Zabeel Investments was established in February 2006 and has since grown into one of the leading investment houses in Dubai through the vision and leadership of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. From commercial real estate to hospitality, media, finance, and others, Zabeel Investments has been actively undertaking properties to define the skyline of Dubai and further assert its place in the world’s economic map. However, it is what has really distinguished Zabeel from its counterparts-that is, its audacious investments, its deliberate bets on strategic sectors, and its relentless expansion into business areas that make ripples, not only in the UAE but also beyond.

The genesis of Zabeel Investments, however, emanated from the urgent requirement for diversified growth across different economic sectors in the UAE, such as real estate, finance, and hospitality. With the Headquarters being at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), during its very first year, Zabeel Investments expanded from a nice AED 12.4 billion portfolio. Such early emphasis on building sustainable growth across different sectors helped the company leverage various business areas to establish a presence in commercial real estate development, private equity, and asset management. The very obvious vision of a supporting hand to the Dubai economy saw Zabeel Investments made tremendous strides in the market during its early years, both globally and locally.

One of the most positive contributions of Zabeel Investments is on the development of Tiara Residence – a luxury residential and hospitality resort on Palm Jumeirah. The flagship AED 2.1 billion project was opened in 2009 by signing on the dotted lines and marked it as the first large-scale real estate venture for the company. Tiara Residence was one such landmark, where it helped natter Zabeel Investments its grand place in the market of luxury real estate within Dubai. The company still hasn’t rested with that; next came AED 1.75 billion Tiara United Towers, a venture undertaken by United Holdings. Sited on Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay of Dubai’s metroscape will form a visual opulence in the skyline, though completion will be delayed. The towers were to be completed in 2020 and ultimately will showcase Zabeel’s commitment to iconic building that will characterize Dubai’s architecturescape.

Apart from diversifying its portfolio by buying Electric Orange, a visual communications agency which it later renamed to Zed Communications, part of the reason why the company’s investments in such industries was prudent was due to acquiring part of Zabeel’s strategic move into broadening the scope of its investment across the different sectors into media and communications as well as increasing its global presence.

The opening of Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, a luxury five-star hotel on the west crescent of Palm Jumeirah, perhaps marks one of the largest milestones in the hospitality sector. The hotel is owned and managed by the Jumeirah Group. The hotel opened its gates to guests in 2011; hence, it has created a new style of luxury and sophisticated offerings in the hospitality sector of the UAE. Jumeirah Zabeel Saray’s success was another feather in the cap of Zabeel Investments, marking the achievement not only in real estate but also in high-end tourism and leisure.

Zabeel Investments also carved its presence in the financial world. An investment made to Abraaj Capital, the region’s private equity firm leader, and an investment worth $2 billion in DICAM’s Global Strategic Equities Fund at the end of 2007 have further helped the wealth of the firm to spread and diversify its strategy in investing.

Zabeel Investments, in the early 2010 decade, was simply in a situation from which it would be impossible to extricate itself historically. It was then owing AED 6 billion-which is approximately $1.6 billion-and it had no other choice but to file for dissolution in 2013. Its assets were merged with Dubai Real Estate Corporation, a subsidiary of Investment Corporation of Dubai, the emirate’s sovereign wealth fund. The closure of this company marked the last chapter in Dubai’s growth, but the legacy of Zabeel Investments lives on.

Saeed Bin Butti Al Qebaisi is one of the richest men in Dubai, and it’s been his work that has brought significant strides and vision to the business of Centurion Investments-one that represents itself into healthcare, retail, and financial services. With an estimated net worth of $2.2 billion, Al Qebaisi has established a diversified portfolio that reflects his calculated approach towards high-value impactful investments. He remains a keen investor in the health care sector, with his favorite investment tool in NMC Health—a health care organization listed on the London Stock Exchange, established by billionaire B.R. Shetty. Al Qebaisi’s investment and partnership with other billionaires, such as Khalifa Bin Butti Al Muhairi, confirm his status as one of the great figures on the Dubai horizon of economics.

Saeed Bin Butti Al Qebaisi’s influence goes into many sectors, and Centurion Investments is a headquarter that holds several diversified investments. Situated in Abu Dhabi, the entity has several business ventures covering healthcare, finance, and retail to render it one of the most diversified investment companies in the region. Al Qebaisi’s investment career was started with the proper alignment of his capital by channelling it into promising sectors that drive daily life and economic growth. Interestingly, his high-yielding interest in NMC Health happens to stand out for its vast health care operations spread over many countries. The invested stock made NMC Health grow into one of the world’s leading names in the health care business, managing a network of hospitals and clinics serving millions of patients all around the world. The strategic interests of Al Qebaisi in NMC underscore his commitment to sectors that have great impacts on community welfare.

