Mohammed Alabbar grew up in Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) seven principalities. As a teenager during the 1970s, he was granted a scholarship to travel abroad to attend university. He decided to study at Seattle University’s Albers School of Economics and Business due to its good reputation and small class settings. In 1981, he graduated with a B. A. In Finance and Business Administration. Twenty-six years later, in recognition of his achievements, the university granted him an honorary PhD. In the humanities.
This successful businessman’s extensive employment history includes a stint as the Chairman of the country’s Department of Economic Development. While in this position, he was instrumental in the development of the Dubai Shopping Festival. This annual event was first held in February of 1996 to promote trade. Since then, it has grown into a month-long festival which attracts about three million visitors from around the globe. It features more than 23K retail outlets which offer a variety of merchandise. For his successful development of this festival, Alabbar earned an International Marketing Superstars of the Year award from Advertising Age.
Currently, this business mogul serves as Chairman and Director General of Emaar Properties, the largest real estate developer in the Persian Gulf. Within the country, its projects include the Umm Al Quwain Marina, The Springs, The Meadows, The Greens, The Views, The Lakes, Emirate Hills, Arabian Ranches, and Downtown Dubai. The downtown project features residential and retail space, including the Dubai Mall, which is the world’s largest entertainment and shopping complex.
Adjacent to the Mall is the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest man-made structure. During January of 2010, this marketing expert oversaw its opening. Construction began in 2004 on this 2,723-feet skyscraper.
Mohammed Alabbar has mastered many roles in the business, political, and economic sectors. In addition to his roles in private enterprises, he serves as a senior aide to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE’s Vice President / Prime Minister.