The Sheikh CEO: Lessons In Leadership From Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

by Yasar Jarrar

The rise of Dubai is a remarkable story, one which has created a brand synonymous with superlatives and dynamism and put it among the leading cities of the world. As a result of its connectivity, bold futuristic projects, its ease of doing business, its hub status and its robust trading networks, Dubai has emerged as the Hong Kong of South Asia, the Miami of Africa and the Singapore of the Middle East. But this book is not about Dubai! This book is about the Sheikh who built it into a global hub, his leadership style and the way he operates. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, is – by any measure – one of the most known and admired leaders in our region. He has created an extraordinary legacy through his bold vision and ability to deliver, often against all odds. This book distils the lessons to be learned from observing Sheikh Mohammed firsthand, featuring interviews capturing insights from ministers and members of his Executive Office team from the past two decades. It gives an insider’s view of the Sheikh CEO who runs Dubai, his personal leadership model and how he delivers. Whether or not you aspire to be a political or public leader, any leader or manager can improve his or her capabilities by studying Sheikh Mohammed’s lessons in leadership. These lessons are especially poignant to emerging markets where the conditions and context are not always conducive to learning the leadership lessons that are distilled in management books with a Western context.

Genres: Leadership, Business, Politics, Middle East, Biography, Nonfiction

212 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2020

Reviews

[Nafax · Rating 1 out of 5]

به جز اینکه حسرت میخوردم از اینکه به جای کشور من، یه کشور با تاریخ ۱۰۰ ساله شده الگو و یه شهر کوچیک شده مرکز جهان، با سبک نوشتاری کناب ارتباط نگرفتم. نویسنده صرفا یه سری جملات از شیخ محمد رو جمع کرده بود و سعی کرده بود به هم ربطشون بده و اون وسط‌ها هم تملق شیخ محمد رو می‌گفت. به نظرم زیادی شعاری و تبلیغاتی بود و اصلا برای من نوشته نشده بود.

[Navin Valrani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be honest here: any book by or about Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is a winner for me. I owe my life to his vision, actions and grit. This is a remarkable read that gives you snippets into how a leader took Dubai’s GDP from $11 billion to $101 billion though a leadership style that has never been seen before in the world of politics.

[Morteza Khorram · Rating 3 out of 5]

جدا از اینکه نویسنده تبلیغ زیادی در مورد دوبی کرده و صرفا به تعریف و تمجید از حاکم دوبی پرداخته، موقع خواندن این کتاب حس کردم تمام نکاتی که در کتابهای مدیریتی و کسب‌و‌کار نوشته شده، موبه‌مو توسط شیخ محمد اجرا میشود.

بر هیچ‌کس پوشیده نیست که مدیریت یک کشور با جمعیت ۵ میلیون با یک کشور ۱۰۰ میلیونی فرق دارد و همینطور مدیریت کشور ۱۰۰ میلیونی با کشور ۱میلیارد نفری و البته مدیریت هوشمندانه شیخ‌محمد در اجرای سیاست‌ها و اهدافش ستودنیه.

یک جمله به نقل از پدر شیخ‌محمد توی کتاب هست که برام خیلی جالب بود: 《رهبران امروزی بزرگان خاموشی هستند که اقتصاد را مدیریت میکنند و بر آن تسلط دارند. آن‌ها با سیاستمدارانی که دائم سروصدا و بلوا درست میکنند بسیار فاصله دارند》

[Mad Hab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, if you are impressed with Dubai, maybe the book is for you.
but not me

[Byron Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Algunos principios básicos de liderazgo que vale la pena recordar pero la verdad es bastante repetitivo y entiendo el trabajo de este personaje pero llega a un nivel estilo “dios” para el escritor.

[Gary Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sheikh CEO by Dr Yasar Jarrar



A Krypitc Review...

I give this book a 5 star rating.

Dr Yasar Jarrar writes eloquently and engages readers from the first page. The book is a must-read for the avid leadership enthusiast and reaffirms the adage that current and aspiring leaders must be students of leadership.

The book starts off by providing the reader with context to the rise Dubai and the not-so-secret magical ingredient in the recipe to this success - The Sheikh CEO. This engrossing chapter is entitled The Rise of Dubai Inc and is followed by these chapters:
- Lead With Courage and Vision
- Action Trumps Everything
- Never Believe That Your Work Is Complete
- Surroung Yourself With Strong Leaders
- Win Hearts and Minds

And last but not least, the epilogue is a call to arms for leaders entitled We Shall Go To Mars.

I have read a vast number of leadership books but few are as easily assessible as this volume by Jarrar, who uses real stories from his time with the Sheikh to make tangible the lessons in leadership. The most significant value of this book is in the practice examples of thier application which are lacking in other leadership books. The unique Arab take also has a novelty to the instruction and opens our eyes to a different way of applying the principles that will add value to any leader's toolset.

Performance matters, accountability is personal, the customer is king, and ...change or be changed

I recommend this book to all leaders, if not for the valuable lessons it imparts, for the enjoyable journey into exceptional leadership modelled by the Sheikh CEO.

Happy reading Kryptic Fans!


Connect with Me

[Dmitry Polovinkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book left quite a double and conflicting impression. No doubt it shows that Sheikh is (at least portrayed as) a good leader as changes in Dubai are obvious, and it was interesting to read about his style and innovative methods (for a while), really nice to see a ruler which is so dedicated on making processes, people and overall country better with the resources they have in UAE.

