NEWS BUSINESS INSIGHTS THE HAPPINESS EXPERT GOLF CONOR MCGREGOR BULL AND BEAR WATCHES THE POWER OF EMPATHY INNOVATION AND CONNECTION PANDEMICS, POLITICS & POWER RECOGNISING LEADERSHIP STYLES IN 2020 WHEN THE STARS COME OUT, DON’T LET THEM FADE FOCUSING ON YOUR TOP TALENT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE VITAL NOVEMBER 2020 # 163 THE GUIDE TO GOOD BUSINESS AND BETTER LIVING “OPPORTUNITIES ARE BORN FROM CHALLENGES” OWEIS ZAHRAN ON THE MIND-SET NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS IN 2020 THE ROAD TO LEADERSHIP SALMA AL-RASHID ON HOW COVID-19 HAS SLOWED PROGRESS FOR ARAB WOMEN UA E AED 20 BAHR AIN BHD 2 KUW A IT KWD 2 OM AN OMR 2 Arabian BusinessNO VEMBER 2020 OUTDOOR PURSUITS WRISTWATCHES FOR ADVENTURES ON LAND, AIR AND UNDER WATER SURVIVAL TACTICS INSIDE THE BEAR GRYLLS SURVIVAL CAMP IN RAS AL KHAIMAH POWER LUNCHES THE HOTTEST TABLES IN TOWN PLUS :Get ready for something spectacular. Discover Al Noor Island. The region’s island of inspiration - right in the heart of the city of Sharjah. Stand in awe amidst the butterflies, take a walk through inspiring art and light installations, dive into a literary pavilion and unwind in a café with a breathtaking view. THERE’S SO MUCH TO EXPERIENCE ON THE ISLE OF INSPIRATION. Take a day off from everyday life. @AlNoorIsland alnoorisland.ae A project by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq)NOVEMBER 2020 CEO MIDDLE E A ST 3 contents November 2020 10 18 26 Business 9 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 10 TH E BI G G ER PI CTU R E Business lessons from the experts 12 NEWS A round-up of the most significant updates in the world of business 14 INSIGHT Companies need to put their best talent on their most critical projects to ensure survival amid the pandemic, according to leaders of Bain & Co 18 ANALYSIS While all businesses are being impacted by the pandemic, it is clear that the nature of business travel has changed irrevocably, believes Ciaran Kelly of FCM Travel Solutions 22 BUILDING A BRAND CULTURE Leaders and business owners are increasingly understanding the need to work on their company culture, says executive coach Nurcin Erdogan 24 THE BIG QUESTION Management consultancies, auditing firms and creative agencies are all heading down the same road, but what got them there might not take them further, says strategist Gaurav Sinha 26 MODERNISING THE WORKPLACE It’s one thing to nimbly retool and modernise the workplace, but it’s quite another to expect workers to adjust as swiftly, believes Hossam Seif El-Din of IBM Middle East 22Leadership 30 WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP Despite enormous strides in business, government and other areas, women don’t always get the respect men do for their leadership roles even when they can boast greater accomplishments, believes Andi Simon 32 COVER STORY: OWEIS ZAHRAN The entrepreneur says there is no secret formula to ensuring your company survives a crisis, but all business leaders need to ensure they are creating products and solutions for the current reality 38 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT The coronavirus pandemic has slowed the progress towards Arab women’s economic empowerment, says Salma Al Rashid, organiser for Women 2020 40 LESSONS FROM THE WILD With ‘zoom fatigue’ and happiness at work a growing concern, there could be no time like the present to head – literally – for the hills. Allison Grinnell, CEO, RAK Hospitality Holding, introduces the exciting new adventure offering 44 SPORTS AND LEADERSHIP Global icon and world champion Conor McGregor reveals how he is training his best business brain to succeed outside the octagon 4 C EO M I D D L E E A S T NOVEMBER 2020 30 40 38 32 contents November 2020 44FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT WWW.COMMERCIALINTERIORDESIGN.COM/cid-AWARDS OR CONTACT ONE OF OUR TEAM TODAy For sponsorship enquiries: rebecca lockwood Sales director Tel: +971 4 444 3268 Email: rebecca.lockwood@itp.com For NOMINATION enquiries: JANE O'NEILL