Blueprints for a Multicultural City: How Ahmed Elabd Navigates Dubai’s Diverse Teams and Clients

You have been working in Dubai for over 18 years; what was the biggest cultural adjustment you had to make in your early years, and how does it still influence the way you handle projects today?

The biggest adjustment was realizing that the same message can be interpreted very differently depending on cultural background. Early on, I learned that how you communicate is often more important than what you communicate. Today, this awareness shapes how I manage teams, engage clients, and frame decisions to ensure alignment rather than resistance.

How is working on a project in Dubai different from working in another Middle Eastern city? What does Dubai specifically demand from you as a person, not just as a professional?

Dubai is far more culturally layered than most cities in the region. You are often working with global teams within a local context, which requires a high level of adaptability. Beyond professional skills, Dubai demands openness, emotional awareness, and generosity in how you engage with others. It pushes you to grow personally, not just technically.

You regularly collaborate with clients and teams from different nationalities; what personal habit or skill have you developed to read cultural nuances in meetings and avoid misunderstandings?

I have learned to listen more than I speak and to observe carefully. Often, it is the pauses, tone, or hesitation that matter most. One of my former bosses used to say, “To work in this field in Dubai, you need to be a psychologist.” With experience, I realized how true that is. Understanding personalities and cultural backgrounds allows you to respond in a way that is both respectful and effective.

When leading multicultural teams, how do you balance directness and diplomacy so that people from different backgrounds still feel heard, but decisions are made quickly?

I try to be very clear about objectives while remaining considerate in discussion. People are more willing to move quickly when they feel respected and included. Diplomacy does not slow decisions; it often accelerates them by building trust and reducing resistance.

Dubai moves fast, and projects can be very ambitious; what have you had to change in your own working style to keep up with the city rather than resist it?

I had to become more flexible in both thinking and execution. Dubai rewards those who adapt rather than those who hold on too tightly to fixed methods. I learned to make decisions with confidence, accept change as part of the process, and stay calm within a fast-moving environment

Is there a particular local value or aspect of Emirati culture that you have consciously integrated into the way you manage teams or approach design decisions?

Privacy and respect are deeply rooted in Emirati culture, and they strongly influence design decisions, especially in residential projects. For example, in single-family homes, male and female gatherings often require separate spaces, which demands thoughtful planning. These cultural considerations are not constraints; they are opportunities to design with greater care and meaning.

With clients ranging from regional developers to international groups, how do you adapt your presentation style so that the same design idea resonates across different cultural expectations?

I focus on understanding what each client values most. Some respond to vision, others to detail, and others to reassurance. The core idea remains the same, but the way it is communicated changes. This approach reflects tolerance for different perspectives while maintaining design integrity