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I came to the UAE just over 33 years ago and the country has literally transformed in front of my eyes.
Thanks to the determination of the founding fathers and the dedication of the Emirati people, the
UAE has made a tremendous leap forward from an arid desert and isolated coastline into a modern
wonder of the world. And of course, the Al Habtoor Group has been instrumental in the journey.
Within a short span of time the UAE has overcome obstacles and reached impressive levels of growth
and development across all sectors of the economy. The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority has
undergone tremendous efforts to advance local infrastructure, including highways, public buses,
taxis, marine transport and the Dubai Metro, which recently celebrated its 5
th
anniversary.
The aviation industry has been one of the gateways exposing the UAE to the world. Starting off
with only two leased aircrafts back in 1985, today, Emirates Airline boasts a fleet of more than 230
aircrafts and operates the world’s largest fleet of A380s, flying to over 140 destinations in more
than 80 countries around the world. In 2013/2014, the air carrier transported more than 44.5 million
passengers and 2.25 million tonnes of cargo, backing the Dubai International Airport to overtake
London’s Heathrow as the airport with the largest number of international passengers in the world.
The UAE has experienced a boom in the education sector, most notably in the number and quality
of post-graduate institutions. The United Arab Emirates University was the first to be established in
1976, later followed by the Ajman University of Science and Technology and the Higher Colleges of
Technology both founded in 1988. The Zayed University, is the newest of the government sponsored
higher education institutions in the UAE established in 1998.
The local banking has experienced unprecedented expansion and innovation in its practices in the
market, having established a stable local presence. The structure of businesses has also adapted
to Dubai’s prominent role in regional development. Local businesses have transformed from sole
proprietorships and limited liability enterprises to public shareholding companies and multinational
corporations operating in the global marketplace.
In line with these changes and the growth of UAE’s population to over 9.3 million, Dubai’s real estate
has transcended architectural and engineering boundaries, boasting the biggest and tallest buildings
in the world. To name a few examples, the first that comes to mind is the former Metropolitan Hotel,
which is being transformed into the world’s largest multi-functional complex of its kind - Al Habtoor
City; the Dubai Trade Centre, once the tallest building in Dubai surmounted by the Burj Khalifa
reaching 829.8 metres into the sky; and the Dubai International Airport with 2 runways now be
complimented by 5 runways at the Al Maktoum Airport in Jebel Ali.
The UAE has witnessed an educational, economic, and urban renaissance, which meets the needs
of the present and the future. The Nation is in the front row among the most civilised countries in the
world.
I look forward to witnessing what is still to come - from both the government and the Group.
Ziad Ida
Director of Community Relations and Safety
