"Leadership - Dubai Style" by Steve Marsten

We recently returned from Dubai after attending an annual Financial Advisor conference for as Tina mentioned last week. While in Dubai we toured the City. Now keep in mind that Dubai is a city state within the United Arab Emirates. The state is run by the Maktoum family with the present Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the lively 67 year old leader.

The interesting thing about the Maktoum family is the Sheikh’s father - Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum was responsible for the transformation of Dubai from a small cluster of dusty settlements near the Dubai Creek to a modern port city and commercial hub. He’s famous for saying, "My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel " reflected his concern that Dubai's oil, which was discovered in 1966 and which began production in 1969, would run out within a few generations. He therefore worked to develop the economy of Dubai so that it could survive after the end of oil production, and was a driving force behind a number of major infrastructure projects to promote Dubai as a world global trade city and tourist hub. The oil in Dubai has all but run out – yet the city is flourishing. Tunnels are complete; they have the biggest of everything and there is nothing we “couldn’t find to do” including snow skiing!

What incredible vison these guys had to have.  In 1981 their main street – Sheikh Zayed Road truly was a dust bowl with sand on both sides of the street and now it is a modern 12 lane highway protected by massive modern skyscrapers.

I asked myself, why Dubai – why not Australia? And then the reality hit me. They have a benevolent dictator and we have a 3 year window for our leaders to introduce a plan which is scrutinised by the local media to within an inch of its life! You can understand why no politician in this country allows themselves to truly lead and why they really have to have a clear plan in place for the first year of their election because the last 18 months is about protecting their jobs. This constrains growth, prevents leadership and restricts our progress immensely. It does not allow innovation to flourish.

We can learn much from the Dubai Leadership. It has allowed me to have a greater understanding of the need to consider increasing the political terms of government in order to assist them to truly give the country a chance to introduce plans and prosper.

However this would mean both sides of the political divide giving consideration to what truly might be “best for Australia”. Unfortunately I don’t feel this will happen in my lifetime. 

For more on how Dubai Leadership can be utilised in your Business call us at Sothertons on 4972 1300.