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Dubai: They are young, honest, sincere, armed with loads of ideas and immense energy. They start in their early twenties and become leaders in a few years.
They also have one more thing in common - they hone their leadership skills through the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) - the largest shopping, entertainment and tourism event in the Middle East.
Leaders like Mohammad Al Gergawi, Hussain Ali Lootah, Saeed Al Naboudah and Laila Suhail - who along with many others are helping Dubai grow under the dynamic leadership of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai - have developed their leadership skills by organising the DSF.
"A leader must set out a clear vision, which he must trust absolutely. If he loses that trust, he will begin to hesitate and falter. We don't get into our cars and set out onto the road without knowing our destination... We have to know where we really want to go," Shaikh Mohammad once said.
"The word 'impossible' is not in leaders' dictionaries. No matter how big the challenges, strong faith, determination and resolve will overcome them," he added.
"We have to make history and approach the future with steady steps, not wait for the future to come to us. Truly, the most powerful thing in the world is the right decision, made at the right time. I believe that if the vision is clear then objectives can be achieved easily."
To build a world-class nation, one needs world-class leaders. Dubai is an attractive city with good infrastructure, guaranteeing a vibrant economy. Constant grooming of leadership will ensure that Dubai continues to grow. The DSF, in that aspect, is a very effective tool.
Mohammad Al Gergawi, the first coordinator-general of the DSF, is now UAE's minister of state for cabinet affairs. He also runs Dubai Holding - the Dubai government's investment arm. He was also the first Young Arab Leader - a role model for many young Arabs.
His successor Hussain Ali Lootah heads the government's media department while the DSF's third leader in succession, Saeed Al Naboudah is preparing to take over a major responsibility - yet to be announced. Mona Al Merri, who heads a major government-owned media conglomerate, also developed her skills through the DSF.
Huge responsibility
Laila Suhail, the new chief of the DSF, has already proven her mettle as a leader - taking on the huge responsibility at a very young age. Last month, she was named the new chief executive of the DSF - the first woman to hold the post.
"To us, the DSF is like a school where leaders are groomed and we see Shaikh Mohammad as its dean," says Saeed Al Naboudah, the outgoing chief executive of the DSF.
"I do not know of any other scheme in the world that offers more than 500 events in a year. It is not only for the chief executives - the entire team is groomed through this mega event and we are blessed with a great leadership.
"Shaikh Mohammad is our biggest inspiration and after a few years of grooming, I feel confident to take up a bigger challenge in my career," he says.
For these leaders, the DSF initially provides a good management challenge. It is not only the biggest event in the region, there are specific targets and objectives attached to it.
"What we do in a month's time during the DSF, is more than a year's work for many others," Suhail says. "We are very passionate about whatever we do, which makes a lot of difference."
Suhail, a UAE national graduate, like her predecessors at the DSF, started her career at the Dubai Department of Economic Development at a very early age. She has been with the DSF since its inception in October 1995.
These leaders are blessed with a role model - Shaikh Mohammad - who remains the ultimate inspiration for millions of Arab youth. Under his direction, the DSF has become a global event, drawing visitors from all over the world.
Suhail says, "I was fortunate enough to be part of the team that formed the DSF management and learned from our leaders. I remember how closely Shaikh Mohammad interacted with the team to ensure that we succeed. It was his plan that we collectively executed under the leadership of Mohammad Al Gergawi, the first coordinator-general of the DSF.
Management lessons
"I feel like I have graduated from Gergawi's school of management. After working so many years with the DSF management, I feel more confident and am ready to take up new challenges."
Last year, the Dubai government separated the DSF management from the Department of Economic Development to make it an independent body reporting directly to the Dubai Executive Council.
However, Suhail's immediate goal is to make the event the best in the world. "I want the DSF to be the ultimate benchmark for all other such events in the world," she says.
Although modelled after promotional events such as the Singapore Festival and Malaysia Mega Sale, the DSF has surpassed those events in many ways, giving culture and lifestyle more prominence.
In 12 years, the DSF has achieved its prime objective - to boost the retail, shopping and tourism sectors - so well that many residents now complain of traffic congestion on roads leading to the venues.
The rapid growth and resulting traffic congestion forced the Global Village - the DSF's prime attraction - to be shifted to its latest venue, 25 kilometres from the Dubai Creek car park where it began.
For many people, Dubai still remains a shoppers' paradise. For others, it is a vibrant tourism destination with lots of beaches, sun and fun. Every year, the DSF reminds the population of how this mega event has helped transform the city's economy.
The colourful street decor, lightings, citywide banners as well as illuminated neon signs remind daily commuters that the DSF fragrance is in the air.
Since its launch in 1996, the DSF has experimented with various innovative entertainment and shopping themes to attract visitors and offer good value for money to both residents and tourists. In those days, the impact of the event was quite visible - traffic jams, more customers in restaurants, increased hotel occupancy and increased sales.
However, despite being a tourist attraction, the DSF's impact might not be felt so strongly this year. Simply because the event has already achieved its objective - bringing in more tourists and generating more sales - accepted as an annual affair.
What started as a mere seasonal sales campaign to boost citywide retail activities as well as attract tourists and shoppers, proved to be much more.
The DSF's impact is not only visible year after year, but is very much quantifiable. For example, about 3.5 million visitors spent Dh10.2 billion during the DSF in 2006-07 compared with sales of Dh2.15 billion to 1.6 million shoppers during the first DSF in 1996.
This, for a city of 1.44 million population, might not seem too much - but is a big achievement.
However, there are certain significant impacts of this mega event that most people do not realise - the festival is a launch pad for developing future Dubai government leaders.
The DSF journey that started right after Shaikh Mohammad became the Crown Prince of Dubai in 1995 represents an essential part of his vision that has transformed and continues to reshape the economic and physical landscape of Dubai.
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