An exclusive interview with H.E. Haleema Humaid Al Owais

H.E. Haleema Humaid Al Owais

Contents

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A visionary and responsible leader, Haleema Humaid Al Owais fills three positions as being CEO of Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate.

At the helm of these companies that cover the entire scale of needs of her family’s core business in construction, real estate development and real estate management, this Emirati businesswoman has proven time and again that how you deal with challenges is what eventually defines who you are. When she entered the ‘Then’ male-dominated industry of real estate and construction, Haleema was just 22 years old. With the task ahead of her, she applied her transferable skills and pursued an education in Urban Planning to support her vision for the company that stands as one of the most sustainable industry today.

Haleema pursues her passion projects in parallel in the form of The Community Cafe & Creative Spaces, Arab Art Curation and serves as a Guest Speaker at some of the local educational institutions.

In 2022 she joined the Board of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Invest Bank.

Community Restaurant at Al Mamzar, Dubai

Interview

A brief profile or synopsis about your career starting with school life until College/ university?

I did not enjoy school life in general due to the way all schools were back in the 90s where we were all measured with the same metric system rather than each student had weaknesses and strengths but this is where I discovered my love for reading and spent hours reading in class instead, My years in college was an improvement but I owe it to the Higher Colleges of Technology that I managed to build and hone my academic skills.
What I really enjoyed immensely was my Masters studies in “Urban planning” and I must acknowledge my Professor Dr. Jerry Kolo, who was instrumental during my stay at American University of Sharjah. Dr. Jerry was the person, who enlightened my hidden talent and desire in the
field of Education, which I feel is the backbone for the progress of any nation and economy.

A brief after your College/ University life, when you started the career?

As mentioned above I enjoyed my University life and I must give credit to Pro. Dr. Jerry Kolo and because of him I was involved in assisting him as Assistant Professor, but due to COVID I had to stop and I think due to my current responsibilities and engagements, I may be available after five or six years for academia and this is something I also want to contribute to the society and nation.

Your current status and profile?

As the head of the most prominent Contractors, Real estate Developers, Consultants, Architects, Facilities Management, Asset Management Companies the region, I don’t get much time but still I’m always keen to contribute to the society and nation as much as I can with my abilities and expertise.
I’m the Board member in Invest Bank, Board member of Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Committee member of Shjseen awards committee, Sharjah.

Would you please like to take us down the lane of your career?

I started at a very young age as a translator at the Sharjah TV now known as Sharjah Media, and soon moved to the Procurement department.
At the sudden and shocking passing of my father in 2007 I had to join my family business and handle the Real estate section, though the industry was male dominated and I was told that it’s not the right choice for you, but I was determined to break that gender barrier and Alhamdulillah I was able to fit in the role after a year or so of training.
I was 23 years old and a woman when I joined my family business and working with seniors, twice of my age and in a field that I knew nothing of. There are no superhero talents here, the learning period had to be short because the safety net does not exist. I was grateful for the advice of the
company’s long standing employees, my skills in HCT and the experience I had, brief as it was, in the procurement I was able to stand on my feet eventually.
2007 till 2023 we have triple the portfolio of the company.

Your achievements in the career?

My main aim is to prove as third generation is not to the generation that wipes out the wealth that the past generation worked themselves to the bone erecting from scratch, my parents gave us the means to build ourselves and educate ourselves then we had to make the choice with what we did with the family business. I chose to keep building and expanding and raising our next generation to be hard working members of the society.
When I took over the real estate sector, I set up the Company Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate in 2007 to manage our real estate assets and put a strategy to keep building our portfolio.
During 2020 we faced a time of struggle in the world and had to react the ripple effect of the nation closing up, and enabled Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Real Estate to become the first private asset management company to offer COVID Relief plan to its tenants and clients by exempting them from paying the rent for 6 months.
During this period Sultan bin Ali al Owais formed an association with Sharjah Government’s Ruwaad initiative to offer rent subsidies to young entrepreneurs.

To whom will you term as your role model?

As far as the role models are concerned I would say, it’s His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi the ruler of Sharjah and Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi. His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi has turned sharjah at the Global map, the centre of Education and culture and likewise Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi also playing a very vital role in the development and image building of the Emirate.
Seeing our leaders lead with such drive, passion and responsibility to keep breaking glass ceilings has a magical effect among their people to do the same. Nothing seems impossible when you put your mind to it.

Your Vision about yourself and your organization?

We want to keep our leading position in the real estate market and also to contribute towards the society by honoring the right talent irrespective of the nationality, creed or cast.
One of my goals as a mother is to raise two of my daughters who are 14 and 17 to become superwomen, proud of their roots and open to the world and its opportunities and to do what they aspire to be; scientist, diplomats, businesswomen, artists, proud mothers… whatever they aspire to
be but with knowing themselves inside out and building their character, their confidence and finding their voice.

Your social activities and liking? The things you enjoy the most?

Engaging with nature and staying active when the weather allows it, hiking abroad when we can travel.
Travelling to new destinations and discovering new cultures I’m also an art lover, enthusiast and collector, one of the hopes I have is to further my studies in that field focusing on art of the region.
I love teaching youngsters between the age of 11 and 21 and ran an art therapy program at Sajaya, an initiative under the patronage of Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators.

For your success, who you would like to name or give credit to?

I strongly believe that in everyone’s success, there’s a tribe who takes credit whether directly or indirectly. My family, mentors and dear friends played a huge role in where I am through their support and belief in my capabilities.
I would even give credit to those who opposed or stood in my way because growing the character to be deterred by criticism and worse gave me another trait to keep going without the inner dialogue of self-doubt.

How do you see the UAE today as compared to quite many years back say around 30 years back?

We have been blessed with the best leaders in the world, going back to the start of our country we only saw unity, prosperity and the drive to educate ourselves and progress while staying loyal to our roots and values without adopting or borrowing other cultures.
The UAE has presented us especially as women with opportunities to grow and prosper in integrity and grace, we are able to go for our dreams with little challenges and have the support we need at every step of the way.
My hopes and goals with my country is to stay on their path that they have been on for the past 50 years of progress with grace, tolerance, tradition, progressiveness and sustainability and to be the role model country that aspires other countries to follow in investing in its citizens and residents and last but not the least, a strong sense of Emirati identity.

Any advice you would like to give to the youth?

I would say that Educational Degrees are very important and to play a very vital role in one’s development, but social, emotional and communication intelligence are equally if not more important and one must be good at it for successful life and career, this does not come from the classroom but from life experiences.
And for that reason I strongly urge the youth to start from a very young age to join programs that help build their personality and skills, learn about their strengths and weaknesses, understand themselves, be aware about who they associate themselves with as a support system.
I’m always telling both my daughters who are about 14 & 17 years old, that they have to be very independent, strong women with kindness in their hearts and sharpness in their minds.

What do you meant by strong women?

By strong I mean they should be emotionally strong and I don’t mean at all that they have to be ruthless and a dictator but they should be able to manage any situation in the best possible manner and solution. They should take time and look at the problems or issues from all angles, take advice from the right guides rather than jumping to conclusions and decisions.
If I am able to raise my two precious gifts to be a contributive well balanced members of society I would say that this will be the accomplishment I hold high.

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