His influence also extends into currency exchange, which is one of the essential financial service sectors. Through a strategic partnership with Khalifa Bin Butti Al Muhairi, Al Qebaisi has developed interests in UAE Exchange and Travelex, both of which represent important segments in the financial services industries, particularly for a country as interlinked around the world as the United Arab Emirates is. UAE Exchange and Travelex together function as conduits of currency exchange and financial transactions for a broad customer base-from local businessmen to international guests. This reflects the Al Qebaisi team’s vision of sustainable, integrated businesses that are aligned with a global financial hub status.

The business vision and enterprises reveal planning by Al Qebaisi for partnership as well as development operations. In addition to the joint ventures, the list of partnerships includes companies from market giants to further bolster the reputation of Centurion Investments in the UAE and in the international markets. With the diversified portfolio of Centurion, it makes a strong market position with a financial base that can easily adapt to possible economic shifts. Its ability to be adaptable had contributed a lot in ensuring growth, where Al Qebaisi reached the top 15 billionaires in Dubai.

Al Qebaisi’s success, generally speaking, cannot be limited to expansion through wealth but also the making of investments in keeping with social and economic flows. His specialty in a sector like health and finance helps to underscore his foresight as he identifies industries which will most likely prove critical to both the public and private sectors. Healthcare, in particular, has experienced unprecedented growth globally, and Al Qebaisi’s interest in NMC Health reflects the services offered and increased accessibility, and therefore the healthcare needs of Dubai are met. Involvement in currency exchange through UAE Exchange and Travelex relates to dynamic changes in the needs of expatriate populations in Dubai as it has increasingly become a tourist and trading hub worldwide.

In a nutshell, the impact Saeed Bin Butti Al Qebaisi has created for himself in the business world of Dubai is not merely because of his high rate of success in terms of finance, but it is also due to his vision and his acumen to invest in business streams that have the potential to be transformative. For instance, his role as chairman for Centurion Investments has meant that his investments have played a deep impact across health services and financial companies. That journey has served to illustrate how calculated risks, strategic partnerships, and in-depth knowledge of market trends have been fueling remarkable growth and sustaining long-term success in a very competitive global economy.

Mara Corporation’s success story began with a clear vision to bridge gaps in critical sectors across Africa. Starting as a small business in 1996, the company evolved into a multifaceted powerhouse with an impressive footprint. Operating in 24 countries, including 22 across Africa, Mara now employs over 11,000 people, making it a key player in economic development and job creation across the continent. Through social responsibility integrated into its business model, Mara ensures that expansion also benefits those communities it caters to.

The most impressive area for Mara is the African entrepreneurship venture through the Mara Foundation established in 2009. This is Mara’s social enterprise wing that contributes to supporting young African entrepreneurs via mentorship, business incubation, and funding. It nurtures young, promising talent, while adding value to the economy because of its facilitation of home-based enterprises. The initiative focuses on mentorship because the foundation has the conviction that aspiring entrepreneurs need people who have spent more years in the game to better guide them and scale the businesses effectively.

In recent times, Mara has popularized its venture, Mara Phones, worldwide. Mara Phones, which the company launched in 2019, was the first smartphone manufacturing initiative on the African continent. Factories were located in Kigali, Rwanda, and Durban, South Africa. This move speaks volumes regarding Mara’s intent to continue promoting self-sufficiency and technological innovation in this continent. The fact that the production of Mara X and Mara Z models led to the reduction of Africans’ reliance on imported phones enhances the resilience of economics and offers employment to a larger percentage of people who are found locally. Mara Phones is also representative of a greater purpose for the company, one of incorporating technology and economic development toward a sustainable Africa.

Besides technology, Mara Corporation has a huge portfolio in other critical sectors of importance. Its real estate undertakings respond to housing and infrastructure needs for fast-urbanizing cities in Africa. In addition, the agricultural projects of Mara target the modernization of farming, improved food security, and supply chains. With Mara supporting the local farmers through innovative solutions, its role in enabling Africa’s agricultural sector become more productive and resilient within the face of global challenges is very positive.

For instance, in the financial services sector, Mara operates providing access to financial solutions to underserved communities. Most African nations still have to grapple with financial exclusion as a significant proportion of the population lacks access to formal banking. With strategic investments and partnerships, Mara is working to make all financial services accessible to bring about economic empowerment.

As if that was not enough, Mara Phones is also but a part of Mara Corporation’s more ambitious undertaking into African economies. Expanding its influence and outreach as it does, it looks toward sustainable growth and ensures social responsibility and regional power. Ashish Thakkar at the helm sets Mara Corporation on an outstanding course for Africa, offering a future model to enterprises in the continent.

The Mara journey from one company to a conglomerate spread across five critical industries has well epitomized transformation in the approach of conducting business in Africa. This corporation is building a legacy, going beyond mere profits to contribute to long-term prosperity and resilience in this continent by combining corporate success with social impact. As Mara continues as a pioneer in several industry sectors, it is therefore setting the standards for change leadership by business while it remains grounded in community value and economic empowerment.