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Green is the real goal
Shortly after I landed in New York this morning, I typed my name on google and found there had been 1521 articles written about me during the 15 hour flight from Dubai. And I wondered - and I still wonder - why.
Yes, last week there was the announcement of a football deal. Through my property company Hydra Properties, I have also invested a great deal of money into eco-friendly projects, that I genuinely believe will make a lasting difference to the way we live. But not one of those projects has ever got a mention in any newspaper anywhere in the world.
What is it about football that makes people so passionate, so emotional, and so obsessive? Can we combine our passion for sport with a passion for improving society, improving our standards of living and improving our chances for a better future? Can we turn passion into progress? I would like to think so.
When I go to watch my kids play football in the parks in Abu Dhabi, I see other kids with the same skills that I see playing in London’s Hyde Park. So why is it that those from the UAE never progress beyond playing in the park, when the kids in Europe go and play for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona?
I really believe that given the same opportunities, we can all achieve the same successes. A few months ago, Hydra Properties announced the building of a special Inter Milan soccer academy in Abu Dhabi. This will train youngsters at the very highest level, and give some of them the opportunity to actually go and show their abilities in Inter Milan. If they are good enough, they will have the same chance as an Italian kid to make it in the big league.
There is now a genuine chance, through this, that in a few years time we may have an Emirati actually playing for Inter Milan. Now wouldn’t that be something? I’ll be honest with you, as a businessman I take great pride in delivering what I promise to my customers, and in seeing our revenues and profits grow each year. But there would be no greater personal pride than seeing a kid from the UAE make it onto the world football stage.
I hope this can happen through our football academy. Wouldn’t it be great if we could help develop our own superstars of the future? Imagine in the year 2022 watching the UAE play Brazil in the World Cup Final. Impossible? Well, you have to start somewhere, and you have to start with the youth. This is why Hydra Properties is supporting many youth charities and will continue to do so.
I mentioned at the start of the column my interest in eco-friendly projects. The growth of Hydra Properties in the past two years has been phenomenal - we have gone from zero to two billion dollars in a very short time. But with that success comes, I believe, a sense of responsibility. I feel strongly that business leaders in my position should take it upon themselves to promote wider issues and causes, because we have the platform to do so.
As a property developer, there is no issue of greater importance to me than that of building a more eco-friendly society. Of course I want to build great teams, and of course I want to win things, but the greatest legacy we can leave our children is not just trophies - but eco-friendly societies they can live in while watching their teams win trophies.
That is why I have put so much effort into the creation of Hydra Village just outside Abu Dhabi, a fully integrated green way of living. Everything in this mini city is designed and built to green standards and aspirations. From energy and water conservation to recyclable disposables, and from designated non-smoking areas inside an actual city to green transportation only, this is a city that truly represents the eco-friendly future.
We are also working with Greg Norman to build a new golf course community at Bawabbat Abu Dhabi. Again, the key here for me has been a development that is guided by the principles on environment protection. It has been possible, working with Greg Norman’s team, to come up not just with a world class golf course but one that in terms of design and use, is environmentally sensitive.
Also in Abu Dhabi, the world’s first city that will rely entirely on solar energy and other renewable energy sources, is being built. When it is ready, Masdar City will be home to 50,000 people and 1500 businesses. Now that is real progress.
I have had an unusual week to say the least. Before I boarded the flight to New York last night, my secretary called to say that I had over 400 requests for interviews from journalists all over the world - from Bolivia to Bangkok. Like I said, football evokes passions and emotions like nothing else.
So let me make all of you in the media an offer: you can all come and see me in Abu Dhabi. Yes, you are all invited: but on one condition - before you see me, go and see Hydra Village. Go and see the golf course. Go and see Masdar City. Go and see for yourself what change really is about, and what the really important issues that we face today are. Rather than buying a DVD of the last FA Cup Final, first go and buy a DVD of Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth.”
Yes, I would like to paint half the town blue. But the other half? Well why don’t we paint it green?
Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim is the CEO of Hydra Properties.
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Comments 1-7 of 7
Posted by williams, manchester, uk on 15 September 2008 at 12:43 UAE time
Please ,my final word on this subject as i have no particular interest in it apart from informing my compatriots in the Gulf,I am not even a football supporter ,i was just surprised behind the thinking of the investment.
The area around the City of Manchester stadium is poor and indeed short of heavy investment,but understandably the local council have been unable to sell the land because it is worthless. Manchester has had huge investment over the last 15 years and it is now saturated with new vacant apartments and houses,ABU are lucky in the fact that they are 10 years too late ,because most of the investment is failing.
Indeed soccer in the UK will fail dramatically over the next 5 years,Britain is going into recession and luxury's like paying 40 pounds to watch football will be the first item on the agenda to be abandoned,therefore investment safe investment should be only contemplated in sound well known brands,like Manchester United or indeed Liverpool which is only 40 miles away(and is reported to be begging for investment) although i would not recommend the present moment.
