Eng. Waleed Mohammad Al Zaabi is a well-known leader in the UAE’s construction and real estate industry. As the founder and chairman of Tiger Group, which includes Tiger Properties, he has spent 50 years turning ideas into lasting homes and communities. His work helps make building projects run more smoothly, quickly, and reliably for both teams and families.
Early Background
Waleed Mohammad Al Zaabi started his career as a civil engineer, learning practical skills by working on real construction projects. In 1976, he founded Tiger Contracting, taking on projects in Sharjah and Dubai during the UAE’s early period of growth. By 1996, he started Tiger Properties to meet the rising demand for quality housing, moving from just contracting to full property development.
Working on job sites early in his career taught him how to spot waste and delays. He managed everything from laying foundations to handing over finished projects to clients, developing a talent for creating efficient workflows that keep quality high without adding extra costs.
Rise in the Industry
Over the past fifty years, Al Zaabi has grown Tiger Group into a leading company in real estate, hospitality, manufacturing, agriculture, and education. Since 1976, the group has delivered 50,000 apartments and is now working on another 20,000 units, as well as offices and shops, mostly in Dubai and Sharjah.
Notable projects include Taawun Towers near Sharjah’s Exposition Centre and Samaya Furnished Apartments, both known for their good locations and family-friendly designs. He personally managed sales, leasing, and maintenance, making sure the projects met daily needs and connected areas like construction and hospitality for faster results.
Leadership Style
Al Zaabi leads by staying involved and practical, guiding teams on tasks such as better leasing and client service. He combines traditional reliability with new ideas, keeping things simple and focused on teamwork. His leadership sets clear goals for sustainability, steady growth, and people, making large projects easier for everyone.
He shares his engineering knowledge with staff to help them solve site problems quickly, reducing delays and errors. This trust-based approach leads to on-time delivery of large projects and earns praise for strong quality control.
Key Achievements
Under Al Zaabi’s leadership, Tiger Group launched Tiger Sky Tower in 2024, a 1,745-foot residential building that aims to be the world’s tallest by 2029. The project uses efficient technology for greener and faster construction. The group has completed nearly 200 projects, showing its reliability in a changing market.
His efforts built a net worth of $3.4 billion, landing him on Forbes’ real-time billionaires list. Ventures into hospitality via Dana Hotel Management and education highlight his skill at streamlining operations across fields. These steps drive easier construction through smart planning, better materials, and faster timelines that benefit builders and buyers.
Personal Approach
Al Zaabi brings a grounded, welcoming style rooted in Emirati values and global outlook. He supports community causes, like Emirates Red Crescent’s sustainability drives and waste reduction events. His projects create jobs and neighborhoods that strengthen local ties beyond just structures.
Family is important to him. Amer Waleed Al Zaabi, his family member, is the CEO of Tiger Properties and helps combine tradition with new ideas. Al Zaabi recognizes teams for their green efforts, encouraging safer and cleaner work sites through awareness and dedication.
Al Zaabi’s focus stays on landmark builds like Tiger Sky Tower, reshaping skylines with tech that cuts waste and speeds delivery. Expansions in Ajman and other areas target over 20,000 new homes, emphasizing quick handovers and practical luxury. His plans focus on efficient construction, using new methods for shorter timelines, lower costs, and flexible spaces as the UAE grows. With his steady leadership, Tiger Group will keep providing accessible, high-quality real estate for years to come.
