The UAE’s stability through recent months of geopolitical disruption was not improvised but the result of a deliberate, long-term economic architecture. This was the central message from H.E. Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises and the UAE’s Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy, during his opening address at The Briefing by Arabian Business in Dubai.
Quick Facts
- UAE sovereign wealth assets stand at ~$2.5 trillion
- Non-oil sectors account for nearly 80% of the economy
- ~$50 billion in new deals signed at Make it in the Emirates
A Chapter, Not The Story
Addressing hundreds of chief executives and founders, Jafar framed the recent regional turbulence as “a chapter, not the story,” asserting that the nation’s strength was engineered over decades. “Resilience in the UAE was never improvised in a crisis,” he stated. “It is the material we were made from. By design.”
He highlighted how the country’s core infrastructure and society held firm under pressure. “While the skies were contested, the country kept its word,” Jafar said. “The ports, the flights, the hospitals, the markets — the daily rhythm of a working country. It held.” He added that a society under strain “does not reveal its slogans. It reveals its character. And ours — two hundred nationalities, one people — did not flinch.”
From Trading Hub to a “Crossroads of Minds”
Jafar argued that economic activity accelerated despite the disruption, pointing to a widening trade network of 36 partnerships connecting UAE companies to three billion people. This is supported by fundamentals like the country running the world’s busiest international airport and its ports reaching over 700 cities globally.
He emphasized that the UAE’s ambition now extends beyond being a global trading hub. “We built it as a crossroads of trade. We have become something rarer — a crossroads of minds.” Looking ahead, Jafar outlined a vision for the country to be a global originator of future technologies and ideas. “We will not merely adopt the future,” he said. “We will originate it.”
Building 2071, Today
Jafar concluded with a direct call to action for the assembled business leaders, stressing that the country’s long-term vision for 2071 depends on decisions made now.
“But here is the truth about 2071 — it is not built in 2071. It is built now, in the decisions of this year and the next,” he urged. “This is not a moment to endure. It is a moment to build… This is your country. This is your moment. Let us build it — together.”
About H
E. Badr Jafar and Crescent Enterprises H.E. Badr Jafar is the Special Envoy of the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs for Business & Philanthropy and the CEO of Crescent Enterprises. He is a recognized voice on the intersection of business, philanthropy, and innovation.
Crescent Enterprises is a multinational company based in the UAE with a diversified portfolio of 57 subsidiaries and investments across 24 countries. It operates across sectors including ports, logistics, food and beverages, and healthcare, and has verticals in private equity, venture capital, and business incubation.