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UAE Freezones Biz News Updates
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An Enterprising Exchange: H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Al Maktoum
"Don’t choose businesses that everyone else wants to start up because of the
glam factor. Choose the businesses that people don’t find exciting- these
are the ones that are going to last.” That was one of the many directives
that H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Al Maktoum told a gathering of some of the
UAE’s top business leaders and entrepreneurs at a Learning Event held by the
UAE Chapter of the Entrepreneur’s Organization.
Facilitated by Entrepreneur Middle East at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in
Dubai, the event was conducted as an informal Q&A session between the Sheikh
and Editor in Chief Fida Chaaban, and touched upon topics relating to the
SME and startup ecosystems, developing and growing businesses, and the roads
to achieving success in the MENA region and beyond.
H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai International
Holding Company
Sheikh Maktoum -whose impressive resume includes titles like Chairman of
Dubai International Holding Company, former Executive Chairman of Shuaa
Capital, founding investor in Virgin Megastores and founder of A1 Grand Prix
racing series- gave the audience an overview of the many business ventures
he has dabbled in here in the region as well as around the world, with him
singling out Dubai as being especially conducive to business and
entrepreneurs. “Under the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Dubai continues to foster and promote entrepreneurship and
enterprise growth,” he said. “This is a dynamic community of businesspeople
led by the most dynamic visionary of them all- an unparalleled success
story. Dubai has become the epicenter of business in the Middle East.”
But for all of the growth seen by large-scale businesses in Dubai, Sheikh
Maktoum, recently appointed to the board of the Commercial Bank of Dubai,
noted that for the Emirate to further scale up its success, it would need
the support of the startup and SME sectors as well. “A successful city
ecosystem stems from not only a consideration of the primary sector, but
[the] secondary and tertiary sectors as well,” he explained.
H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai International
Holding Company with Fida Chaaban, Editor in Chief, Entrepreneur Middle East
“Thus, SMEs and entrepreneurs are essential to Dubai’s continued growth as
the country’s epicenter, alongside tertiary services and bureaucratic input
from the government to stitch it all together.” Of course, there are already
moves being made in this direction, and the evidence for this, according to
the Sheikh, can be seen in the current state of the Dubai ecosystem.
“Current developments in infrastructure and construction are being executed
in a far more sustainable, less risk-prone manner,” he said. “Therefore, the
city is now a far more fertile hub for investment.”
When asked if Dubai’s crowded entrepreneurial space currently made it harder
for new endeavors here to establish themselves, Sheikh Maktoum rubbished the
idea. “I don’t like to do a business that has low barriers to entry,” he
said. “There’s a lot of capital here- people want to set up businesses
here... If you’re going to get into a business, go into one where there are
high barriers of entry.” According to Sheikh Maktoum, entrepreneurs have to
be resilient: “You don’t give up- you have to be tenacious to a degree that
you’ll make a pit bull look like a poodle.” Having said that, he advised
against dragging along a sinking ship too- “If you believe there is no end
to a problem, trust your instincts, and move on, if you must.”
WHAT IS THE ENTREPRENEUR’S ORGANIZATION?
“This was truly an eye-opening experience for me and our respected members.
H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Al Maktoum’s staunch understanding of the city’s
landscape and the unimaginable level of effort that goes into his successful
endeavors was not only commendable but fascinating.” Vikram Shroff,
President, EO UAE Chapter
The Entrepreneur’s Organization is a dynamic, global, non-profit network of
more than 10,000 business owners in 48 countries. Founded in 1987 by a group
of young entrepreneurs, EO is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to
learn and grow from each other, leading to greater business success and an
enriched personal life. EO members create a constant flow of news on a daily
basis, all of which speak to their commitment to entrepreneurial excellence.
Entrepreneur's Organization Dubai
TREP TALK
SHEIKH MAKTOUM HASHER AL AL MAKTOUM'S TIPS FOR DOING BUSINESS
First, do not be risk-averse. Instead, believe in risk reward. In doing so,
entrepreneurs should consider approaching uncontested market space with
higher barriers to entry, however, due diligence and stress testing remains
key. Sheikh Maktoum exemplified this by detailing his own ventures in East
Africa such as hydropower and mineral mining, which although fruitful, took
a considerably long time to set up. Second, consider stable, more viable
businesses over and above exciting ones. Although it may be popular to chase
competition, sometimes more traditional, less exciting endeavors may be far
more profitable and less stressful. Third, consider giving sweat equity and
construct good incentive models for employees. In order to keep costs low
and heighten personal investment in their work, offer employees the ability
to become an active stakeholder in the company. Lastly, accrue your salary
and self-evaluate your own worth. Before diving head first into an
independent business, consider speaking to a headhunter in order to gauge
your own financial worth, thereby setting a benchmark for your company and
future decisions.
Apr 28, 15 |
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Courtesy Entrepreneur
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