Officials and corporate leaders hail governance

Officials and corporate leaders hail governance
By Shakir Husain, Ahmed A. Elewa & Himendra Mohan Kumar, Staff Reporters GULF NEWS
Published: January 04, 2008, 00:43


Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Senior officials and businessmen on Thursday praised the dynamic leadership of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, capitalising on the gains achieved so far.

January 5 marks the second anniversary when His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum became Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE. He became the Ruler of Dubai on January 4, 2006.

Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Federal National Council Speaker, said Shaikh Mohammad is an inspirational leader, who has created an atmosphere of immense confidence and courage in the UAE.

"This has been extremely beneficial for the business community in the region as it has helped us create a highly competitive and lucrative business arena."


Mohammad Ali Al Abbar, Director General of the Dubai Economic Development Department, said the occasion calls for deep thinking to evaluate the march of giving and understand the honourable leader whose ambitions for his people are excellence and progress at a global level.

"Shaikh Mohammad's personality is a harmonised mix of unique and positive characteristics, he is simple and humble when dealing with people, courageous when facing obstacles, and does not know the word impossible," Al Abbar said.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority, said the achievements since Shaikh Mohammad took office stand testimony to the UAE's comprehensive development process, which is based on a strategic growth and progress strategy.

Rashid Mohammad Al Mutawa, CEO and MD of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Housing Establishment, said Shaikh Mohammad has great concern to the housing of UAE nationals.

"Shaikh Mohammad gives free housing with priority to the less fortunate sectors of society, such as poor families, divorced and widowed women supporting their children and people with special need," Al Mutawa said.

Development strategies

Mohammad Ali Al Hashimi, executive chairman, Zabeel Investments, said: "We have seen a major focus on healthcare and education. For the first time we have seen a cabinet that is being managed in a way you would have a Fortune 500 company managed.

"The drive that we have seen in the two years is phenomenal. It is good for all of us, whether we are nationals or expatriates."

Khalid Bin Kalban, managing director and CEO, Dubai Investments, said Shaikh Mohammad's development strategy covers both economic and humanitarian activities.

"He has the determination and willingness to take bold decisions. His influence is not limited to the UAE and GCC. He is influencing other parts of the Arab world as well."

Saleh Abdullah Lootah, CEO, Al Islami Foods, said: "We see more synergies in the functioning of all the ministries and delivery of results. Shaikh Mohammad's style of work is to give more authority to people and also hold them accountable about their performance. ... Infrastructure projects are being implemented to fulfil the requirements of the future. ... Gradually, there will be more integration with other GCC countries under his leadership."

"This is the first government to ... adopt a national strategy for developing the country, with clear targets and objectives," said Khalfan Al Ka'abi, chairman of Ascorp Holdings and chairman of the construction committee at the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In April, the government announced a revolutionised agenda, setting strategic targets for all government departments and entities on the federal level, with a special task-force setup to monitor the adoption of these new national targets.

"The UAE now is benchmarking the performance of federal departments, and even the government of Abu Dhabi announced its own policy agenda to keep up with the ambitious national targets, and I think all the other emirates will follow suit ... he revolutionised the way we perceive civil service on the federal and local level," he said, referring to the substantial increase in the federal budget and the ambitious planning to develop infrastructure of the whole country.

From a different perspective, the concepts introduced so far helped in establishing a very open architecture for the economy, said Nazim Al Qudsi, chief investment officer at the National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

"This is very important as the UAE seeks now to base the economy on expertise and the quality of output, and that is what distinguishes the UAE from other economies in the region," he said.

Ambitious targets are now set at the national level requiring excellence of service in all segments of the federal government bodies, while concepts as accountability, transparency, and efficiency are being pushed to the forefront.

Karim Al Solh, CEO of regional equity firm, Gulf Capital, said Shaikh Mohammad has helped improve the business environment in the UAE and brought greater visibility for Dubai and other emirates on the world scene.

Saleh Mohammad Bin Nsra, chairman of real estate companies Shorfa and Ashraq, said: "The business environment is better than ever before and this has given a big boost to real estate development in the UAE," he said.