The rise of Abu Dhabi's Al Fahim group (page 4 of 4)

Although many companies have been toying with the idea of going public, they are all waiting for someone else to take the initiative. If Al Fahim does list his company, it could open the floodgates for others.

If more companies seek listing on local bourses, that could pump some life into the UAE capital markets, which have been sluggish, if not entirely inactive, due to a lack of listed stocks. If big businesses become listed on the region's stock markets, that would bring in investors and boost trading activity in the market.

But going public will prove a great challenge. The transition from a family-held business to a public company is risky, and will require a radical change of mindset among the management and employees of the company. But Al Fahim says he is not worried about the transition.

"We have two years to prepare ourselves and our employees for the transition. It will not be hard for me to be answerable to shareholders, as I already have some outside directors on the board. We can handle it. New shareholders will know our experience and our profile, and they will understand whom they are talking to.''

At the same time, Al Fahim is also taking steps to ensure a smooth succession. Even though it has been only a few years since he took over the reins of the business from his elder brother, Mohammed Al Fahim, Saeed is keen to involve the younger Al Fahim generation in the business. His niece is already involved, and his sons, who are in school, will also be interested in the family business.

As soon as he has installed the next generation in command, says Al Fahim, he would like to concentrate on what he likes most: traveling around the world to search for new canes. A simple pastime for a truly humble man.