21
Noura Badawi
Director of Media and Communications - AHG
What does winning the
Chairman’s Award mean for
you?
I always believed that I am a student
learning new things, allowed to make
mistakes and learn from them. Winning
the Chairman’s Award means I am now a
graduate, a fully responsible adult. I have
moved to a different league with new
higher standards and new performance
criteria. Now I have to up my game to
keep up.
It is a great honour to receive this award
from Mr. Khalaf, I thank him for it and
promise him that I will try my best to
never disappoint him.
Were you surprised?
Very! When Mr. Khalaf told me the
morning of the event that I needed to
prepare a trophy and a certificate for
myself I asked him twice if he was sure of
his choice. I was over the moon!
How long have you been at the
Al Habtoor Group?
I started working for Al Habtoor Group is
2001, I was part of the opening team of
the Metropolitan Palace Hotel and moved
to Dubai with the group a year later.
Describe the journey to where
you are today?
Educational is what comes to mind first
when I think about where I was when
I started and where I am now. I say
educational because not only did it allow
me to grow in the company and develop
my work skills, working for Al Habtoor
shaped my personality and gave me a lot
of confidence.
What do you like most about
your job?
I like everything about my job. There is
nothing monotonous or repetitive about
it. But what I like the most about it is that
I am in touch with everyone throughout
the Group and that I get to prepare great
events for different celebrations in the
group.
What is the biggest challenge
you faced in the Group and how
did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge for me in the
beginning was working with highly
qualified and highly knowledagble
people, I had to sit there and pretend
I understood what they were talking
about! Seriously, it was keeping up with
such knowledgable people.
How would you describe
yourself?
Stubborn! Whatever the challenges, if I
want something I will not stop until I get it!
Perhaps a ‘nicer’ way of saying it would
be determined and focused.
What motivates you to succeed?
Working day after day with Mr. Khalaf Al
Habtoor drives me to be a better person
every day. I couldn’t ask for a better
example and a better motivation.
What is the most daring thing
you have done in life?
Unfortunately I am not adventurous;
most of what I do is calculated... I guess
I am boring that way.
Where do you see yourself in
five years from now?
I see myself working on more exciting
projects as the Al Habtoor Group grows
bigger and builds new landmarks. I would
also like to see myself winning another
Chairman’s Award!