But on other side - I quickly got tired reading the book itself. There is so much praising everywhere, which leaves not so “objective” impression, and I can’t really say what exactly did I learn. All chapters are more or less similar in a way of showing how good a leader Sheikh is in all matters, which I guess is true - in some ways, but there is sooo much praising that I can’t really tell is this all about a real person.

It just became quite boring to read after a while.

[TheHappyGirl03 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read book. Very engaging and very inspiring. It’s very timely as well to read specially now that the whole world is experiencing the effects of the pandemic. Having read this is like giving the reader and the residents of UAE that it will overcome this pandemic with the leadership of Sheikh CEO.

A must read not just for UAE residents but for all who aspires to be a great leader.

[P S · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books i've read in the realm of self development & leadership, where positivity is the underlying platform of all.

[Nancy Azar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very recommended book about leadership!

[Cynthia Penner M. Ed. · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is a humble, strong leader who continues to create an innovative and inclusive society. This book is a valuable example of Sheikh Mohammed's efforts.

Dr. Jarrar eloquently conveys some of Sheikh Mohammed's many accomplishments by identifying his sophisticated leadership style. Anecdotes that are revealing and authentic, indicate just how visionary and hard-working Sheikh Mohammed continues to be.

Sheikh Mohammed is relentless in ensuring that people are at the forefront of growth and innovation. And those people include both the citizens and residents of the United Arab Emirates, the MENA region and the world.

The chapters in this book are easy to follow and keep the reader engaged. I highly recommend reading this book if you are an aspiring leader. Or just want to be inspired by a story of true leadership. Check out Sheikh Mohammed's lessons in leadership by Dr. Jarrar.

[Sara da Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

After visiting Dubai and seeing how futuristic and fast paced it is, I wanted to know what was Dubai’s special sauce. Every public place I went I saw the royal family portrait, and I had to ask locals, foreigners living in Dubai what they thought of the royals. The answers were varied but always the same the king looks after his people. I wanted to read a book that spoke about what the Sheik but also from a 3rd party perspective. This book goes into detail of how the Sheik takes personal the way he leads every aspect of the government. Now will this be forever? I don’t think so… but the King has planted a seed in every aspect of Dubai to leave an everlasting mark to be modeled and learned from. I would recommend this book to learn that leadership in is not to talk the talk, but is to wear the shoes as tight as possible and know that the road to success is not a straight line.

[Mani Dawattgaran · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتاب در ابتدا با شرح پاره‌ای از روشهای مدیریتی شیخ محمد و کارهای انجام گرفته در سالهای حکمرانی او پیش میرود؛ اما هر چه جلوتر میرویم بیشتر به ورطه‌ی تکرار و گاهی اغراق (مثل ادعای بیست ساعت در روز کار کردن) میافتد و به جای پرداختن به فکت و آمار، به مدح سرایی دچار میشود.
نکته‌ی دیگری که به چشمم آمد، تعدد اشتباه‌های چاپی و کیفیت پایین کاغذ بود.

[Yash Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to read about the man behind Dubai’s transformation as one of the world’s finest tourism and financial hubs.
4 stars because in many places the book seems too sycophantic / flattering in its approach.
But overall a good read about the history of Dubai and the Emirates.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspirational read about a truly next generation leader and how he transformed the city of Dubai - particularly having seen the journey of Dubai first hand, the lessons this book shares was all the more meaningful for me!

[Goran Jankuloski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesantno kulturalno iskustvo.

[Shaikha Alshamsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspirational, motivating.. Full of real stories
Makes me more proud and grateful for for having such leaders..

[Wafa · Rating 3 out of 5]

حبيت التجارب المذكورة .. ممارسات ناجحة ودروس مستفادة كبيرة

[Hossein Nasrabadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

نوشته کسی است که دبی را در مسیر پیشرفت و مدرن بودن راهبری کرد

[Alexandra Denis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most inspiring and motivating book after Rich dad, poor dad. Now I am ready to conquer the world 😁

[Alex Lionti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Lessons in leadership and management

[Azat Sultanov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Поверхностный и общий инсайт в лидерские качества шейха и его роли в становлении Дубая.

[Makumba Musambachime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, filled with different perspectives backed by tangible and significant evidence of practice. Dubai is a very lovely city.

[خوله · Rating 5 out of 5]

وحدهُ الملهم!

[Hamed Ersi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a visionary leader and what a great book! It was a pleasure to read this book in the 24 hours!

[Nadezhda · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Управляй как шейх" Ясара Джарара — классная книга о том, как шейх управляет Дубаем, словно СЕО компании.

Я была в Дубае несколько раз в середине 2010-х и снова приехала в этом году. Консьерж в отеле сказал нам: "Вы приехали в Дубай первый раз, считайте так." И правда, город меняется настолько быстро, что каждый раз он кажется совершенно новым.

Джарар отлично показывает, как шейх ставит амбициозные цели, как он вовлечён в каждую мелочь. Он рассматривает управление городом не как работу чиновника, а как бизнес с чёткими стратегиями и планами. Книга мотивирует задуматься о своих задачах и подходах к ним. Простой язык, но глубокие мысли — идеальный вариант, если хочется вдохновения и новых идей.

[Kiran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just amazing teaches a lot