar, spoke about a simple yet decisive principle in business success: "Hard work is more important than anything else."

During the Make it in the Emirates summit, he explained, referencing his personal experiences, why he often turns to Indian labor for hiring; not because of nationality, but because of what he describes as "relentless work ethic." According to him, teams that are always in motion, continuously evaluate their work, and do not shy away from risk are the ones that survive through crises.

Alabbar did not exaggerate about himself either: "My IQ is average, but my hard work is my greatest asset." In his view, success is not just about long hours of work; it means carefully evaluating opportunities, choosing the right time to take risks, and maintaining constant oversight of execution.

He made his point more tangible with a simple example: "Those who answer the phone even at 1 AM are the ones who drive the business forward."

However, the more important part of his talk related to crises; from the financial crisis of 2008 to COVID and recent events. Alabbar emphasized that companies cannot start thinking about resilience only after a crisis begins. This skill must be built in advance.

According to him, businesses in the UAE today are more prepared than in the past, as they have gone through several waves of crises and learned how to make decisions in uncertainty.

He also revealed that Emaar sent an email to all its employees in the very first week of the recent crisis, assuring them that there would be no layoffs or salary reductions; a decision that, according to him, comes from both past experiences and the responsibility that companies feel towards society and the country.

Finally, Alabbar reminded a key point: in times of crisis, a company's credibility is measured not by profit, but by how it treats people.

Source: Gulf News