This is not the time for playing safe - this is the time for courageous leadership - Alabbar

"This is not the time for playing safe," he commented.

He was speaking at the Abu Dhabi World Leadership Summit, which was held today at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Pointing out to the current global political climate of uncertainty and the post Enron Sarbanes Oxley dominated business world, which has in its wake created a leadership style of inaction, Mr. Alabbar said:"This has created the risk of seriously damaging entrepreneurial leadership, which ultimately drives world economies."

Calling upon the audience to leverage the enormous opportunities that are available across the globe, Mr Alabbar said: "I cannot promise you a world without challenges or difficulties - No one can. But this is the time to challenge the status quo. This is the time for courage and courageous leadership."

"I have learnt from HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Minister of Defence, that in times of turbulence it takes a special kind of leader to swim against the tide and work selflessly for the prosperity of his people. His Highness is able to do this since he has an extraordinary ability to see beyond the immediate and move ahead with confidence," Mr. Alabbar said.

The concerns of being a parent and the driving need to create a better world for future generations was the underlying note in Mr. Alabbar's speech as he reached out to all the parents in the audience: "Will you be able to answer your children's questions? Will you lead and make things better for them - or will you follow and be a bystander in shaping the future?"

In order to nurture the future leaders of tomorrow, Mr Alabbar also identified three significant actions. These included investing in good quality education that is relevant to the people's need, building our economies as fast as possible because economic prosperity opens up endless possibilities of a better world and most importantly having the vision and the ability to take decisions in a timely fashion despite the apparent risks.

Describing his own style of leadership as one of "Practiced Impatience," he emphasised the need for speed in decision making, because opportunity knocks only once. He also stressed the significance of creating organisations that are hallmarks of good governance and transparency, which can withstand intense public scrutiny. Another significant aspect of leadership, Mr. Alabbar said was surrounding oneself with the best people as they enable the organisation to grow to greater heights and build future leaders.

Mr. Alabbar was one of the six high profile speakers at the prestigious leadership summit, which included Sir Richard Branson, CEO of the Virgin Group, former US President Mr. Bill Clinton, US Senator John Edwards, HE Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister for Education and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mrs Benazir Bhutto.