The Abu Dhabi Family Business Council, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held a series of Ramadan majlis visits with prominent business leaders and family enterprises in the emirate.
Community engagement
The visits included gatherings at the majlis of H.E. Sultan bin Rashid Al Dhaheri, H.E. Mohamed Thani Murshed Al Rumaithi, and H.E. Yousef Mohammed Al Nuwais. Delegations were led by H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber, alongside senior officials including H.E. Shamis Ali Khalfan Al Dhaheri, H.E. Ali bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, and H.E. Khaled Abdul Karim Al Fahim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Family Business Council.
The events also included senior businessmen, family business leaders, and the next generation of entrepreneurs. They aimed to reinforce community engagement and highlight Ramadan majlis as a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration between family businesses and government entities.
Business sustainability discussions
Participants discussed ways to enhance the sustainability of family enterprises and support intergenerational growth. Topics included governance frameworks, institutional knowledge exchange, and fostering an environment that enables family businesses to expand in line with national economic goals.
H.E. Khaled Abdul Karim Al Fahim said: “Ramadan majlis serve as an important platform for strengthening engagement and exchanging expertise between family business leaders and economic stakeholders, supporting the continuity of these businesses across generations. The Abu Dhabi Family Business Council continues to empower this vital sector through the development of an integrated ecosystem of initiatives, programmes, and partnerships that enhance governance, sustainability, and expansion into local and international markets.”
H.E. Ali Mohamed Al Marzooqi added: “These Ramadan gatherings reflect the depth of engagement within Abu Dhabi’s business community and underscore the importance of family businesses as one of the fundamental pillars of the national economy. At Abu Dhabi Chamber, we are committed to strengthening dialogue with entrepreneurs and founding leaders of family businesses and drawing on their experience to support the sustainability and development of these enterprises, in line with the emirate’s aspirations for a more competitive and diversified economy.”
Family businesses in UAE
Family businesses represent a key pillar of the UAE’s economy, contributing about 60% of GDP, providing over 80% of employment opportunities, and accounting for nearly 90% of private companies. In Abu Dhabi, they hold significant shares in construction, financial services, trade, and transport, supporting economic diversification and sustainable growth.
The Abu Dhabi Family Business Council continues to develop policies and programmes promoting governance, strategic planning, and intergenerational succession to strengthen the role of family businesses in the national economy.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
