The business interview is a craft unto itself. In the course of 2013, more than 50 people have appeared in this weekly slot, and the golden rule is this: no two interviews are ever the same.
It’s horses for courses. Some newspapers go for the penetrating investigative approach, aiming to pummel the subject into revealing “the truth” about himself (or herself).
Others go for the “person behind the business” angle, designed to illuminate the personality involved in the sometimes dry world of deals and bottom lines.
Others employ the “snapshot in time” technique: enticing the interviewee to relax and reveal in the one-off context, say, of a lunch or other informal occasion.
There is something to be said for each of these approaches, and it’s possible to mix and match the techniques. A casual discussion over a coffee meeting, for example, can be followed up with an on-the-record email exchange, or a formal across a desk interview.
The only hard-and-fast rule in this analysis slot, which has been running in The National for three years, is this: the subject is allowed to talk freely about business issues of the day. If a personal trait reflects on the individual’s business, it can be employed. Otherwise, it’s strictly business.
Thus, for example, when Fouad Makhzoumi of Future Pipe appeared in February, the occasion was the publication of a memoir of his late son Rami, whose tragic passing upset well-laid plans for corporate succession. Personal and business motifs became intertwined in the interview.
“I have always looked to the future with my beloved Rami taking the lead, not only in business but for the family too. But fate was stronger than hopes and dreams,” said Mr Makhzoumi.
Incidentally, the business fortunes of the Makhzoumis reappeared in this slot later in the year, in the only example of an interview with two members of the same family, when Fouad’s brother Ziad, one of the UAE’s best-known businessmen, talked about his plans as the new chief executive of the in vitro fertilisation company Fakih IVF.
The interview with Ziad was an example of the “informal” technique, as it was conducted over the course of a pleasant lunch at Zuma restaurant in Dubai where he spoke freely of his long career in business in the Middle East.
Sometimes, the interview arises almost by chance. At a banking conference in September, the opportunity for a chat with Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair was too good to pass up. The chief executive of Mashreq bank opened up on the UAE economy and financial policy, and showed why he is regarded as “the bankers’ banker” in UAE policymaking circles.
Perhaps the most intriguing interview of last year was with Khalaf Al Habtoor, the patriarch of one of the UAE’s leading business family groups, in January.
There had been speculation about a possible initial public offering of his company, a leader in hotels, property and motor distribution in Dubai. He explained that he was not going to proceed with the idea of a stock-market listing because of “moral issues”, which perplexed many observers of the Dubai financial scene.
In the course of our interview, he elucidated on this statement, revealing that the prospect of an IPO had caused him troubled nights. “I couldn’t sleep with the thought of having so much of other peoples’ money as my responsibility,” he said, in a revealingly candid example of business ethics.
At other times, the best interviews arise out of the most unlikely scenarios. While on vacation in France in August, I took the chance to grab a word with Amina Al Rostamani, the new chief executive of Tecom who had thus far not spoken publicly about her new job.
Despite the attractions of the south of France, it was too good an opportunity to turn up, and 30 minutes on the mobile from a cafe terrace produced an insight into the business brain of one of the UAE’s leading businesswomen. “I’ve been lucky,” she said modestly.
Incidentally, Dr Al Rostamani was one of only three women who appeared in the slot last year. Obviously this does not reflect the growing female influence at the top of UAE business, and this is something that I will look to rectify in 2014.
Who was the most impressive interviewee of last year? The competition was strong.
In April, Habib Al Mulla, one of the leading lawyers in the Middle East, “spoke in paragraphs” (as the interviewer’s saying goes) about a range of controversial issues, ranging from the criminalisation of debtors to the new financial free zone in Abu Dhabi, as well as his recent merger with the biggest law firm in the world, Baker & McKenzie.
In what came across almost as a threat to the competition, he said: “I will be more aggressively involved than before.”
I buttonholed Nouriel Roubini, the American professor who predicted the global financial crisis, just after a public tour de force at the Global Islamic Economy Summit in November.
He had spoken fluently and with great command of detail, without notes, on a range of global economic and financial issues, but I wanted to pin him down on the specific issues of the Islamic economy.
Behind the stage at the Madinat conference centre, he showed he was on top of that subject as well, and a good deal more positive on Sharia-compliant economies than many others. “There is a lot Islamic finance can teach us,” he concluded.
But the award for my personal favourite interviewee must go to Hussain Sajwani, the founder and chairman of Damac.
Back in May, the spotlight was well and truly on Mr Sajwani, as he considered plans for a public listing for one of the UAE’s most successful, but sometimes controversial companies.
He spoke openly and candidly about his family’s business origins, his early success in supplying catering services to the American military in the region, and his plans for Damac.
I left the meeting feeling I had gained a unique insight into the person, and the business. Judging by the email reaction, The National’s readers overwhelmingly agreed.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20Profile
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UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai,
HBKU Press
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
Company%20profile
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RACE CARD
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB); Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA); Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA); Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA); Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T); 1,400m
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
The biog
Name: Atheja Ali Busaibah
Date of birth: 15 November, 1951
Favourite books: Ihsan Abdel Quddous books, such as “The Sun will Never Set”
Hobbies: Reading and writing poetry
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
