Mohamed Ali Alabbar is an Emirati entrepreneur with global interests in real estate, retail, hospitality, e-commerce, technology, logistics, food and beverage, and venture capital.
Alabbar joined Dubai’s Department of Economic Development in 1992 where he launched creative public policies to bolster the trade and commercial sectors, and creating an open and transparent culture.
The biggest real estate group in Dubai, Emaar Properties, was founded with assistance from Alabbar in 1997. Among the most recognizable structures in Dubai are those built by Emaar, including the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, and the biggest retail center in the world, the Dubai Mall. In addition, Alabbar arranged a collaboration with Giorgio Armani and founded Emaar Hotels & Resorts LLC in a unique agreement to introduce a line of opulent hotels under the luxury brand’s name. Additionally, he is credited with founding the monthly Dubai Shopping Festival. These days, Emaar operates not just in Dubai but also has projects in eighteen different nations.
Additionally, he has fueled the development of a number of regional firms into well-known industry leaders, such as Americana Group and the e-commerce sites noon.com and Namshi. With the well-known coffee company Luckin Coffee and the top mobile transportation network Didi Chuxing, he most recently increased the size of his assets in China.
He serves as a member of the Dubai Executive Council, Dubai Economic Council, and vice chair of the Dubai Aluminum Company (DUBAL).
Apart from his influence on the local economy, Alabbar has also established multiple CSR programs and contributes to local establishments like the Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs. With the goal of fostering the development of inexpensive and accessible homes, Emaar Properties rebuilt the Indonesian community of Ngelepen after a devastating earthquake. Alabbar also started the Beyout residential project for the economically disadvantaged, which is a social housing project in Egypt.
Alabbar earned a Finance and Business Administration degree from Seattle University in the United States, as well as an Honorary Doctorate from the London School of Economics and a Political Science Honorary Doctorate from Sun Moon University in South Korea.
