CEO Today Middle East Awards

45 www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today Middle East Awards 2018 QATAR TALK WITH THE CEO What makes UrbaCon Trading & Contracting different from its competitors? We take on the toughest jobs, under tight schedules and competitive budgets, and find a way to succeed in those parameters. We bring our very best to every construction job, and that dedication shows in the end result. At UCC, we tackle every job with advanced building technology that becomes even more powerful when combined with our experience and knowledge. Many of our esteemed repeat clients often request us to develop complex projects due to our leadership commitment by being involved in both the strategic decisions and the daily assurance of attention to detail with effective project management. What are you most proud of during your tenure with UCC? UCC’s commitment to stand up to the motto “We Build Trust”. Every project, small or large, is delivered with utmost care and perseverance, ensuring that we earn repeat clients. This is not easy for the kind of challenging jobs UCC takes up. To have more than 15,000 members of UCC working with the same principle carved in their heart, is possible only because of the support rendered by the management. Every member has stood by me for whatever decisions I have taken as deemed suitable for the situation and fortunately, it has turned out to be the best decisions ever taken in my career. I am proud to have a team of most talented construction professionals who burn mid-night oil day-in and day-out to deliver the vision of UCC. Of the several iconic projects executed by UCC, which one has been the most challenging one, according to you? The Refurbishment of Sheraton Hotel, Qatar was the most challenging project executed by UCC. The project duration was only seven months as it had to be ready for the 35th GCC Summit held in 2014. Not many construction groups were ready to take the job, due to the very tight schedule but UCC took the lead and accepted the challenge. Since we have the persistent desire to excel and deliver, all anticipated obstacles crumbled as the project progressed. Despite the nerve-racking moments we experienced, we completed the work in six months and 19 days; 11 days ahead of schedule. This brought recognition and made us feel very proud. Thereafter, we earned the tag of a company that aims for the impossible. What is the ideal leadership style to be adopted, that would accelerate growth of a company? Generally, Democratic Leadership is essential to the success and fast growth of a company. Letting team members contribute to the decision-making process makes them feel acknowledged and boosts their morale. Thus, it builds consensus and makes the team committed to achieving the business goals. As a CEO, I form the bridge between the employees and the owners. It is important that I have a foresight of the company’s future and how to get there. I then value the input of the team members and peers during careful planning and execution while taking full responsibility of the final decisions and consequences. It is the team effort and dedication showcased by each member of UCC that led to the growth of this organisation. What is UCC’s role in Qatar’s Construction Industry? UCC has been at the forefront for the development of several iconic projects in Qatar that has contributed to the development of the country on the world tourismmap - from the Banana Island Resort to the magnificent Mall of Qatar and the most recent Baladna farms for strategic food supplies. Even during the siege faced by the country, UCC stood strong and kept faith by reinvesting in several construction projects. I can proudly say that UCC has proven to be a highly committed private entity in Qatar, working towards the development of the country. What is UCC’s strategy for success? In the construction sector, UCC has secured a name for itself by accomplishing superior results in delivering critical projects time after time. The company’s unique fast-track strategies, streamlined design and construction milestones are unlike any other traditional building construction undertaking, resulting in the total delivery of projects in shorter time periods and at competitive prices. Above all this, our most indispensable strategy is “being adaptive”. For any business to succeed, it is very essential to see the hidden opportunities during difficult situations. UCC has always adopted this and we have seen considerably good results especially by focusing on the core areas like taking design responsibility, procuring from original sources and building in- house capabilities to deliver projects. What business tool do you think has contributed to the success of UCC? We have a comprehensive and integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Application that has been implemented by a group of consultants when the company was set up. It serves as