EDITOR Tel: +971 4 444 3626 Email: jane.oneill@itp.com For event enquiries: daniel Fewtrell Director of Awards & Marketing Tel: +971 4 444 3684 Email: daniel.fewtrell@itp.com For Table sales enquiries: anthony chandran table sales executive Tel: +971 4 444 3685 Email: anthony.chandran@itp.com silver SPONSORs category SPONSORs Social media SPONSOR WEDNESDAY 25th November jw marriott marquis hotel dduubbaaii Last chance to book your seats PRESENTED BY GOLD SPONSORS #CIDAWARDS FIT-OUT PARTNERPleasure 46 HOSPITALITY Nestled within its own landscaped gardens, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai in JBR offers peaceful, poolside living and the chance to switch gears from WFH to R and R 48 WATCHES With cooler climates finally here in the UAE, it’s time to embrace the best of outdoor adventures. What better way to do so than with timepieces designed to go with you 50 LUXURY PENS Montblanc pays tribute to the famous king of Rock and Roll 52 STAY AND PLAY Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club has teed up a perfect promotion, combining a round of golf on one of the emirate’s most picturesque championship courses and an unforgettable five-star luxury hotel stay at the Park Hyatt Dubai 54 TERRACE SEASON RETURNS After a hot, quiet summer, the UAE is embracing the return of cooler weather and the chance to enjoy exceptional food while enjoying stylish outdoor settings 55 L’ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON One of gastronomy world’s most revered talents opens a restaurant in Dubai that’s destined to be a ‘top table’ year-round 56 MEDITERRANEAN BITES Italian-inspired Torno Subito reopens its doors 57 STYLISH DINING We try Waldorf Astoria’s ever popular brunch in DIFC 58 FINAL THOUGHTS SMEs have the opportunity to build resilience and ensure recovery amid current challenges, says Taarek Hinedi 6 C EO M I D D L E E A S T NOVEMBER 2020 contents November 2020 16 16 16 18 46 56 52 48Sally Whittam Commercial Director T: +971 56 104 0567 Email: sally.whittam@itp.com Tuesday, November 24, 2020 JW Marriott Marquis Dubai SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES Amanda Stewart International Sales Manager T: +44 7908 117 333 Email: amanda.stewart@itp.com Paul Clifford Group Editor T: +971 4 444 3337 Email: paul.clifford@itp.com Daniel Fewtrell Director of Awards & Marketing T: +971 4 444 3684 Email: daniel.fewtrell@itp.com Anthony Chandran Tables Sales Executuve T: +971 4 444 3685 Email: anthony.chandran@itp.com NOMINATION ENQUIRIESEVENT ENQUIRIESBOOKING ENQUIRIES #HotelierAwards www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/awards Rebecca Lockwood Sales Director T: +971 55 484 8301 Email: rebecca.lockwood@itp.com BOOK TABLES NOW MEDIA PARTNERS GCC SPONSORFM PARTNER Expect the Best.8 C EO M I D D L E E A S T NOVEMBER 2020 To receive your copy delivered directly to your door, subscribe online at www.itp.net/subscriptions The most important business people and CEOs talk to the most important magazine The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. 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ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO ALI AKAWI MANAGING DIRECTOR SUE HOLT EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN- CHIEF JOLA CHUDY jola .chudy@itp.com ART DIRECTOR ADRIAN LUCA SUB EDITOR EDWARD LIAMZON CONTRIBUTORS ZAIB SHADANI NURCIN ERDOGAN EVENTS & MARKETING DIRECTOR OF AWARDS & MARKETING DANIEL FEWTRELL +971 4 4 4 4 3684 Daniel Few trell@itp.com EVENTS & MARKETING MANAGER JOANNA FARRER +971 4 444 3328 joanna .farrer@itp.com ADVERTISING GROUP COMMERICAL DIRECTOR AMIT CHOPRA +971 4 4 4 4 3463 amit.chopra@itp.com SENIOR SALES MANAGER PANKAJ SHARMMAA +971 4 4 4 4 35351100 pankaj.sharmmaa@@itp.p.coom PO BOX 500024, DUBAI, UAE +971 4 4 4 4 3000 OFFICES IN ABU DHABI, DUBAI & LONDON PHOTOGRAPHY SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS EFRAIM EVIDOR ADEL RASHID STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS AASIYA JAGADEESH FRITZ JOHN ASURO AJITH NARENDRA YULIYA PETROVICH