Businessman Mohamed Ahmed Taryam The Founder and CEO of “Al Watanyah Group for Real Estate”, Emirate of Sharjah

An Interview by: Mohamed Shams el-Din

-What are the most important services Al Watanyah Group offers to its clients with regard to the real estate management?

In addition to our supplementary services, the group also leases and rents lands and buildings, markets the new real estate projects, conducts visibility studies for the real estate projects, brokers the sale and purchase of lands and commercial, residential and industrial properties, values properties and offers real estate development consultations.

-Are the recent activities of the group and the establishment of Al-Nahda Real Estate Company in Dubai considered a step that falls within the framework of the natural expansion of the group’s business in the real estate management sector or does the new company have other goals?

The recent opening of our branch or rather our new real estate development services company under the group’s umbrella and under the name of “Al-Nahda Real Estate Company” in Dubai is a well-studied expansion of the group’s business development plans especially after the great success the group made in the real estate market in Sharjah. Thus we had to consider the importance of the real estate market in Dubai, which is considered the UAE economic capital. Therefore, our decision to access the market of Dubai through the establishment of a new entity is related to our offering of universal standards and practices that characterize our company. This also will enhance our presence and competitive abilities in the Dubai real estate market. I’d like to announce here that during the coming period we will expand all over the country.

-How much is the market value of the real estate units managed by Al Watanyah

Group?

The current market value of all the assets and investments of Al Watanyah Group is estimated at more than one billion dirhams, and we aim to increase our investments in the coming years to nearly 5 billion dirhams. This includes the expansion of the group’s activities in other areas in addition toourgeographical expansion.

-Will the group’s current negotiations with other real estate investors and companies in some of the GCC member states and particularly the KSA and Kuwait lead to the forging of new partnerships or the expansion of the group in the Gulf market?

Lately, we have received a number of proposals from real estate companies working in a number of the GCC member states and particularly the KSA and Kuwait. We started negotiating ways of joint cooperation as well as the group’s access into the markets of those countries. But, of course, we have our calculations as regards the careful and accurate study of all the projects we intend to participate in. On my part, I see that the interest of the Gulf investors, including prominent companies, in negotiating with us is an indication and testimony to the good reputation of our company and the rest of the group’s companies working in the UAE.

-What are the methods you use to measure satisfaction with the group’s performance? Is this done through questionnaires with the properties’ residents and owners, or through the use of specialized appraisal companies?

As I explained before, we consider ourselves a service sector, meaning that our ability to provide excellent services to clients, whether property owners or residents is a testament to the success of our business, and  the only thing that we are betting on to achieve success is the customer satisfaction. To achieve these goals, we follow many plans and methods to measure the extent of the customer satisfaction and those dealing with our company, including questionnaires which, thanks to Allah, give us high and steady indications about our clients’ satisfaction which are not less than 97%. We really have a well-trained team including a number of experts who can measure the quality of our performance. And to guarantee the satisfaction of our clients we use the mystery shopper in order to get the required reports on the quality of the services we offer.

-What are the most important certificates of quality and merit that have been granted to Al Watanyah Group for the Real Estate Management? Does that encourage you more to improve your capabilities?

Though it has been a very short time since we started the activities of Al Watanyah

Group for Real Estate Management,  we obtained the international ISO certificate registered under No(DQU-11372) in appreciation for our quality management and organizational distinction in the domain of leasing and managing properties. There is no doubt that this international certificate is an appreciation and recognition of our achievements and a confirmation of our commitment to provide excellent services in all our operations. I tis also an encouragement to us to go on with the group’s different activities according to the best international standards and practices in the real estate management sector.

-Please explain to us how you organize your time putting into consideraton the huge activities of the group? Do you find any time to spend with your family?

Despite the magnitude of work and the pressures I face while running the activities of the group’s companies, I divide my time between my work and my family. I think that prioritization and the assigning of tasks to specialized employees lessen the pressure and help us offer better services. This gives me the necessary time I need to lead a normal life.

-What are you hobbies that you practice daily?

Sports is my first hobby and then comes reading in all the different fields, because I believe that the cultivated businessman will always be capable to foresee the future and take the right decisions.