< PreviousREAL ES TAT E | 3025/06, June 2024 in the property. We have seen a lot of feedback from a large variety of differ- ent customers who are looking to either place their parents/grandparents in these beachfront properties where they will enjoy a quality of life that wouldn’t necessarily be able to be find in more developed countries for affordable prices. We have also seen some interest from Russian/Middle Eastern clients whom are looking to have a holiday home that they can be proud to call their own. The other product that we have for sale is hotel rooms, we are selling a por tion of the rooms to investors whom will have access to benefit from the proceeds that will be earned by the hotel. Those familiar with the hospi- tality market in Zanzibar will be able to quickly understand that our prod- uct, once completed in the beginning of 2027 is set to be what we believe to be the best resort on the entire island. This investment option will allow the owners two weeks a year to use the hotel room, which we feel is adequate as most investors would never really spend more than two weeks a year to holiday in Zanzibar. More importantly though, it forms part of a diversifica- tion strategy for international inves- tors. Most people would not have the financial capacity to go and build a $200m resor t outright as a single investment. It’s quite nice that this investment avenue has allowed what I would describe in essence as “frac- tional ownership” of a hotel for retail investors. Allowing investors to benefit from the results of an asset class that generally demands high ticket prices. We have kept approximately 30 percent of the hotel rooms under ownership of Infinity Group as we very strongly believe that the hotel once operational will g i ve consistent double-digit returns and that it will form a part of our international diver- sification strategy. Do you have any advice for new Entrepreneurs? For sure. Forgetting all of the normal pieces of basic advice that you have probably heard repeatedly over and over The Master Plan of the Anantara Zanzibar Resort: A complex compromising 78 apartments, 63 one-bedroom villas, two-bedroom villas, suites, and state-of-the-art facilities recreational facilities that we have put in place. These range from padel courts, tennis courts, a state-of-the-art gym, spa, six restaurants, etc… We even have a helicopter pad, where guests will be able to get picked up from the airport, or take tours around the island. We really do only have two products though; the first is the residences, and the second is the hotel rooms. We are selling beachfront apartments in Zanzi- bar, that will have access to all of the state-of-the-art amenities and facilities $200M The value of the Anantara Zanzibar Resort project There are very few things in life that will give you the satisfaction and excitement that comes from the world of business arabianbusiness.com 31 | REAL ES TAT E everywhere else; work hard, stay disci- plined with your savings, manage your investments, try your best to improve your business, etc… The real first piece of advice that I would give to an entre- preneur, or would-be entrepreneur is to think big. The first step to doing anything you or anyone else has ever done in life is to think of that idea that you would want to do. This requires getting a little bit outside of your comfort zone. Then of course comes execution, planning, funding, building a team, dealing with lawyers, etc… but before all of that can happen, you need to really think of what it is that you want to commit many years of your life too. Knowing full well that the possibility of failure might exist, and result in time and money wasted. The second piece of advice is that when you commit to that idea – Give it your absolute ver y best, but most importantly to have a lot of patience. The world of business is very tough, and very competitive and sadly not all businesses are able to succeed immedi- ately despite the best of efforts. There are a lot of things you can learn before you start your business, but there is no better teacher than practice. Lastly, and the most important piece of advice that I would give to anybody is to enjoy the journey. The world of business, despite its hardships and stresses is also potentially one of the most rewarding; financially, and personally. There are very few things in life that will give you the satisfaction and excitement that comes from the world of business. You will learn lessons, make professional relationships, build a career, and a business that could potentially change the world, and the lives of everyone you choose to employ, deal with, or serve! The world of business, despite its hardships and stresses, is also potentially one of the most rewarding; financially, and personally The signing ceremony between Minor Hotels and Anantara Zanzibar Resort in March32 Vol. 25/06, June 2024 Leading fi gures from various industries gather to speak at the region’s most prestigious leadership event UAE industry titans share leadership insightsarabianbusiness.com 33 front of my agenda. Building a strategy and developing action plans with defi ned solutions and outcomes is what inspires me and that’s the trait I try to instil in my teams as well,” he states. The Arabian Business Leadership Summit 2024 promises to be a beacon of innovation and inspiration, providing attendees with unparalleled opportuni- ties to connect with industry leaders, gain valuable insights, and explore potential collaborations that will shape the future of business in the region. The summit’s lineup boasts an impressive array of speakers, each renowned for their transformative lead- ership and unwavering commitment to driving progress. From government offi - cials to industry titans, the stage will be graced by individuals who have left a mark on the global business landscape. Through engaging discussions, the event offers a unique opportunity to hear from top experts who have success- fully navigated the global business land- scape. