Inspired by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum’s recent launch of his own LinkedIn page, I was compelled to use this platform to share my reflections on my own experience with the place I call Home, #MyDubai.
Rome was not built in a day, but Dubai was. Well nearly! If you consider the Emirate’s achievements over the last 50 years, emerging from a small fishing settlement to a trade outpost to one of the world’s most vibrant cosmopolitan cities, you cannot but wonder how was it possible? Some might inevitably point to the oil discovery in 1966 as the catalyst. I, however, observe that countries near and far blessed with much richer natural resources have lagged the development witnessed in Dubai.
I saw this fantastic time lapse (below) directed by Nigel Hunt, and it really brought back some fond memories. Importantly, it brilliantly captures how rapidly the Emirate grew to become an important global economic centre full of stunning achievements.
[youtubevideo-5qNU2eqmJEo]
To my mind, the simple answer to how Dubai achieved its unparalleled success is Leadership! As citizens of Dubai have been blessed with the enlightened rule of Al Maktoums. It is the imagination, vision, ambition and relentless work ethic, of Dubai’s leadership that made all things possible.
When Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the late Ruler of Dubai and the first Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, dredged the creek in 1959, a gargantuan and costly endeavor at that time, he was consolidating Dubai’s emergence as a trading hub for the region. Port Rashid followed in 1972. Some would have been content, but not His Highness.
Almost immediately work started on identifying the next growth avenue in trade. In 1975 the Jebel Ali port and Free Zone were launched to be completed in 1979. The site was 40 kms south of Dubai, it could as well have been the middle of nowhere. Jebel Ali Port is the largest man made harbor in the world! And by far the largest and busiest port in the Middle East.
The adjacent free zone is today home to circa 7,000 companies. Only the sharp long term vision of HH Sheikh Rashid could see how this project would over time anchor the city’s expansion south along Sheikh Zayed Road. What most people perhaps do not know is that it was indeed the late Sheikh Rashid who also earmarked a nearby plot of land for building an airport, where today the world’s largest greenfield airport – Al Maktoum International – is being built.
The list of marquis developments, success stories and achievements goes on and on. Be it Emirates Airlines, ruling the skies since 1985 and carrying 55 million passengers per year, or the Dubai International Airport handling 85 million travelers a year, the busiest international airport in the world. Or the tourism boom with close to 15 million tourists visiting the emirate in 2016.
Perhaps the most iconic of these is Burj Khalifa, the tallest building on the planet, and together with 20 other structures in the top 100, give Dubai its unrivaled skyline. The once tallest building in the Middle East and Africa, the World Trade Centre inaugurated by HH Queen Elizabeth II in 1979, is dwarfed today in comparison.
This brings me to the impact real estate development has had on the landscape of Dubai. When I left to study at Kelley University in the US in 2001 there was nothing but sand past the Emirates Golf Club but when I returned back in 2005, the city was almost unrecognizable. It is with the city’s real estate expansion, Marina, JLT, JBR, The Palm, Emirates Hills, Dubai Land…etc. where one can best touch and feel the impact HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum has had on this city and its citizens.
The 2002 Royal decree opening the real estate market to free hold property ownership by foreigners in specially designated areas was the catalyst for the boom that brought us such magnificent edifices and consolidated Dubai’s position on the global map.
HH Sheikh Mohamad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice president and Prime Minister of the U.A.E, ruler of Dubai, proved to be cut from the same cloth. A vision that demands always the best, an ambition that accepts nothing but the best, a thirst for knowledge and courage to pursue the future with relentless optimism. All this anchored in the deep roots of wisdom passed down the generations and the love of the people of Dubai. Not even the biggest global financial crisis of our life time daunted the spirit of the city, and indeed Dubai rebounded stronger and better.
Today, we are undergoing an exciting period in the history of this emirate and country. The Dubai story is continuously evolving. It is not the beginning of the end, rather, the end of the beginning – with many more surprises to come! HH Sheikh Mohammed has been famously quoted to have said:
“In the race for excellence, there is no finishing line”.
Dubai continually pushes itself to outdo itself, recently there has been an announcement of “The Tower”, billed to rise higher than Burj Khalifa.
Dubai is to host the World Expo in 2020, this has already opened a new chapter of the Dubai story that will be characterized by Knowledge, Innovation and Connectivity.
Today, His Highness’ vision is to make Dubai the happiest city on Earth, and this vision is being realised through a number of initiatives including Smart Dubai. Dubai is embracing the use of technology in so many innovative ways, one phenomenal project commissioned by HH Sheikh Hamdan, launched by the Executive Council of Dubai in partnership with Microsoft is Dubai Font. I consider this initiative a gift from Dubai to the World.
Although I was born in the US, I was raised in Dubai, I have drawn inspiration from the U.A. E’s visionary leadership. I truly believe that this quest for excellence is infectious and it remains my ambition to contribute to the success of this city I affectionately refer to as “#MyDubai”
In honor of Dubai, Schon Properties has produced this short video. Please feel free to like, comment and share:
[youtubevideo-56eO2j6MddE]
About the Author:
Danial Schon is the President of Schon Properties, the real estate development division of Schön Group.
Most recently he signed a $870m joint venture between Schon Properties and Al Hamad Group to develop, iSuites. iSuites is a 2,550 hotel apartment’s project in Dubai Investment Park, close to the Dubai Expo 2020 site, Maktoum International Airport, and Dubai Parks & Resorts.
Danial Schon is also an Executive Director and Board Member of Schon Group, which has diversified business interests in banking, textiles, oil refining, transportation, fertilizer, food products, facilities management, and real estate development.
To follow the author on LinkedIn: Danial Schon
To follow the author on Twitter: @Danial_Schon
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