JESSICA SAMSON PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION GROUP PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR KYLE SMITH PRODUCTION MANAGER BASEL AL KASSEM PRODUCTION COORDINATOR MANOJ MAHADEVAN SENIOR IMAGE EDITOR EMMALYN ROBLES CIRCULATION DISTRIBUTION & WAREHOUSE MANAGER PRAVEEN NAIR ITP LIVE GENERAL MANAGER AHMAD BASHOUR ITP GROUP CEO ALI AKAWI CFO TOBY JAY SPENCER-DAVIES PUBLISHED BY AND © 2020 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. MEDIANOVEMBER 2020 C EO M I D D L E E A S T 9 ED IT OR ’S P OR TR AI T: O LI VE R @ P HO TO SO LU TI ON S. M E ne of the surprising – or perhaps not-so-surprising – trends to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic has been a resurgence in the popularity of fitness and outdoor pursuits, which makes the opening of the Bear Grylls Explorer Camp in Ras Al Khaimah particularly serendipitous. Just in time for the cooler weather, it is perfectly poised to answer our collective yearning for the magic reset button of Mother Nature, as it wel- comes corporate groups and individu- als to test their mettle in a series of survivalist-themed experiences. CEO Allison Grinnell says there’s never been a better time to incorporate outdoor activities. “Nature-based group activities are an important part of build- ing communication capabilities, team co-operation and trust, allowing people within a corporate structure to face fresh challenges and grow their transfer- able skills,” she tells CEO Middle East on page 40. “The activities at the Bear Grylls Explorer Camp challenge teams in different ways than in the office fostering team collaboration and group support and reliance. They also improve problem solving skills by introducing participants into new perceptions of teamwork, calling for a different mindset - driving motivation and team resilience.” With Zoom fatigue the latest blight lending its voice to the cavalcade of pestilence that 2020 has thrust upon us, bosses are rightly concerned that their teams are becoming fragmented, with corporate culture compromised and so are looking both outwards and inwards for ways to address this growing issue. While early assessments of ‘WFH’ revealed that productivity itself was not being hampered, several months in, and employee wellbeing is top of the agenda, with employers aware that the bottom line of a business is affected by the morale and happiness of the men and women who contribute to it through their employee functions. Brand expert and executive culture consultant Nurcin Erdogan tells CEO Middle East on page 22 that culture is vital to success. “Companies that proactively man- age culture demonstrate revenue growth over a 10-year period that’s 516 per cent higher than those that don’t.” That’s a staggering figure, and while culture may feel intangible, it plays a much bigger role in a company’s bottom line than is often fully understood. It’s something that our cover star, serial entrepreneur Oweis Zahran, knows all too well. Insisting on a workplace culture that permits his team to chal- lenge the status quo and work without fear meant that when the time came to launch a series of new ventures, the pan- demic didn’t stop his plans. In fact, his team were able to identify and leverage new opportunities. “There has always been a crisis of some sort. If not a pandemic, then an economic or political crisis. We don’t live in a perfect world,” he tells CEO Middle East on page 32. “Fortunately for us, we have always understood that there is never a certain ‘mode’ that lasts forever. You always have to adapt to the next climate that comes along.” That’s the kind of fighting talk we love at CEO Middle East and so I hope that you will enjoy this issue that celebrates adaptability, survival, nimble thinking… and also some of the finer things in life that go hand in hand with the fruits of your success. FROM THE EDITOR O Share your views on thought leadership and innovation by getting in touch. Q U ESTI O N S? CO M M E NTS? Jola.Chudy@itp.com JOLA CHUDY Editor in ChiefNext >