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into the latest trends, strategies, and best practices that are driving indus- try transformation. Beyond the dynamic speaker sessions, the summit provides an unpar- alleled networking platform, enabling attendees to forge meaningful connec- tions and explore potential collaborations with like-minded professionals from diverse sectors. Editorial Director Matthew Amlot explains the significance of leadership and innovation in today’s business landscape The Arabian Business Leadership Summit 2024 promises to be a convergence of innovative and inspiring minds, as industry leaders share their visionary philosophies and strategies for driving business success. This exclusive gathering offers attendees a unique opportunity to gain invaluable insights from top experts who have navigated the global business landscape with remarkable acumen. Jaydeep Anand, CFO at FIVE Holdings, believes that leaders should “champion innovation, foster a culture of accountability and collaboration, and inspire their team to strive for excellence,” but also strikes the right balance between fi nancial success and environmental and social responsibility. Vineet Budki, CEO and Managing Partner of Cypher Capital, defines a great leader as someone who “leads from the back in good times and from the front in bad times. They allow the entire team to evolve into an experienced and cohe- sive unit to achieve what is diffi cult to reach individually by team members.” Hussam Baghdadi, Senior Director at Arabian Automobiles, emphasises that great leadership possesses a strong vision for the future and eff ectively communi- cates it to inspire and motivate others. “A good leader listens to their team members, practises empathy, and values diverse perspectives, creating a positive and inclu- sive work environment,” he says. Annabelle Mander, senior vice president of Tahaluf, believes that lead- ership is about inspiring a diverse company culture that provides an excit- ing and safe environment for everyone to succeed. “We actively hire individu- als from an array of different back- grounds, ages, and levels of experience. We encourage everyone to collaborate openly, and share their ideas, which in turn is helping us build a world-beating events brand,” she explains. Oweis Zahran, Managing Director of OWS Capital, advocates for a solu- tion-based leadership philosophy. “While navigating business opportuni- ties, prioritising problem-solving, either with the internal organisation or with external clients, has been at the fore-34 Vol. 25/06, June 2024 Gallery Nasser AlBlooshi, Managing Director - UAE at Chalhoub Group, discussed ways of mastering the human connection in business Women leaders demonstrated the importance of fostering purpose, empathy, and sustainable growth in the region’s demanding business landscape Lyvely CEO Farah Zafar shared her philosophy on what it takes to be a successful leader in today’s ever-evolving business atmospherearabianbusiness.com 35 Suresh Vaidhyanathan, Group CEO of Ghassan Aboud Group, said the current business environment is full of complexities and great opportunities at the same time Jing Wang, founder and CEO of Sawa Group, took part in a panel discussion which covered a range of topics, with a strong focus on how emerging technologies can make a difference in the industry Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA at Mastercard, discussed the practical steps required in empowering the next generation of women leaders in the world of technology (From left) Moderator Tala Michel Issa with Irfan Tansel, CEO of Al Masaood Automobiles, Oweis Zahran, Managing Director of OWS Capital, and Dyuti Parruck, CEO and founder of Decisive Zone during the panel discussion on the importance of diversifying portfolios through unique strategies Annabelle Mander, senior vice president of Tahaluf, said that leadership is about inspiring a diverse company culture that provides an exciting and safe environment for everyone to succeed36 Vol. 25/06, June 2024 Al Gurg provided a comprehensive view of how legacy, sustainability, and growth can coexist and complement each other in the business world A significant portion of the discussion revolved around integrating sustainable practices within business operations L egacy is like a gift,” Easa Al Gurg, Group CEO of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG) said at the Arabian Business Leadership Summit 2024. Al Gurg began the discussion by defining legacy as “what you leave behind and what you are remembered for.” He emphasised the importance of not only preserving and protecting a legacy but also growing it for future generations. “It’s crucial to not only preserve and protect your legacy but also to ensure its growth for future generations,” he said in front of more than 300 partici- pants at this year’s summit. Easa Al Gurg, Group CEO of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG), shares his insights on legacy, sustainable growth and leadership “Legacy is like a gift”arabianbusiness.com 37 Al Gurg’s approach to his family business reflected a commitment to continuous improvement and forward-thinking strategies very important. We’ve had a lot of strong partnerships,” he said. Future growth sectors in UAE Al Gurg also shared his insights on the sectors poised for growth in the UAE, emphasising the role of connectivity and government strategy. “If we really look at the UAE as an example, we’re quite lucky to have a government as a role model,” he said. On the subject of leadership, Al Gurg stressed the impor tance of ethics and making decisions that have a positive impact. “It’s important to focus on doing what’s right,” he asserted. Al Gurg’s insights provided