WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS
The Leader
is it like paving the way for so many women? I think it’s actually a really special time to be a woman in the UAE. I think the leadership has been very supportive of women. You know, it was different when I was growing up. I remember when I was really young, when I first started to become aware, I know women did have difficulty entering the workplace, but I think it’s an amazing time at the moment because it’s the complete opposite. In fact, I believe if there was a woman or a man, the woman would probably get the job, which is an amazing time, I think, for everyone. So really, the sky’s the limit for women in this part of the world at the moment. You co-founded Zaya Living 13 years ago, what was the catalyst for this? I just wanted to create communities that had some more focus on nature and really looked at the detail of not just the bricks and mortar, but how a human being would interact with that space. This is really because a space dictates a lot of your lifestyle. For example, if you Can you talk us through your career? When I graduated from have a beautiful bath with a sea view, you’re much more university, I worked on the privatization of water and electricity likely to spend some time in that space and wind down, you in Abu Dhabi for the government. It was amazing because I was know, even looking at things like communal spaces and how doing structured finance at the time, and it was such big deal the community is going to come together, bringing nature that I had exposure to the world’s top financial and legal minds. indoors. All those things really fascinate me about developI don’t think I would be where I am today if it wasn’t for my being able to work with such amazing people at that time. I then ing and it’s so nice to have a blank canvas to just create. started Al Barari with my father, which is Dubai’s lowest denHow has the company evolved since you founded it? I think sity green community. It was challenging because at the time it the company has evolved as I have evolved. So, when I bewas just basically a piece of sand and to green it and without came a mother, I started The Zaya Early Learning, which any infrastructure – it was interesting to say the least. We had is essentially a nursery and an early learning centre. It goes our challenges, but we found amazing water systems, reverse up to the age of seven now, and it’s a world of Steiner-inosmosis systems. We also had a lot of government support in spired alternative education system, which is really special. terms of access to water and things like that. We introduced I think it really celebrates the magic of childhood. Then as new species of trees to Dubai. So yes, it was a very interesting a company, we’ve all grown as individuals. My managebeginning. I then left the family business in 2008, to start Nurai ment team, we have faced quite a lot together, particularly Island in Abu Dhabi, which is a boutique resort with some very as we launched during the financial crisis. Recently, when I high-end residential villas. It was difficult leaving the family took over Al Barari, there was quite a lot of restructuring to business and raising my own equity and going alone, especially do. So, it’s been an interesting 13 years. I would say that the because we hit the financial crisis as soon as I started my comcompany is a lot more mature and is also a lot wiser today. pany. So, I learnt very fast. As they say, I was thrown in the What is a philosophy that you live by in your professional life? deep end. But again, I’m very grateful for that experience beI would definitely say balancing the female and male sides cause I learnt how to restructure debt. I learnt how to be more of my energy, that’s really been where the magic has hapresourceful. After this, I wanted to bring my luxury experience pened for me. And I think that would be my advice to all to more people. So, I launched a building called Hameni in Jufemale leaders, is that when I first started, I was very in meirah Village Circle which consists of 400 apartments. Then my male energy, and it was all about push, push, push and I also worked with my husband to launch Five Palm Jumeirah, hustle and crazy hours. And not to say that structure and and then more recently a few years ago, my father got ill. So, I action is not important, but balancing that with the female am now back at Al Barari finishing the legacy. intuition. I think as women, we sometimes overcompensate because we’re told, “Oh, you’re too emotional or irratioYou’re a leader in business in this region – what’s it like paving nal”. Things like that and so women in leadership positions the way for so many women in the GCC & Arab world? So, what
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As a leading female CEO and entrepreneur in the UAE, Nadia Zaal talks us through how she built her boutique development firm Zaya – which specialises in exclusive high-end real estate – from the ground up
F E AT U R E
8/31/21 3:17 PM
