My first day in UAE: From sales manager to COO

Moussa el Hayek, COO of al Bustan Centre and Residence, talks about the 3 decades it took him to build a career in hospitality sector in the UAE.

It was in the early hours of August 29, 1983, when I first set foot in Dubai as a 25-year young boy.
It was a very tiring and exhausting day because during my travel from Beirut, the airport was closed due to the bombarding during the civil war. I can still recall how flights were stopped for over six hours, so instead of reaching Dubai by 4pm, I actually arrived at 1 after midnight.
Since my arrival was delayed, the company representative had left and my visa was not submitted at the airport as there was no quick communication at that time when technology was not a trend. I called the hotel and informed about my arrival and then they sent somebody again along with my visa. I was working in an international company and was transferred from Hyatt Middle East in Jeddah to Hyatt Dubai due to my hard work. I started my first job at Hyatt in Jed-dah as sales manager for government accounts and transferred to Hyatt Dubai as the emirate was emerging as a potential growth market for the hospitality industry.
Before I landed in Dubai, I al-ready got an insight about what the state would offer in terms of lifestyle, comfort, freedom when compared to other neighborhood Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states as I had travelled most part of the region.
I lived in Jordan for two years, in Saudi Arabia for two-and-a-half years and then I lived in Kuwait for one year. I found Dubai to be the best because of its excellent infrastructure, remarkable hospitality and conducive economic policy.
Dubai is now my second home as I have been in the hospitality industry for 40 years and spent 33 years in the emirate. When I landed in Dubai, I was neither surprised nor disappointed be-cause I came from a similar background. I was familiar with the environment and the culture so I adjusted myself very quickly despite some challenges and difficulties.
Our transportation at that time was nowhere locally-owned taxis, and they were the smaller ones. My first salary was Dh5,500 and of course, the company had provided me with an accommodation along with other benefits. I had to save a good portion of my salary as I was expecting my wife to join me and I had to buy stuff to furnish my house. First business venture I focused and capitalised on my work and that's how I succeeded in my career. I worked with Hyatt for nine years and left as a director of rooms. I then joined Abu Dhabi National Hotel Company, where I developed two resorts in the Ghantoot area. My career took a major turn when I was appointed the general manager of Al Bustan Centre and Residence in May 1996.
I feel proud to complete around two decades at Al Bustan Centre and Residence, which was the biggest residential complexes in the area with one million square feet build up space at that time. I was promoted as chief operating officer in 2000.I still recall the golden moments when we officially opened Al Bustan Centre and Residence in March 1997, which coincided with the Dubai Shopping Festival. HoResidencetels were struggling in the summer at that time, but we were almost full.
We offered the first unique product as a hotel apartment with luxury and big inventory, plus facilities that had been introduced at that time to the GCC and the local market which was very widely accepted and appreciated.
Tech makes life easy today
Now, if I compare today's business environment with 33 years back when I landed in Dubai, it is much easier but competitive. Physically, it was much more difficult in the past than what it is now because the way of reaching people was a challenge at that time. You need to go physically to visit companies and see people and know who is performing in what capacity.
There was no technological accessibility at that time which can help you with just a push button and one click and you get to know hundreds of company and thousands of people to address you, to target certain products to specific group, and also it will only take minutes and hours and your targets were reached like of today.
However today, it is more challenging as the offering is more broad and competitive so you have to work harder and be competitive and establish yourself to be able to sustain yourself and be on top of your achievement.
My achievement professionally is that I have been stable with my career. I have almost completed three decades in Dubai and they were in three companies and this shows how stable I am and how dedicated and secured I was in my job. I definitely must have progressed very well, that's why I did not leave frequently from one company to another like how other people are doing. 

From my personal life
Active on social media
I have Facebook and LinkedIn, which I normally operate and even my business communication. I answer them myself not unless there is a lot of correspondence is required then I ask my personal assistant to do that.
Best advice in life
If you work hard and you like your work, you will certainly progress. Never give up under any circumstances - advice given by Antoine Sokhon, area director of sales and marketing for Hyatt Hotels in the Middle East.
One golden rule
Be honest and confront people. Just say what you must say.
My advice to those who land in UAE today
Dubai and UAE have a lot of opportunities, make sure you get the right opportunity, with the right people at the right time.
Favorite leader
Abdulla Saeed Al Thani, a prominent businessman, partner and CEO of Al Bustan Centre and Residence, from whom I have learnt a lot about entrepreneurship and business ethics in general.
Favourite movie
Anything that lightens up the mood and releases the stress from Life, I like comedy movies.
Favorite place
I like the Mediterranean, like Greece, and, of course, my own country 'Lebanon'.
As told to Muzaffar Rizvi

El Hayek receiving a plaque of appreciation on behalf of Al Bustan Centre and Residence for being the primary sponsor during the 1998 Nad Al Sheba Horse Race Competition in Dubai. — Supplied photos

• UAE
• Dubai