The Leader – Interview with Nadia Zaal

The Leader

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

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 di erent when I was growing up. I remember when I was really young, when I first started to become aware, I know women did have di culty 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 Can you talk us through your career? When I graduated from a space dictates a lot of your lifestyle. For example, if you university, I worked on the privatization of water and electricity have a beautiful bath with a sea view, you’re much more in Abu Dhabi for the government. It was amazing because I was likely to spend some time in that space and wind down, you doing structured finance at the time, and it was such big deal know, even looking at things like communal spaces and how that I had exposure to the world’s top financial and legal minds. the community is going to come together, bringing nature I don’t think I would be where I am today if it wasn’t for my be- indoors. All those things really fascinate me about developing 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 den- How 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 le 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 di cult 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 com- company 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 be- I 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. A er 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 Ju- female 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 You’re a leader in business in this region – what’s it like paving because we’re told, “Oh, you’re too emotional or irratiothe way for so many women in the GCC & Arab world? So, what nal”. Things like that and so women in leadership positions

IMAGE: SUPPLIED

tend to try and operate as men would. I think women tend to kind of take some time out, retreat and look for it or feel their way through a situation. So, I would definitely say that that’s my philosophy and those are my lessons really, in terms of my leadership role and finding my space or my leadership style. So that’s a major lesson for me. What are your hopes for women in the UAE’s future? I hope that there are lots more female leaders. I think we already have amazing women within leadership roles. My hopes for these women would be that they are heard and that they feel comfortable stepping into the female power. What have been the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome to date? Of course, in 2008, the financial crisis hit me when I was developing the Nurai. So that was really hard because there was no money available for real estate development. So, I had to basically break all my contracts, start again, downsize the scale of the development. Developing on an island with zero infrastructure transportation. I mean, I remember there were so many times where we couldn’t get things across to the island because of the weather. There were times where I was on-site and I just basically slept on the island many, many nights just to make sure things would get done. More recently when I took over Al Barari again, when my father got ill, it was really hard because the team was used to a certain culture and a certain leadership style. Also, there was quite a lot of that and I had to restructure. The company was not in a very good position financially. So, it was kind of like a double challenge, the financial issues, as well as trying to change the corporate culture. On the opposite end of the spectrum, what have been the key milestones? Even though I’m much more known for my real estate side, I would actually say I’m really proud of Zaya Early Learning, just seeing the children really flourish there. And it’s a very special way of educating children. I think I’m really proud of that. We are almost actually over 100 children, and it’s just really special. The second one, I would definitely say, is just looking at how amazing Nurai island has done even during COVID-19. It’s just always done something outstanding. And it’s really added to putting Abu Dhabi on the map in terms of tourism. And the last one, I would definitely say is the green of Al Barari and what a beautiful community that is too. Do you have any mentors who have helped guide you throughout your career? In terms of mentors, I believe very much in coaching, so I don’t have anyone that I’m talking to at the moment. But on and o throughout my career, I have reached out to and worked with leadership coaches or business coaches, and I think it’s always great to have that accountability and someone you can bounce ideas o . And, in fact, that’s something I need to look into again at the moment.