I have no doubt that the small band of local Manchester city fanatics would dream of watching some better known players,there only interest seems to be drinking and occasionally watching the second rate football,they have had no player of any name since i have lived here and reading there history no before ?
Posted by Mr Mahon, Manchester, United Kingdom on 14 September 2008 at 19:51 UAE time
Mr Williams starts off by saying that he doesn’t want to enter into some anti MAN CITY pro man united argument.
He has already done that by begging ADUG not to buy MAN CITY he didn’t ask ADUG not to buy the club because it was a mistake he was begging ADUG didn’t buy the club through fear and dread that CITY will overtake UNITED, he says he isn’t a football supporter but a businessman with local Knowledge.
My view is that Mr Williams is a Football supporter, and as a businessman he doesn’t have a clue he doesn’t understand that ADUG have all the brains in the business at their disposal, they have Thinktanks and Multitaskers Galore, they have got that much going on it isn’t even funny. It seems that Mr Williams doesn't even know who is buying the club and he reckons he is a business man, he keeps saying ABU instead of ADUG. I wonder why he keeps saying ABU!?.
He says the facts that I provided are almost all incorrect. He says it is true MAN CITY have a small local support. I didn't say we had a small local support. I stated that all our support is local. Mr Williams is still trying to have a dig about small local support.
Mr Williams is just clutching at straws regarding crowd attendance's In 1934 MAN CITY hosted THE LARGEST EVER CROWD in English football, it was an F.A. cup tie against STOKE CITY and the attendance was 84.569 bigger than manchester united have ever had. In 1995 the ground capacity was restricted to 32.000 and that is what prompted a move to the new ground at Eastlands, it is not our fault that the Eastlands stadium has a capacity of 47,000 as it was originally built for the Common Wealth games and we took it over later. The reason why we were originally restricted was that grounds had to become all seat. In Italy and Spain they have the odd ground capacity of 120.000 Mr Williams needs to come back when united reach that capacity.
Regarding united and having no prospect of a ticket that's another lie, there are many games where the attendance has been 74.000. if you go to the league attendance’s 2007 2008 they are 1.000 down on average. united 2005-2006 season their average was 68.000, When they start loosing their fans will disappear as quick as quick as steam coming out of a boiling kettle.
The good thing about the new CITY stadium is that it has been designed so that it is easy to add extra ground capacity, and what a beautiful ground it is, the architect Dipesh Patel, was the best in the business, it’s a marvel, it is a stunning icon in Manchester which has risen above and stolen the limelight from old trafford. It wont be long before we steal the limelight regarding the the football on the pitch.
Mr Williams says that the man united brand name has been created in the last fifty years but he doesn’t say that MANCHESTER CITY have also been a brand since 1894 that is 116 YEARS, Mr Williams talks about the brand names created by certain man united players over the fifty years. The difference is that when we are ready we can have the Cream of the Crop in one Swoop in no time which could happen in MONTHS rather than Many Many YEARS.
Mr Williams says that to attend a united game is a true experience. I feel it is an experience to watch any team win a game other than at united, the problem with man united is that the atmosphere is dead the fans sit there for 90 minutes worrying if they are going to win and worrying that if they lose they will have to face CITY supporters in work the next day, in fact the annual sick leave statistics for the uk goes up when united lose. There is a saying you can give it but you just can't take it and that is united's problem.
Even an ex manchester united player by the name of Roy Keane who now manages Sunderland said that when he played at old trafford there was no atmosphere and he stated that the fans were prawn sandwich eaters, basically they are snobs who will retreat into the woodwork when they start losing.
Mr Williams talks about CITY welcoming investment and that it is akin to a beggar in the street being given a huge windfall.
What Mr Williams doesn’t state that at one time man united couldn't even afford a football kit and MANCHESTER CITY gave them one so they could play football, and that is the reason why man united are known throughout the world as the RAGS because like beggars they were in rags until we gave them a football kit and that is a fact.
Mr Williams says that there is only one Rolex, one coca cola and one manchester united. It seems Mr Williams is comparing manchester united with Rolex and Coca Cola.
What Mr Williams has forgot is that there is only one Diamond encrusted Cartier, and only one MANCHESTER CITY.
Mr Williams says, why open a new and vibrant top class restaurant on the same street as one of the worlds best. Well you open it because it is vibrant and top class the words speak for themselves.
That is what good business sense does there is always enough to go around just having a label like man united doesn't mean you are not going to come unstuck, there as been many world leading brands only for someone else to start competing and overtake the original. Corner shops used to compete and there was always a larger one, and then one day there was Tesco, Asda, and the list goes on it is the same with football MANCHESTER CITY F.C. are coming to get you. Don't have sleepless nights. Put on your red shoes and Dance the BLUES.
