Mohamed Alabbar and His Revolutionary Impact on Global Real Estate

Chairman of Emaar Properties, Mohamed Alabbar is the brain behind some of the city’s greatest landmarks. He is one of the minds that have redefined what future structures and development of the city of Dubai should look like. He has shaped and defined the capital skyline through many inspiring projects, such as the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping centre. On his successful ventures with new concepts of real estate, Alabbar transformed Dubai into a global city and positioned himself at the top as a visionary entrepreneur offering initiatives in retail, e-commerce, hospitality, and much more. His works continue to inspire awe, marking him one of the most influential businessmen in the Middle East.

Born and brought up in Dubai, the road to real estate and entrepreneurship for Mohamed Alabbar started once he completed his Finance and Business Administration degree from Seattle University. His education helped him usher a career that would one day end in making much of the urban landscape of Dubai. Working for the government of Dubai in the early stages of his career could not have provided better insight into the immense growth and development potential of the city than this did. In 1997, Alabbar founded Emaar Properties, since then, it has grown to become one of the largest and most valuable real estate developers in the world. Testaments to his ambition to not only build structures but also to redefine global standards of architecture and urban living are Emaar flagship projects such as the Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall.

Being the CEO of Emaar Properties, Alabbar had been instrumental in the transformation of Dubai into a global centre of innovation and luxury. He presented the world with the most iconic structure of all his conceptions-the Burj Khalifa-828 m. It was completed back in 2010 when it broke such records as being the tallest ever built. Burj Khalifa is not just a building; it symbolises Dubai’s ambitions and its rise as a global metropolis. The mixed use tower provides houses, offices, and a luxurious hotel like Armani, further exemplifying Alabbar’s penchant to mix lifestyle and business ()

The Dubai Mall, another brainchild of Alabbar, has become the world’s largest shopping mall, once again redefining retail experiences. More than a shopping mall, with over 1,200 retail outlets and leisure facilities that include an aquarium, an ice rink, and even a dinosaur skeleton, The Dubai Mall is a massive entertainment destination that draws millions of people every year. (While Emaar Properties is perhaps Alabbar’s best-known venture, his entrepreneurial reach goes far beyond real estate. In 2017, Alabbar launched Noon.com, an e-commerce platform designed to be a game-changer in the Middle East’s digital retail space. Noon.com was to take on retailing giants like Amazon, and the launch saw a big leap in the diversification of Alabbar’s interests away from non-core business ventures in fast-emerging e-commerce.

In addition to Noon.com, Alabbar’s business portfolio includes hospitality ventures, food and beverage, logistics, and even venture capital. He also leads real estate development company Eagle Hills, which focuses on sustainable, mixed-use development in emerging markets in Africa and parts of Eastern Europe. His work extends far beyond Dubai and the UAE. He has spearheaded major real estate projects across the world through Eagle Hills that created communities outlining sustainability and innovation. In fact, his global footprint touches corners of Serbia, Egypt, and Bahrain among others that seal his reputation as a global entrepreneur.

Alabbar is committed to the principles of sustainable business activity. His initiatives focus on the long term value by taking into mind the smaller footprint on the environment and using green technology. For instance, most of the new developments in Emaar offer energy-efficient design with smart consideration of technology being taken into account with its commitment to make the city of Dubai more sustainable by 2050.

For his outstanding achievements, the leading businessman Alabbar has received numerous honorary doctorate degrees from some of the world’s esteemed institutions, such as Seattle University, the London School of Economics, and Sun Moon University, South Korea, for his distinguished achievements in business, real estate, and political science.