Emaar Al Khaleej | 2016
Fresh graduates from university or college tend to favor job opportunities in the public and private sectors, and many people often wait for months or even years until they get a job offer that satisfies their aspirations or fulfills their needs. However, Abdullah Ali Al Mulla chose a completely different way; he aspired to become an entrepreneur starting his own business, instead of working in a steady job and getting a monthly salary. Firm in his conviction, as soon as he graduated from college with his bachelor›s degree, he launched his private company “Emaar Al Khaleej”.
Recalling the beginnings of his new business, Abdullah Al Mulla notes, “When I was a university student at the International College of Engineering and Management, my major was Environmental Health and Safety Engineering. During the course of my studies I felt a very strong connection with this field, so I started researching more about it which strengthened my passion for the domain. After graduating I became more certain that what I learnt would form the basis of my first business; one which specializes in fire safety and security systems.”
Armed with his bachelor’s degree, Abdullah carefully studied the demand of the local market for this type of business and saw a good opportunities in the field, which encouraged him to enter the market. Commenting on the challenges facing the new business, Abdullah noted: “The decision to start my own business may not seem hard, but at the same time, it required the availability of a number of factors to ensure the success of the project. Therefore, when I studied the market, I found many good opportunities in front of me, but they were not necessarily easy to get. Although I had a relevant degree and had conducted deep research on security, safety, and fire protection systems, I lacked administrative and management experience. Also, big challenges require a person who is patient, experienced, and well-rounded on other matters like marketing and promotion, in addition to the availability of capital, of course. However, with courage and determination to achieve my aspiration of running my own enterprise, I took my first steps into the business world”.
The business “Emaar Al Khaleej” was founded in 2014, and focused on all activities related to fire prevention systems, in addition to providing security and safety equipment for buildings and work sites. The business started with Abdullah Al Mulla and only one employee; in two years, the number of employees reached 30, which reflects the development and fast growth of the enterprise.
Commenting on the rapid expansion of the business, Abdullah notes: “When we launched the business, we were aware of the need in the market for such specialized products and services, but we also learnt how difficult it is to compete in a small market against big companies working in the same field. Therefore, we had to study the market very well and determine the needs of clients accurately, in addition to focusing on what makes us different from other competitors and delivering that to the clients clearly. The most important message we delivered to our clients at first was that our company is the only one that has an Omani administration whose members are specialized and academically qualified in this field, because specialized activities require specialized competencies too. This clear point of differentiation was leverage for us with governmental institutions, private sector companies, and individuals, which reflected positively in the rapid growth of the business.”
By the end of 2015, Abdullah Al Mulla joined the membership at Zubair SEC. Highlighting the benefits of joining Zubair SEC Abdullah notes: “Our business grew very rapidly, and in a short period of time. While this was very pleasing, it highlighted areas in the business where we needed expert consultancy and mentorship to ensure the long-term sustainability and continued growth of the business. The benefits I received from Zubair SEC were invaluable. I received expert consultations, attended workshops on developing the performance of small enterprises and met with other members of the Centre to share experiences and insight. Along the way, I formed close relations with the other members and we continue to collaborate on good business opportunities till today.”
In 2016, Abdullah Al Mulla applied for the Direct Support Program. Due to the well-studied selling propositions of his business, his seriousness as an entrepreneur looking for excellence, and his dedication towards constant improvement, the Centre selected him to be one of the ten winners of the Direct Support Program for that year. Commenting on the award, Abdullah noted: “Winning membership within the Direct Support Programme was a paradigm shift for me and my business, and this accomplishment has really opened new doors of opportunity for me. I am thankful for the efforts of the entire team at Zubair SEC who played a key role in the development of my business and helped me prepare and develop my detailed business plans. I also received a financial grant which helped me buy new tools and equipment to grow the business, and I still enjoying the comprehensive consultancy and guidance services extended by the specialized team of advisers there.”
Abdullah Almulla is a man of unlimited ambition. He plans to take “Emaar Al Khaleej” outside the Sultanate to other markets; he notes: “Our ambitions are very big because we are planning for the long term. We hope to become one of the best 5 Omani companies working in this field by 2020. In the coming years, we also aim to establish a factory here in Oman to produce products related to security, firefighting and safety. The establishment of this factory will lead us to the stage of exporting our products and providing our services in foreign markets.”
Guided by the confidence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos in the ability of Omani youth to contribute to the growth of the national economy, Abdullah Al Mulla keeps working hard towards improving his business. He says: “The wise vision of His Majesty for Omani youth and his strong confidence in them always encourages us to prove that we are worthy of his trust.
In addition, His Majesty’s guidance constantly supports Omani youth and start-ups so that they have a bigger role in the growth of the national economy of our beloved country.” He adds: “I would like to thank Zubair SEC for its unlimited support for this sector and me personally, and I hope that big companies in the Sultanate do likewise because Omani youth are the future of Oman and they deserve every support.”