Mohammed Ali Al Hashimi: Rising to the challenge

This confidence in both his abilities and his group's product underlines how driven Al Hashimi is. "We're a little bit brash, but there's nothing wrong with that if you can lead the way," he says. "At the end of the day, if you don't have a passion for your work, if you don't want to be number one, then don't do it. I don't get out of bed just to sit and earn a pay cheque. That doesn't drive me, success drives me, challenges drive me. If you can walk the walk and talk the talk, that's fine."

It is also this knowledge, that success is defined by results, that drives Al Hashimi. "You have to take ego out of the equation," he says, explaining why he stepped down from his previous role with Amlak to focus his attention on Zabeel. "We all like to have fancy titles that look good on the cv, but it comes down to performance. I'm proud of what I did there, but now it's time for someone else to take over. It's better to do one thing exceptionally well than to struggle to do two things ok."

Al Hashimi expects the same high standards from his management team as he demands from himself. His senior staff are allowed to set their own targets but they are expected to achieve them. "They are in their positions for a reason," he says, "and I support them. However they must deliver at the end of the day, if they don't deliver they're fired. Everyone is replaceable, there is always going to be someone who's a little bit hungrier."

This is also the basis behind the young go-getter's personal business motto. "There are three F's to success; follow up, follow up, follow up. I may ask twice, but I am only going to ask a third time. The key is the ability to manage your time and be on top of things," he asserts. "If you don't follow up, if you don't manage your time effectively, manage your resources effectively, you are going to fail miserably."

One notable aspect of Al Hashimi's success is the willingness with which he seeks to give back to the community. Zabeel formed charity Bidaya (which stands for "beginning" Al Hashimi proudly tells me), along with partners Emaar and Nakheel, with a view to helping young UAE nationals with educational scholarships and internships. "It's not just about the money," Al Hashimi says earnestly. "It's about having a role. We mentor them and support them financially. If we get to benefit from that at the end, then great. But it doesn't matter, they can go and work and contribute to the economy, so indirectly we too benefit."

Nor is this, largely behind the scenes, initiative publicity based. "We actually want to do something where we do something good and get something in return," Al Hashimi assures me. "We get so much out of Dubai, we're all doing so well, what's wrong with putting a little bit back in and making a difference?"

It is not only Dubai, or the UAE, that Al Hashimi wants to make a difference to. As a member of the Young Arab Leaders Organisation he is at the focal point of the change in attitudes and perceptions that is propelling the region forward. He is also a firm believer in the ideals for change. "In the past, if something was going wrong, it wasn't culturally correct to admit that there was a problem," he says. "We just wanted to focus on areas where we were doing well, but that is changing.

Historically Arabs were good talkers but not good doers, that is why people continue to be shocked at what is happening in Dubai, because they've never seen it before in the Arab world. If we want to be recognised as on a par with the rest of the developed world, this is part of it, we need to address those issues. Someone needs to stand up and take the lead, it's our duty."

With many young leaders like Al Hashimi rising to the challenge, both professionally and politically, the region's future looks bright indeed.

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