Office meetings don’t produce results, UAE businessman Mohamed Alabbar says

Dubai: Office meetings often fail to yield productive results, leading Emirati entrepreneur Mohamed Alabbar said during an event in Dubai.

Criticising the inefficiency of office meetings, Alabbar, CEO and Managing Director of Emaar Properties, noted that they rarely deliver meaningful outcomes.

“Don’t tell me anyone here has benefited from attending meetings or that they’ve led to positive decisions or results,” Alabbar said during the 10th Dubai International Project Management Forum, which began in Dubai on Wednesday.

Held under the theme ‘Sustainable Future’, the event organised by the Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) brought together top experts, business leaders, and executives from major companies specialising in project management.

In his address, Alabbar highlighted that his group operates without spending time on traditional meetings, a practice he credits for Emaar’s remarkable growth.

“We have not held meetings for years. Instead of 45 buildings, we’ve now built 90. We never do meetings on Zoom. It’s all about action and execution.”

Alabbar also stressed the need for rapid adaptation in business.

“If I suffer a heart attack and am rushed to the hospital, will the doctor stop to hold meetings? I’ll be dead,” he said. “If we want to move forward and succeed, we must embrace change and not be bogged down by inefficiencies.”

Alabbar also highlighted the importance of hard work and dedication, revealing that his team works seven days a week. “We don’t work five days a week, but seven.”

He shared an example of a staff member who was willing to relocate to another country to help turn around the performance of the company’s brand, Noon.

“Our brand wasn’t performing well in one country, so I asked this person to move there. He didn’t hesitate. His only condition was that I convince his wife. People are willing to go the extra mile because they believe in the growth of the brand.”