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‘You Are Humbled When You Go Up There’
The iconic Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building, opens today. An example of human courage and man's ability to dream and deliver, it is an achievement difficult to surpass.
- PUBLISHED: Tue 5 Jan 2010, 12:41 AM UPDATED: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 2:21 PM
It reflects Dubai's ability to take on new challenges and an example of its can-do spirit - a celebration of optimism. Mohamed Ali Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, talks to Khaleej Times Editor Rahul Sharma about the architectural marvel, human spirit and what it means to Dubai and the world.
Mohammed Alabbar, Chairman, Emmar Properties, poses in front of Burj Dubai.-KT photo by Shihab
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Q. Burj Dubai is a huge accomplishment. Did you have any doubts about achieving your goals when you started?
A. We are human beings. We plan, we have inspiration to do things in life, and I think we also always have some doubts. That makes you cautious, makes you careful. You don't take anything for granted. But I never doubted our drive to get it done. It's a big project. I did wonder whether we will do it right; will we have the right quality, and would people really believe us? But I never doubted that we would (ever) stop pushing. Thank God, we are here today. We still have a lot of work to do, but I am glad we are here today.
Q. In the past six years, what were the ups and downs you faced? Did you sit down at some point and start to get worried?
A. This is a big project. The risk was that you announced it to the world. It's a global landmark, and there were several challenges. Will we, at the end of the day, do it? Will we be able to have our customers trust us enough to pay their deposits? Can all the engineering and designing be implemented properly? But I really never doubted human ability. We had the best people on earth to participate in this project. We knew we had to work hard; we had to leave room for improvements and carry each other whenever there was a challenge or a mistake.
But, at the same time, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's trust was a big responsibility. And we had to accept it. He trusted us and we needed to do a good job.
Q. What does Burj Dubai mean to Dubai?
A. This is not merely a building; it is a global icon – for the city, for the region, for the world, for all the people who built it. It means optimism, and is a celebration for the city. Burj Dubai is about the positive thinking that exists in the city, which His Highness has been pushing. We are a positive, energetic society that has hope, and believes everything can be done. We have to get together; we have to be united and support each other through challenging times. The building reflects the city's optimism, beauty and celebration.
Q. So, what next?
A. What next is a good question! It depends on what happens in the world economy. We are billions of people on earth. We get up every morning to do something enthusiastically. The world has a lot to do. The world – some countries - has gone through this financial crisis now for a good two years. I think historically 18-20 months is the maximum for a (economic) downturn. We are getting ready for the incredible growth in this region.
We don't really have the mortgage issues like in the US; we don't have governments with bad budgets; energy prices are at a good level and we have a young population. The story is very positive. We have India, which is our neighbour - thank God!
What makes the story positive is the fact that Dubai is an icon for business. I know other cities are trying and they all should, but this is the hub of business in the region and the entire infrastructure is almost done. We are really equipped to take the growth to the next stage.
Q. What specifically do you like about this building?
A. I like the fact that my team at Emaar and I had the honour and the opportunity to build it. I like the quality of what's been put in. I also appreciate the human ability to surpass all design, architectural, and engineering limits and capabilities that have been pushed to levels never seen in the world. That's very special.
Q. Have you been to the top?
A. Yes, I have been. I have been up there when the building was naked. It was just the steel structure and the breeze in August was much cooler up there. I have been there when it was 14-storeys high, 120-storeys high. I have been going up there in the past four years. A lot of workers became my friends because they saw me so often.
You feel humbled when you go up there. You feel that human beings have incredible capacity and capability if they are given a chance. I really thank His Highness for guiding me and pushing me and motivating my team to move on. He gave us the freedom to do it. It's a special feeling. I am indebted to him.
Q. How much of the project is sold?
A. We are sold 90 per cent. Normally, in all our projects, we leave 12-15 per cent because you know that once you open it there will people – the non-believers - keen to buy. They want to wait for that moment.
Q. What is the final cost?
A. It is 5.5 billion Dirhams or $1.5 billion.
Q. It's been a rough year, what are the plans for Emaar in the coming years?
A. They say what doesn't kill you makes you tougher. I'd like to first thank all the employees for carrying the company in good times and through the tough times. I'd like to thank our company Board. I think there will be business for us to do, but we will have to do it differently. In the coming years, customers are probably looking at a different product, but they still want to live, work and play.
Wearing my optimistic hat, after 15 months, we will have great opportunities in the city of Dubai and in the region. Some regional players in our sector have disappeared so the good reputable organisations that care about their customers and product, especially in a region where housing is an issue, will have an opportunity.
Most probably, we will have to move to another category of housing … middle income housing could be a focus, but this city and region will move on. We just need to keep costs under control. At Emaar, we have never believed in borrowing in the past, so we will try and stay away from that. Everybody has to learn to keep their organisations lean and mean for many years to come, unless human beings forget the lesson and make the same mistakes again.
Q. Are you looking at some big projects regionally?
A. We did well in good times. We have a strong land bank. So it depends from market to market. Where the market is active we sell, but if it is quiet, we slow down. We create projects when there is a demand.
