Kilts, kith and kin

There is a common saying in Scotland "We're all Jock Tamson's bairns," which suggests that we're all God's children and in the same boat. This is how Alan Thomson, managing director of Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC), begins the story behind his surname and the history of Clan MacThomas.

Seated in his uniquely patterned and coloured tartan kilt associated with his Scottish clan, Thomson's gentle voice all but conceals the passion and his pride in being a Scot. The first record of the name Thomson was found in Ayrshire in 1150, "Ayrshire being the neighbouring Shire of Renfrewshire where I was born," Thomson says.

Clan MacThomas is descended from Clan Chattan MacKintoshes and was initially based in Glenshee in the Scottish Highlands. The MacThomases supported King Charles I and the Marquis of Montrose. The defeat of the Marquis of Montrose at the Battle of Philiphaugh and the subsequent restoration of King Charles II led to the decline of the MacThomas fortunes and the clan drifted apart. Some clansmen moved to the Lowlands and changed their name to Thomson or Thomas.

"The many spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names result from the fact that scribes in that era spelled words according to sound. Translation, too, was an undeveloped science, and many names were altered into complete obscurity. Over the years Thomson has been spelt Thomson, Tomson, Tamson, Thomsoun, M'Comie among many others," he explains. "Over the past 400 years many Scots emigrated, especially to the Americas and as a result many Americans have Scottish ancestry. While on vacation in the US I've been told many times by US citizens that they are Scottish!"

Thomson's time in Abu Dhabi has inspired him to think about the many similarities between Scotland and the UAE in terms of family names and family ties. "The term "bin" in Arabic shows the family relationship in the same way that "Mac" does in Scotland. In Scotland, the names of many families are preceded by Mac or Mc, which is derived from Gaelic, Scotland's native language, and means "son of". This term is not used in the literal sense anymore but the origins are understood in Scottish culture."

I, ME, MYSELF

I am patriotic but not nationalistic. Although immensely proud of Scotland and its people, I recognise that it is a small nation. However, there is no doubt that many Scots have travelled far and wide and it is difficult to go anywhere without hearing a Scottish accent.

I find family relationships in the UAE to be quite similar to that of Scotland. In the UAE, the family name is an extremely important feature of everyday life. Names are respected and lineages can be traced back years. Family origins are often represented in family names. These names have been defended proudly over the years both in Scotland and in the UAE. Scottish people have much in common with the Emiratis as our family ties are still very strong and the family unit can provide stability in a fast moving world.

Emiratis are a friendly people with warm traditions of hospitality to travellers and strangers. This has been an experience I have encountered personally on many occasions in my short stay here. Scottish people have a strong belief in providing hospitality to strangers in need.

I believe that Scotland's greatest asset is the Scots themselves. The Scots are often portrayed as being very stingy and mean. On the contrary I believe Scots are generally warm and generous. We are a proud nation. Scottish people like to brag about their inventions. These include penicillin, television, telephone, tarmacadam and pneumatic tyres. We like to think that we are superior and have better education systems and better management of healthcare. We may be a small country, but we have a rare kinship. We are Scots wherever we are.

I love life and all the pleasures and pressures that come with it. One of my strengths that I inherited from my parents is my ability to get along well with people. I like to draw people into discussion and enjoy listening to their experiences and views. Even the quietest personalities usually have hidden strengths or valuable contributions to make. By asking people to talk about themselves I find that I can gain insight into their interests and seek out common areas that build friendships and business relationships.

I never tire of people and I hold friendships in high regard. I welcome old friends calling me for a chat or those who seek information and advice. Equally, I feel that I can call on them to get opinions and views. My love of live music and sport has helped me bridge gaps with younger and older people.

I was moved by music as a child. I was fortunate enough to be around when the Beatles enjoyed their early days of success. The thrill of seeing them on television and watching the older generation react was mesmerising.

As I grew older I developed an interest in the unlicensed radio stations which played pop music over the airwaves from ships moored in international waters. When I was young, the BBC used to run all the radio stations which we as youngsters found too old-fashioned. People then set up these radio stations at sea and broadcast frowned-upon pop music. This went on until 1967 when the BBC revamped and the government clamped down on 'pirate stations'.

The UAE, especially Abu Dhabi, has attracted big performers like Coldplay and George Michael in the time I've been here. I hope artists continue to visit and perform here and that support for them continues.

I love the elation that golf gives me.

I am fascinated by golf or 'gowff' as it was originally called by the Scots.

I think it is the best game in the world. Despite modern technology and the mega- sponsorship which surrounds the modern competition, nothing can take away the majesty and beauty of the game. Though I've been playing the game for almost 40 years I'm still not that good, I'm just an average player. Golf tests mental and physical capabilities and finds a direct path to my heart and soul.

Although I enjoy most sports like skiing, skating, rugby and football, I have achieved only an average performance in most. I am a passionate supporter of my local football team, Greenock Morton, and have established that there are at least two other supporters in the UAE.

When it comes to playing golf, courses in Abu Dhabi are oases. They are away from the city bustle and are haven for wildlife. A golf course reminds me of home, except for the extreme heat! But it is better than playing in the rain back home.

 I was a founding member of my local rugby club which is still going strong 33 years later. The club is named after a local family, Birkmyre, and it was formed by my group of friends and I who had a keen interest in rugby. We got ourselves registered with the Scottish Rugby Union, arranged training facilities and erected a rugby playing field in the park. At first, we only played friendly games but after our first year we started to play competitively.

I would have been a rock star in another life. As a teenager I used to attend all the rock concerts in Glasgow. I had musician friends who wanted to form a band. I would help them set up the equipment. Going to see live music is also one of the most enjoyable experiences. I was an air guitarist as I would pretend to play the guitar when I listened to music. It does come as a surprise now, but I used to have shoulder-length hair!

