True Vision Always Rises: Mahdi Amjad on UAE as a Global Model of Leadership and Resilience

^{This article is part of the cover story for the Entrepreneur Real Estate Leaders May 2026 Edition.}

Having witnessed the country’s transformation over decades, Mahdi Amjad speaks about the UAE not simply as a market, but as one of the most extraordinary examples of leadership, resilience, and longterm vision in modern history, a nation that continuously turns challenges into momentum, and uncertainty into progress.

“The UAE is a very unique market,” he says. “It cannot be compared to any other country.”

What makes the UAE exceptional, in his view, goes far beyond economic growth or infrastructure. It is rooted in a philosophy established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, a philosophy built on unity, humanity, knowledge, wisdom, openness, and belief in possibility.

“I witnessed the evolution of the UAE and the depth of the leadership’s vision,” Amjad reflects. “What is remarkable is how the leadership elevated that vision across generations. They took the foundations and values established by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and continued building on them with extraordinary clarity and ambition.”

He points to the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as leaders who transformed vision into a living national culture.

And today, you feel those values everywhere in the UAE.

“Only those who have lived in the UAE and witnessed its response through every challenge can truly understand it,” he says. “Each time, the UAE emerges even stronger, more advanced, and more deeply united.”

That resilience has deeply influenced the way Amjad built the Group itself.

“Every business goes through cycles,” he says. “Preparing for those moments is the real challenge, and coming out of them stronger is what truly matters.”

For him, resilience begins with clarity.

“When you have a clear vision, a North Star, and a defined path, you can overcome every type of cycle. Through every challenge, we found opportunities because we stayed true to our vision. That is part of the Group’s DNA.”

But sustaining growth through cycles also requires discipline.

“You must surround yourself with the right people; people who believe in the vision and build on strong financial foundations. Those are the elements that allow companies not only to survive challenges, but to continue evolving through them.”

He points to the country’s response during global crises as evidence of that mindset.

“When many countries chose to shut down, the UAE responded with speed, confidence, and organization,” he says. “The healthcare investments, the solutions, the communication with people, the reassurance provided to society, everything was executed under a system and strategy that became a benchmark globally.”

“The leadership consistently ensured that people felt protected physically, emotionally, and psychologically. That reflects genuine wisdom and genuine care.”

Today, as the region navigates another period of geopolitical uncertainty, he believes the same leadership principles are once again defining the country’s response.

“We are witnessing extraordinary discipline, advanced protection systems, and strong national capabilities,” he says. “But what stands out most is how leadership continues to engage directly with people, providing reassurance, stability, and confidence.”

He recalls one statement that resonated deeply across the country during recent events.

“As His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: ‘In the UAE, everyone is Emirati.’ That statement carried enormous meaning. It reinforced unity, belonging, and humanity at a moment when people needed reassurance most.”

“The UAE is no longer simply viewed as an attractive market,” he says. “It is increasingly seen as an institutionally sound and sustainable destination for global capital.”

And according to him, global investors are recognizing that reality with growing conviction.

“The investors who have closely observed what has been demonstrated here are no longer questioning whether they should be in this market,” he says. “Having experienced multiple cycles and witnessed its evolution over time, they now have a deeper understanding of market dynamics and are increasingly focused on how to position themselves more effectively within it.”

That confidence is reflected in the Group’s own performance.

Our Group was founded on a clear strategic vision that a multi-brand platform built around distinct, market-leading brands, each operating with its own identity and focus, would outperform a single-brand model over the long term. Two years on, the thesis is reflected in the market data. According to Dubai Land Department figures for Q1 2026, OMNIYAT Group ranked among the three largest real estate developers in Dubai by total transaction value. In the apartment and office segments, where the Group operates exclusively, it ranked first among all developers.

“The Group witnessed a 3x higher performance in sales during 2025 compared to 2024, reflecting strong underlying momentum and continued market confidence. Building on this trajectory, the company recorded US$935 million in sales between January and March 2026, reflecting sustained demand across both the OMNIYAT and BEYOND portfolios during a period when many international markets experienced hesitation and uncertainty.”

For Amjad, the numbers reinforce the underlying strength of Dubai’s luxury real estate market.

“Dubai’s luxury real estate continues to offer exceptional value compared to other major global cities,” he says. “On a like-for-like basis, luxury product here remains priced at nearly half the value of comparable offerings in London, New York, or Singapore.”

“Governance, safety, connectivity, quality of life, infrastructure, and the ambition of the leadership, these fundamentals have not changed.”

“The UAE has consistently strengthened its competitiveness over the past three decades across technology, infrastructure, real estate, connectivity, and culture. What defines the country is its constant desire to elevate every aspect of society while also creating platforms for people to grow, build, and succeed.”

“At the same time, the market has seen a temporary slowdown amid the current geopolitical landscape. However, with our long-term perspective and a clear strategy in the real estate sector, we remain confident and grounded in a strong pipeline and healthy backlog that supports our continued momentum.”

And our Group’s next chapter will continue to grow alongside that vision.

“We have a strong pipeline of major projects scheduled for handover in 2026 and early 2027, and a new phase of growth is already taking shape,” he says.

With a landbank spanning more than 16 million square feet across premium UAE locations, he sees the future opportunity as significantly larger than anything the company has delivered so far.

“The opportunity ahead of us is larger than what we have achieved until now. And I am confident in our ability to continue growing in different segments of the market.”

Ultimately, beneath the discussion of markets, capital, and development lies something more personal, a belief shaped by decades of witnessing the country’s evolution first hand.

“My conviction remains with the UAE and its leadership,” Amjad concludes.