Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, the global developer of iconic projects, has been honoured with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award' at the Gulf Business Industry Awards 2014.
Alabbar received the honour from Arlene Foster, Britain's Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, at a ceremony that also recognised the U.A.E.'s industry leaders across diverse business sectors.
Congratulating the winners of the Gulf Business Industry Awards, Alabbar said: "From family-owned business leaders to innovative entrepreneurs, the profiles of the winners reflect the diversity of Dubai's business sector. It also highlights how our city supports entrepreneurship and offers a strong growth environment, which is underlined by the evolution of Emaar as a National Champion company of Dubai.” He added: "His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai, has been the inspiration and guiding force in our growth journey. The can-do attitude he instilled helped us to achieve what others perceived as impossible. Our iconic projects such as Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and The Dubai Mall, the world's most visited retail and lifestyle destination, are today the civic pride of our ?nation.”
Alabbar said that Emaar is moving into the next era of growth with the listing of Emaar Malls Group, which is one of the largest public offerings in the region. "We were one of the first companies to be listed on the Dubai Financial Market in 2000, and now we are setting another milestone with a truly international IPO by a Dubai-based company through a book-building process.”