Abdulla Al Abdouli, the Chief Executive Officer of Marjan, the master-developer of freehold properties in Ras Al Khaimah, an experienced architect, urban planning expert and an inspiring Emirati leader focused on promoting a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation and facilitating strategic foreign investments.
How did your journey as a professional begin?
After my Masters in Regional & Urban Planning from the Paris Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi, I started my career as a Director of Project Management Office with the Ras Al Khaimah Municipality. Subsequently, I earned a certificate in Real Estate Investment Strategies from Harvard University. For more than 13 years, I worked in the construction Industry in both public & private sectors driving strategic growth initiatives of the real estate sector in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. My focus has been on developing integrated master-planned communities, world-class facilities & infrastructure projects in Ras Al Khaimah that will attract foreign investment and position the emirate as a regional investment and tourism hub. Today as CEO of Marjan, my role is to identify new opportunities for real estate growth, and expand economic partnerships with an access to global markets to help enhance the reputation of Ras Al Khaimah globally. As the master-developer of freehold developments in the emirate, Marjan creates world-class projects, and our flagship is Al Marjan Island.
The pandemic has impacted all the industry segments. How do you see the real-estate market of the UAE in the near future?
We are already witnessing a return in market confidence boost by the UAE developer, and ambition plans by the master developer all over the UAE. With our focus on delivering elegantly designed lifestyle communities that support Ras Al Khaimah’s economic diversification, we have achieved impressive benchmarks in the past years. These have also contributed to positioning Ras Al Khaimah as a vibrant tourism, hospitality and residential destination – inspired and guided by the vision of our leadership. Our outlook is that alongside the positive traction gained by the UAE’s real estate sector, Ras Al Khaimah will record further growth, as more people adapt to the new reality of working from home and seeking destinations away from the bustle of big cities. Additionally, the emirate’s growing reputation as a tourism and investment hub will further catalyse real estate activity.
What impact could Expo 2020 bring in the real-estate segment of the UAE?
Expo 2020 would definitely have a strong impact on the real estate sector as more people from around the world visit the nation and experience the world-class infrastructure and investment opportunities that the UAE offers. With Expo 2020, international visitors will have the opportunity to witness the economic and living environment of the country.
Would you like to mention any specific exciting project or plan that you are working on currently?
Al Marjan Island, the flagship development by Marjan, is already a thriving lifestyle destination. We are continuously enhancing the offering at Al Marjan Island, a project that has been developed under the visionary guidance of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Our current focus is to add 2,400 hotel, residential and mixed-use units by 2025, and several of them are under design review or in different stages of completion. We aim to add three new hotels in 2021 which will include the Hampton By Hilton Marjan Island, a 4-star resort with a private beach area with 515 rooms; the Radisson Resort Marjan Island with 400 keys, and Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island with 418 rooms.
What do you find as the biggest challenge in your business and how do you work towards overcoming it?
The challenges of late have been related to the COVID-19 pandemic. But our nation and leadership took decisive measures to address it. In addition to offering financial stimulus packages and supporting the hospitality industry, Ras Al Khaimah took several concerted steps which enabled the emirate to be the first city to be certified as ‘Safe’ by Bureau Veritas. Named the GCC Tourism Capital, the emirate is also the first to receive the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp. By following all protocols, we continued to focus on infrastructure development. So, the key has been to continue to focus on our priorities, ensure that safety protocols are met and focus on our larger goals – to position Ras Al Khaimah as a leading regional tourism and investment hub.
How do you define success?
We have 2 tires of success. First success is the sense of pride when we accomplish our milestones as a team despite the global challenges we face and to watch our talented young people emerge as accomplished professionals. Second tire is the success of the developer operating on our project such as Al Marjan Island and crossing strongly through all the challenges and posting positive results.
If you have one piece of advice for anyone who is starting out in their career what would it be?
Keep up the hard work, take criticism and turn it into opportunity to improve, and everything you are doing today will stand for you in good stead in years to come.
What are some other things that you involve yourself into?
I am always learning and growing. As a professionally trained engineer, I believe I have a sense of responsibility towards humanity to create sustainable living environments. I call engineering as another of the noble professions – a work that calls for us to build homes, roads, bridges and dams, so that people can lead a good life.
What message would you like to give to investors looking forward to invest in the UAE?
There are several factors that make Ras Al Khaimah a preferred destination for investors. In addition to the supportive government policies, our central geographic location enables businesses to connect with the East and West easily. We have state-of-the-art infrastructure, a promising economy and friendly trade relations with neighbouring countries. Ras Al Khaimah is today the fastest-growing tourism and investment destination in the region. In addition to its natural beauty and world-class experiences and attractions, we offer a competitive business environment. As an investment destination, Al Marjan Island provides innumerable benefits to international investors such as zero per cent income and personal tax, 100 per cent foreign ownership, no foreign exchange controls, 100 per cent repatriation of capital and profits, 100 per cent ready infrastructure, 100 per cent availability of utilities services, and residency visa for homeowners in partnership with Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ). At Al Marjan Island, international investors can also purchase land plots with development rights. The infrastructure for the land is already developed under a plug-and-play model. Most of the plots are designated for residential units, boutique hotels, resort hotels, community facilities and retail. Moreover, investors in property worth over AED 2 million plus, can benefit from the Golden Visa programme, whereby investors get 10-year visas.
What message do you have for our readers?
My message to the readers is to visit Ras Al Khaimah, see and experience first-hand the world-class, relaxed lifestyle the emirate offers, and the investment opportunities that will help create long-term value.