Just sit back relax and watch.
Berbatov only went to united because we were late with the bid.
Regarding Mr Williams saying the CITY Stadium is always only a quarter full. Well now I Know he is talking out of His Chocolate Box.
THE END.
Posted by williams, manchester, uk on 12 September 2008 at 13:40 UAE time
I certainly do not want to enter into some anti Manchester city pro United argument.The facts provided by Mr Mahon are almost all incorrect.It is true Manchester City have a small local support their average attendance since the 1930's is around 28,000,but that is dwarfed by the local United support and over the last 30 years global support,until recently (the last ten years) United's average attendance was 45,000 since before the war,nowadays its a huge 77,000 with no prospect of buying a ticket,Whilst their little neighbors give, yes give the tickets away to boost there stadium,it is a local joke when people say that Manchester City fans go dressed as blue seats,reference to the fact that the stadium is always quarter full with supporters disguised as the empty seats.
The brand name of Manchester United has been created over 50 years,through the names of Duncan Edwards,Bobby Charlton,George Best,Eric Cantona,Ryan Giggs ,Scholes Beckham and of course now Cristiano Ronaldo.Throughout the world it is most boys dream to play at either Real Madrid,Barcelona,Juventus and Manchester United,even local boys spurn the chance to join City in favour of United as did Ryan Giggs and of course more recently Berbatov.
To attend a Manchester United game is a true sporting experience in there fantastic stadium (do the ABU group realise that Manchester City's grey and soulless stadium is owned by the local city council and not by the club) Football supporters travel from all around the world to visit Manchester to see United certainly not City.
Of course the local support will welcome a huge investment,it is akin to a beggar in the street being given a huge windfall,wealthy at first but almost certain to squander,but please let me warn ABU it is doomed to failure and an unwise investment,there is only one Rolex,one Coca Cola and one Manchester United.Continue at their peril ,very unwise.
I am not a football supporter just a local business man with some local knowledge,this idea is not a good idea.Why open a new and vibrant top class restaurant on the same street as one of the worlds best??? there are other places to build i suggest you think very very hard.
Posted by Mr Mahon, Manchester, United Kingdom on 11 September 2008 at 20:47 UAE time
Take no notice of Mr Williams he Maybe a bitter United fan, Manchester United have won a lot of cups thats a fact. but I feel we can catch them up.
Regarding small local fan base being small, in the 80s Man United had attendance's of 43.000 of which city could match, United now have attendance's of 77.000, it has taken them 28 years to build their fan base. I would say they are not gigantic that is an overstatement, Mr Williams maybe deluded. I feel MANCHESTER CITY can easily catch up with United on all fronts in time. Regarding is comment on the issue that Man city fans dislike United fans it isn't all fans, there is always a small element of uneducated fans right across English Football. but the majority of CITY and united fans are good people. it sounds like Mr Williams maybe a bit jealous. He needs a good whipping for being disrespectful. City have got 47.000 Fans a full house coming to the home game against Chelsea on saturday not a bad attendance considering we haven't won anything recently. Mr Williams" ADUG" I have heard had just under a 10% share in united at one time but they give it up because you ain't all that. Regarding Mr Williams comment and the brand being doomed to failure CITY have been selling what Man united have been selling for years the difference is we are now going up market with quality and we are expanding in areas that Man united never have, most of uniteds goods are poor quality and they rip easy. MANCHESTER CiTY and Man united have argued for years who had the most LOCAL fans because it is important to have a strong local fan base where as Man united fans have to do a lot of traveling, I am glad that Mr Williams accepts MAN CITY have a local fan base because united have been in denial of this for many years, MAN CITY are true mancunians.
Posted by Mr Mahon, Manchester, United Kingdom on 10 September 2008 at 21:04 UAE time
I would like to Thank HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for bringing happiness to thousands of people in United Kingdom, myself included. Manchester City F.C.
Dr Sulaiman al Fahims thoughts and ideas are in the right place. Where there is will there is a way. All the best to Dr Sulaiman al Fahim
Posted by williams, manchester, uk on 10 September 2008 at 17:27 UAE time
Why have ABU decided to invest in a club that has a gigantic rival on its doorstep. Does the company not realize that Manchester City brand is doomed to failure, they have a small local fan base, mainly comprising of local folk who dislike Manchester United, the supporters are remarkably fickle turning on everyone concerned when events go a little haywire.
I would suggest that the Royal family think very seriously about taking on this club who (and i now live local) will almost certainly bring embarrassment to the country.
Posted by Naz Hussain on 10 September 2008 at 13:31 UAE time
If a businessman is passionate about eco-friendliness and preservation of the environment - then perhaps building a golf-course, given the amount of water it takes all year round to keep it green - isn't amongst the best ways forward. Just a thought.