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“Wow, almost everything has changed since then!” His Highness Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud was first featured as the founder of Dubai on the cover of Entrepreneur Middle East in December 2014. That's how he reacted when he informed the Saudi royal family that it had been 10 years since he was removed from the role. Headquartered at KBW Investments.
At the time, KBW Investments had just gotten off the ground with its acquisition of Italian crane manufacturer Raimondi, after which Al Saud became Raimondi's chairman. “Raimondi Cranes is still going strong,” says Prince Khaled. “It has expanded in terms of the amount of our machines in operation around the world, the geographies in which we are present, and a new senior leadership team that is bringing a revitalized corporate approach.”
Prince Khalid's work continues to grow and diversify, with one of his most successful ventures being Arada, which has been dubbed “the region's fastest growing and most progressive developer” and which he announced in 2017. Established in partnership with His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed. Mr Al Qasimi is currently the Deputy Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah. “Arada has become what I would call a real growth story for the UAE real estate market in recent years, both in terms of numbers and our approach,” he says. “We have launched projects worth AED 52 billion in both Sharjah and Dubai and have already delivered 9,000 homes. For a still new developer, this figure is impressive, but I am really excited about the It is a long-term project. “Our approach is to focus on people and provide the best facilities and services possible.Currently, around a third of the homes we sell These are people who have bought properties in the past, so it's great to see results like this.'' We've seen this approach really pay off for us. ”
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in the UAE, Arada is the region's fastest growing and most progressive development company. Source: Arada/KBW Ventures
Prince Khalid also leans into the “tech prince” persona we wrote about in our 2014 article. In fact, he is perhaps best known today as the founder and CEO of KBW Ventures, an investment firm with a portfolio of cutting-edge technologies. Tech startups from around the world will be participating, including Mexican fintech company Kueski, San Diego-based BlueNalu and Dubai-based Vuz. “KBW Ventures went from an idea to an active investment firm,” he says. “During the interview 10 years ago, my venture investment was an angel ticket because I didn’t have the formal means to do so.Currently, KBW Ventures invests in many different areas.Food technology is It occupies a prominent place alongside other types of technology”, some B2B, some B2C. Our portfolio includes many mission-driven companies, and we are always looking to build on our existing work. Going forward, I will take what I call a “broader approach.” Our latest capital commitment. ”
Related: Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed highlights his impact investing journey at 2023 Abu Dhabi Finance Week
Your Honor PuriKhaled Bin Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud, Founder and CEO of KBW Ventures;Source: KBW Ventures
So this seems to be the ethos that governs Prince Khalid's personal vision for the future. “I’m looking forward to seeing many of the businesses we work with change the status quo,” he says. “Arada is focused on providing the best experiential community and improving the standard of living currently available to people. We will achieve this by enhancing the living experience in Sharjah through the development of Arada. Prince Khalid also points out that KBW Ventures' investments in the food tech space are particularly exciting for the long term. “Cultivated meat and seafood are also areas where I think our efforts are contributing to improving the current situation,” he says. “Eating meat is an option now, but it would be much better for everyone involved if the negative impact on the climate was mitigated.”
He thus began to look to realize what was essentially a better version of the world, and became clear about what he wanted his legacy to be. “I think there are many ways we are participating in leveling up, from enterprises to end users,” he says. “I want to be able to say in 10 years that my responsibility with my business is to leave it better than when I started it and to keep finding new ways to do that.”
Aljada, Aljada's flagship master development, is a 24 million square foot integrated lifestyle destination and Sharjah's new leisure and entertainment hub. Source: Arada/KBW Ventures
Hindsight 20/20: Then and now His Royal Highness Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud
Looking back at where you were in your entrepreneurial/career/business trajectory 10 years ago, is there anything you would do differently if you knew what you know now? What is the biggest lesson you wish you had learned?
“I like to prioritize doing my own research rather than relying on the recommendations of others. This is one of the reasons I founded KBW Ventures and am its CEO. I decide what to stand for, and I do this by going through multiple layers of evaluation.Early on, maybe 10 years ago, I was much more impulsive. It was objective and not analytical.
If we rewind 10 years ago, we would invest more time into training weaknesses in our knowledge base. I would tell the younger me to spend more time learning more about things that I don't know much about that I'm going to encounter in some way in business, whether it's a type of technology or a nascent industry. Now, you don't have to actually be interested to delve into the research on it. These days I want to know it for the sake of knowledge itself. At this stage in my career, it has proven to be really valuable.
Ten years ago (again, going back to being impulsive and not seeing the big picture), I would have focused more on long-term gains and not just immediate wins. It really took some time to figure this out and the benefits are big and visible, but you have to be persistent and plan for it and wait until things mature and show value.
There are three lessons that anyone can use.
Lesson 1: In general I definitely would have listened more. Listening is very important. Listen more than you talk. Wait, internalize it, and then move on.
Lesson 2: I wish I had done more research and thought before making a decision on a whim. This goes back to big picture planning and strategic long-term benefits.
Lesson 3: The most important thing is to learn from people's experiences. I always return to an important example. My father always said, “I'm disciplined.” I have discipline. ” It was, you know, like, “Okay, sure,” but now I know it’s all about discipline. In business, in life, in fitness, and even in the pursuit of happiness and the good life. I wish I had internalized his experiences and those of others sooner. ”
Related: Futurist: His Excellency Ofud Al Rumi, Minister of State for Development and Future, Government of the UAE
