𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

“Crisis doesn’t build character—it reveals it. In 2008, I stood at the edge of a financial storm that reshaped lives, leadership, and legacy. This is the beginning of my Crisis Leadership Series—where resilience meets reality.”

𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝟏: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 – 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬

In 2008, I was serving as the Administrative Manager for our company’s IT division in Sharjah, overseeing a team of 23 professionals responsible for managing our website and live chat systems. These platforms were critical touchpoints for customers seeking real estate investment opportunities in the UAE.

At the time, our company was a leading retailer of freehold properties in the region, with a turnover nearing AED 5 billion and a workforce of 485 high-salaried employees. We held a significant share of the Dubai real estate market and regularly published market reviews to inform the public. One such review predicted an impending financial setback in the UAE’s real estate sector—a forecast that drew criticism from all directions, including internal management.

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An interesting detail: the company was owned by my younger brother, with sponsorship from a member of the ruling family. Though based in Sharjah and without direct access to customers or investors, our IT team had deep insight into market dynamics. We monitored website traffic, conducted developer interviews, and curated real-time updates—giving us a pulse on the sector that few others possessed.

Initially, things continued smoothly after our newsletter prediction. But then came the global financial collapse, triggered by the failure of major banks. The ripple effect reached the UAE with alarming speed. In my view, the government was caught off guard, and the market crashed almost overnight.

Investor confidence plummeted. Phone lines were flooded with calls from anxious clients. Liquidity dried up. Our company, like many others, was hit hard. Senior management—many unfamiliar with UAE legal frameworks—struggled to respond. Diligent investors began demanding refunds and legal clarity. In desperation, the company began terminating employees and diverting reserve funds to manage immediate fallout, sidelining customer concerns in the process.

#CrisisLeadership #LegacyMatters #ResilienceInAction #BuckscapitalNetwork

 

⚠️ Disclaimer: This post is for general informational purposes only and not legal advice. For specific guidance, please consult a UAE legal professional.