Name: Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim
Designation: Group Chief Executive Officer
Company: WASL Group
Category: Developer Titans
As the Group Chief Executive Officer of Wasl Group, Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim stands at the confluence of finance, real estate, and sustainability, reshaping not just skylines, but the very future of the city. Under his stewardship, Wasl Group has become a central pillar in executing Dubai’s bold economic vision. Over the past year, Al Qassim has led the Group into a new era of innovation-driven growth, focused on environmental responsibility, real estate expansion, and tech-enabled transformation.
A cornerstone of this progress is Wasl’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. In alignment with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategy, the company has rolled out a suite of clean energy initiatives, from solar photovoltaic systems across 77 properties to electric vehicle charging stations and deep energy retrofits. These upgrades are more than cosmetic; they are impactful. The solar installations alone will offset more than 2,600 tons of carbon dioxide annually, while some buildings will now meet over 80% of their energy needs through solar power.
The Group has also played a foundational role in Dubai’s Food Tech Valley, a visionary project positioned at the nexus of agriculture, technology, and sustainability. In collaboration with partners like Spinneys and Badia Farms, the initiative aims to grow 3,000 tonnes of fresh produce annually and recycle over 50,000 tonnes of food waste. With the first crops expected in 2025, this initiative is not just about food security, it’s about rewriting the rules of urban sustainability.
On the real estate front, Wasl Group has delivered a string of high-impact developments tailored to the needs of a growing metropolis. From the vibrant Wasl Village, designed in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, to upscale communities like Jumeirah Golf Estates: The Next Chapter and South Garden, the Group continues to support the city’s surging residential and commercial demand. Today, Wasl’s portfolio boasts 55,000 units across Dubai and a hospitality network that spans more than 8,300 rooms in 35 properties.
Behind these achievements is a leadership ethos grounded in strategic foresight. Al Qassim’s dual role in real estate and banking positions him uniquely to harmonise financial innovation with infrastructural development. His vision not only shapes the city’s skyline but also its socioeconomic future.
