Name: Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor
Designation: Founder and Chairman
Company: Al Habtoor Real Estate
Category: Developer Titans
Few individuals embody the spirit of the UAE’s economic miracle quite like Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor. A self-made businessman, visionary, philanthropist, and national icon, Al Habtoor is the Chairman and Founder of the Al Habtoor Group, one of the most influential and diversified conglomerates in the Middle East. His legacy, shaped over more than five decades, mirrors the meteoric rise of the United Arab Emirates from a collection of desert towns to a globally admired economic powerhouse.
From humble beginnings as an employee in a local construction firm, Al Habtoor’s entrepreneurial journey began in 1970, when he established Al Habtoor Engineering, just a year before the historic formation of the UAE Federation. Inspired by the nation’s newfound unity, he embarked on a mission to build infrastructure that would elevate the country’s global standing. What started as a small engineering company grew into the Al Habtoor Group, a multi-sectoral giant with interests in hospitality, automotive, car leasing, real estate, education, and publishing, employing thousands of people across the UAE and internationally.
Under Al Habtoor’s leadership, the group has become a cornerstone of the UAE’s transformation. Through Al Habtoor Real Estate, the Group has set the gold standard for commercial and residential development.