I, ME, MYSELF

Me and my village

The village dates back to the 11th century and is on the border of the Southern Highlands. My father was involved in shipbuilding and so I was raised near the shipyards. We used to swim in the River Gryfe which passes through my village. Though reasonably small, with a population of 3,500, it was unspoilt nature at its best. There was plenty space around the village to indulge in golf, tennis, football, cricket and rugby. We had a strong community spirit.

If there is anything that I miss being in the UAE, it has to be the change of seasons. However, I do not miss the rain. Having said that, due to the rains, the village remains very green. When I look at the painting, I feel that sense of belonging related to my home.

Me and the three important women in my life

I have a beautiful, supportive and patient family. My wife Hazel and eldest daughter Katy both play golf and my youngest daughter Emily is an accomplished distance runner.

Hazel is a primary school teacher and teaches Grade 1 children. After nearly 30 years of teaching she still gains tremendous satisfaction from her work. Katy is reading law at Glasgow University but loves to visit us in Abu Dhabi at every opportunity. Emily, my younger daughter is in Grade 9 and enjoys life in Abu Dhabi. My family is an inspiration to me. Katy, is very much like me and Emily takes after Hazel. They both have very strong opinions on almost everything but have very different personalities.

Me and my Scottish kilt

My kilt is a representation of 'Scottishness', and it distinguishes us from other cultures. No other country has a dress like ours. When we go and support Scotland in football and rugby, you will see us wearing kilts.

The kilt plays a role in forming relationships with other Scots wherever we are. The kilt is a symbol of our rich heritage.

Me and my marathons for charity

My most noted sporting achievement was long distance running. I have completed two marathons and many half marathons in respectable times and enjoy the solidarity of training.

Me and the importance of water

No country can sustain itself without a secure water infrastructure. Twenty five thousand people die every day because of poor water and lack of sanitation. Other luxuries considered essential like power are in the second tier – people cannot live without water. In the UK, I got involved in raising money to help developing countries have access to better water and sanitation facilities.

In 1982, I ran my first marathon for WaterAid and helped raise money to build wells and provide septic tanks for countries in need. Over a period of time I became more involved and was asked to chair the Scottish Committee. The challenges of raising money combined my love of people with the beliefs of the charity. Charity work in Abu Dhabi is based on a different approach and I would be very interested to explore the UK model and determine whether it could operate successfully in the UAE. This would require the support of local industry and business to raise money for worthwhile industry-related charities.

Me and 30 years in the water industry

Since my early days I have been attracted to flowing water. My father advised me not to go into the ship building business and I ended up studying Civil Engineering. This opened up many options, one of which was the water industry. I believe it to be a great contributor to the wealth and health of the human race.

During my career, I progressed through many jobs until I was an executive director with what was then the largest of three Scottish companies. In 2002, I opted out of Scottish Water and worked with Thames Water conducting operations in North London.

I came to Abu Dhabi in 2005 with the task of leading ADSSC. I was initially overwhelmed by the support I received from my new colleagues. The biggest challenges was to position ADSSC to be ready for the growth which was planned in the emirate.

Me, Abu Dhabi and its people

The vision of the leaders of Abu Dhabi is legendary and every day I can see it becoming a reality. The sporting and cultural events and developments have put the Emirate on the world map. The work we do in ADSSC ensures that the environment is safe for all citizens to enjoy. I find the city to be friendly, vibrant and fast moving. It is an exciting place to live, and I can only be grateful that I have been given the opportunity to be a small part of the overall plan for the development of the emirate.

Any business is only as good as the people in the company and I am fortunate to be part of a team who believe in what they do and recognise the essential service we provide.

I, ME, MYSELF

Tell us more about Abu Dhabi's new state of the art sewage collection and how it will improve residents' lives.

The Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP) is one of the biggest in the world and will provide Abu Dhabi with a landmark design to deliver state of the art sewage collection and conveyance. Its beauty lies in the fact that residents will not know it is there. It will run for 40km and will be between 20 and 80 metres below ground level. Construction above the ground is minimal and disruption is consequently reduced to practically nothing. It will take five years to complete the programme. Work on this has been ongoing for almost three years with Master Plans and selection of appropriate consultants to help ADSSC deliver this ambitious programme.

What are your views about current waste management in the UAE?

In the UAE, there are no separate collection systems. This makes it very difficult for the ordinary person to contribute positively to the environment. The number of glass bottles and cans that are discarded every day could easily be recycled and it is something that needs to be seriously considered.

I believe that there are many simple steps which can be taken to improve environmental management and I was very pleased to see the launch of 'Heroes of the UAE'. This programme involves the youth encouraging adults to be more environmentally conscious. I wish it every success.

How do you measure success?

Success for me is not measured in how much money you can earn. Only narrow minds are driven by materialism. What matters is how well people trust and respect you for what you are and how you behave.

I treat everyone with respect no matter what their role is in life and I in turn expect them to respect others. The value of respect in life is treated very poorly by many people. A person does not deserve respect because of societal position or wealth – respect should be premised on how that individual got their wealth and how they use it to help others.

If there was one challenge you could take on, what would it be and why?

I'd want to do something physically challenging that tests my endurance, like climbing Everest, or walking the Arctic or Antartic regions. I have climbed the Aonach Eagach ridge which includes two munros (a munro is a Scottish hill higher than 3,000 feet). I wanted to test out how I would react to heights. I undertook this munro challenge as part of WaterAid charity. I would like to do more rock climbing.

Comment on the rich history of Scotland.

The fighting spirit has served the Scots very well. Cinematic and literary depictions of the Scots show their passion, commitment and integrity in what they stand for.

Passion is a key word for Scots.

We will defend our territory at any cost. Whatever we do, we do it from the heart.