Cultivating Business Acumen to Fuel the UAE's Knowledge Economy
By Asma Al-Mulla, Director of Procurement, AWR Group
My career journey began with a bachelor’s degree in international business studies at university, a path that has proven invaluable in navigating the UAE's rapidly evolving economic landscape. What started as traditional business education has evolved into a career at the intersection of strategic procurement, supply chain management, and the UAE's continued economic transformation. The landscape for developing projects, acquiring goods and services, particularly for technically complex developments, has transformed dramatically from what I witnessed early in my career to the sophisticated ecosystem I navigate today.
The role of business-specific studies in the UAE’s progress
The UAE's remarkable progress in diversifying its economy tells a story of intentional transformation across all sectors, including the critical business functions that support our nation's growth. This achievement represents thousands of individual journeys across diverse professional fields, each contributing to a broader narrative of economic diversification that defines our nation's trajectory.
This transformation stems from ambitious national initiatives that prioritise industrial growth and technological advancement. The UAE's commitment to more than doubling its industrial sector contribution to GDP by 2031 as part of Operation 300bn has created unprecedented demand not just for technical expertise, but for sophisticated business management across manufacturing, clean energy, and innovation-driven industries.
As the nation pursues sustainable economic diversification through advanced industrial capabilities, professionals with strong business foundations find themselves managing complex procurement processes, optimising supply chains, and ensuring strategic resource allocation for projects that combine technical rigour with strategic impact.
Supporting Emiratis through bespoke programmes
At AWR Group, our Emiratisation strategy, Wa'ed—meaning "promise" in Arabic—is our pledge to identify, develop, and retain top Emirati talent. The programme places graduates into dynamic roles across our diversified portfolio, from strategic acquisition and group-wide supply chain operations to emerging sectors like agri-tech and sustainable packaging. These positions are far from traditional; they demand sophisticated analytical thinking and strategic business acumen to manage vendor relationships, negotiate contracts, and optimise supply chains for complex industrial projects. We provide structured mentorship and clear career progression paths, ensuring that our Emirati professionals are not just participants, but future leaders who are ready to drive our nation's progress.
The multiplier effect of business education
The generational impact of excellence in business education and strategic thinking has a multiplier effect that extends well beyond organisational boundaries. Today's emerging business professionals see role models in boardrooms, strategic planning offices, and more. They witness colleagues, mentors, and industry leaders managing complex supply chains, negotiating strategic partnerships, and optimising operations that support cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and space technology.
When we empower diverse talent to lead in business functions that support technical innovation and strategic growth, we ensure that today's economic transformation creates lasting impact for generations to come. This approach builds a future where business excellence transcends traditional boundaries, where the most effective strategies emerge from the richest diversity of perspectives, and where every generation contributes to our collective economic progress.
The foundation of any successful economy lies not just in technical innovation but in the business expertise that brings those innovations to market, manages their implementation, and ensures their sustainable growth. As Emiratis, we have the opportunity to lead in these critical business functions that support our nation's continued transformation.