a comprehensive view of how legacy, sustainability, and growth can coexist and complement each other in the busi- ness world. His emphasis on responsi- bility, ethical practices, and strategic diversification offers a roadmap for family businesses aiming to build and sustain their legacies in a rapidly evolv- ing economic landscape. The summit served as a platform for leaders to exchange ideas, discuss obstacles, and explore possibilities for shaping the future of business in the Arab region. This ethos is a cornerstone of Al Gurg’s approach to his family busi- ness, reflecting a commitment to continuous impro v ement and forward-thinking strategies. When asked about the role of responsibility in legacy building, Al Gurg affirmed its significance. He stated that to create and grow a legacy, one needs to have a sense of responsi- bility and seriousness. He also high- lighted the need to balance legacy goals with business interests. “It’s important to focus first on long-term objectives as we look at diversification, growth, expansion,” he explained. Diversification also emerged as a key strategy, as he detailed the importance of expanding business portfolios across different market segments and geographical regions. “It’s important to make sure that we take care of the pennies and the pounds take care of themselves,” he added, underscoring the necessity of meticu- lous planning and management. Sustainability and profitability A significant portion of the discussion revolved around integrating sustainable practices within business operations. Al Gurg acknowledged the challenges, and said: “It’s a challenging activity to bring sustainability to business. At the end of the day, we’re all in business to make money.” Al Gurg believed that sustainability can align with financial goals. “But that being said, we are very standard in our sustainability practices, it’s something It’s a challenging activity to bring sustainability to business. At the end of the day, we’re all in business to make money 38 Vol. 25/06, June 2024 Vayalil shared his remarkable journey from being a radiologist to becoming a business magnate, leading a sprawling healthcare enterprise Vayalil told the audience that the most important aspect of being a leader is to ensure proper communication T o be a leader is a difficult job, but to mask your emotions as a leader is an even difficult task, according to Shamsheer Vayalil, founder and chairman of Burjeel Hold- ings, a UAE-based private healthcare services platform with a growing pres- ence in the MENA region. “Masking your emotions [as a leader], especially when you know there is a prob- lem coming and you can’t tell anyone about it. For example, for a company’s project – some team members would get it, whereas some need to get that confi- dence from you – he needs to see you keep it together, see you smile, and he needs to keep that image of you intact,” he said. Burjeel Holdings founder and chairman Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil discusses getting into business, expansion plans, and the importance of communucation Masking emotions hardest job for a leaderarabianbusiness.com 39 Happiness is a very difficult process, according to Vayalil emphasising a shift towards preventive and personalised care. However, adapting to evolving needs is crucial. “So as long as you’re on the ground, you’re listening to people and that’s my biggest kind of business consultants are my patients, we talk to them,” he said, underscoring the importance of customer experience. To keep people ‘happy’ is very difficult On the subject of happiness, he said: “Happiness is a very difficult [process], you know, to make someone happy is daunting, especially at this point. So probably for me, it’s the experience that may make them feel satisfied.” Vayalil also explained that during all this, the most important aspect of being a leader is to ensure proper communication. “Communication is key. We have become a part of email culture where we just want to pass on the responsibil- ity. However, I believe that quick deci- sion making can be made around the table, and I think it’s still is very import- ant. I don’t like to micromanage, I do not like to micro-monitor as well. I think my role is more of a team-maker, and would also like feedback. I would also like to be wrong, because then I know the company is in good hands.” From doctor to business magnate In a candid conversation, Vayalil also shared his remarkable journey from being a radiologist to becoming a busi- ness magnate, leading a sprawling healthcare enterprise. “It just that there are times that you keep changing without realising,” he said. “It’s really about envisioning a better world and having the courage to pursue that relentlessly, and also about inspiring others and fostering collaboration.” The journey, however, was not without its challenges. He said: “When you have to mask your emotions, and you know, there’s a problem and you can’t tell anyone about it, right? You know that there are certain calcula- tions you make at the back of your mind that this project itself and this project will take and you can’t share with any of the team members.” Burjeel Holdings’ is goal not ‘to build hospitals, but to keep people outside hospitals’ Despite the hurdles, Vayalil’s vision propelled the expansion from a single hospital in Abu Dhabi to a network of 87 assets, including 19 hospitals and 43 medical centres, 15 pharmacies, and a pharma manufacturing company under VPS Healthcare, his family office (which includes the assets under Burjeel Holdings). “Our goal is not to build more hospitals or borders to keep people outside of hospital. So it’s primary care, digital innovation,” he explained, I think my role is more of a team-maker, and would also like feedback. I would also like to be wrong, because then I know the company is in good hands Next >