“Friday” is the true essence of Ramadan… and “abundance” today requires gratitude

The businessman, founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Al Habtoor Group, Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor, stressed that the month of Ramadan is a social and humanitarian occasion, and that the value of the Holy Month lies in the gathering and rapprochement of people, saying that “Friday” is the true essence of Ramadan.

He said that the abundance that society experiences today is a blessing that requires gratitude, at a time when contentment and contentment were strongly present in the past with what was available on Ramadan tables of rice and dates.

Al Habtoor recalled his memories of gatherings with the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, may God have mercy on him, where young people would sit with adults and learn wisdom and experience from them.

Al Habtoor added – during an interview with “Emirates Today” in his Ramadan Majlis, as part of the series “Your Ramadan with Emirates Today” – that building a family must remain a social priority in light of the broad support the state provides to those about to get married, revealing that he got married at the age of 17 years, and renewed his initiative to allocate 88 residential apartments for Emirati youth about to get married, stressing that he will bear 70% of the value of each housing unit from his own money.

Family composition

In detail, the businessman, founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Al Habtoor Group, Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor, called for strengthening the culture of family formation and increasing the number of children, stressing that children are a true and great blessing and an essential source of stability and continuity for society, and that seeing children and grandchildren represents a true source of joy for the person and the family.

Al Habtoor also called, during an interview with Emirates Today, as part of the “Your Ramadan with Emirates Today” series, young people to marry before the age of 30, and to build cohesive families that contribute to the stability and continuity of society, stressing that “delaying marriage does not serve family stability or society,” and said: “I got married at the age of 17.”

Al Habtoor believed that building a family must remain a social priority in light of the broad support the state provides to those about to marry and married couples, indicating that supporting Emirati youth at the beginning of their family life represents a societal and economic priority at the same time.

Residential stability

Al Habtoor told Emirates Today that residential stability is the first step to building a cohesive family capable of contributing to the development of society, noting that he launched an initiative that includes allocating 88 residential apartments in the “Al Habtoor Tower” for young Emiratis about to get married, and they include residential units of one, two, and three bedrooms, to be the first residence in which the new family begins its life.

He added, “The initiative is practical support for marriage through a housing initiative that gives young people the opportunity to own their first home.”

Al Habtoor reiterated that he will bear 70% of the value of each housing unit from his own money, with the beneficiaries paying only 30% without any down payment, while providing payment facilities extending up to five years, while the total value of the initiative amounts to more than 270 million dirhams.

Daily programme

Al Habtoor said that continuous work represents for him a lifestyle that cannot be abandoned, considering that retirement does not mean rest as much as it means stopping movement and production. He said: “If a person remains able to work, he must continue, because movement is a blessing.”

He explained that a sudden cessation of work causes a person to quickly lose his activity, stressing that a person’s value is linked to his daily giving, regardless of the type of work, even if it is simple.

He continued: “I feel psychologically comfortable as long as I remain active and involved in work, and I adhere to a strict daily routine that begins with sleeping around nine or 9:30 in the evening, and waking up at four in the morning,” in order to be in his office before seven in the morning, while holding his first meeting at 7:30 in the morning, in addition to making sure to exercise daily, in order to maintain activity and continuity.

Al Habtoor believed that continuing to work constitutes an essential part of the lifestyle, rejecting the idea of ​​retirement, as he believes that stopping work makes a person lose his activity and role, saying that retirement for him is similar to death.

Ramadan and thanks for the blessing

Al Habtoor touched on the month of Ramadan as a social and humanitarian occasion, stressing that the value of the Holy Month lies in the coming together and rapprochement of people. He said that the UAE was and still is a blessed land whose people’s customs are based on love and familiarity, where families in the past used to gather with neighbors and friends in a simple, joyful atmosphere.

He added: “In the past, Ramadan tables were modest and often limited to dates, rice, and chicken, but contentment and contentment were strongly present with what was available on the tables.”

He added: “The abundance that society experiences today is a blessing that requires gratitude, but food loses its value if there is no gathering of family and friends, because (Friday) is the true essence of Ramadan.”

Al Habtoor pointed out that what he is most keen on during the holy month is the gathering of his children, grandchildren and family members around him, stressing that the culture of meeting and humility has been rooted in Emirati society since ancient times, and that the people of the country form one family united by the values ​​of respect and cohesion.

Al Habtoor stressed that Ramadan is a month of movement, activity and giving, and not a month of laziness or sleep, stressing the importance of investing in reading the Qur’an, asking for forgiveness and helping others, and receiving and welcoming people, because the spirit of the month is based on good deeds and human communication.

He said: “I pray to God to maintain security and safety in the UAE, and to preserve its leadership, its people, and the residents of its land of various nationalities and religions, and for peace to prevail in the world,” calling for rapprochement between people and a return to authentic social customs based on visiting old and young and communicating in joys and sorrows, because this strengthens societal cohesion and closes the distances between members of society.

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Sheikh Rashid councils

The businessman, Khalaf Al Habtoor, recalled his memories of the gatherings of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, may God rest his soul, indicating that the gatherings in the past were open and frequent, and that he used to see the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum several times a day, when he was the youngest of those present, where young people would sit with the adults and learn wisdom and experience from them.
He said: “(Councils are schools) in which children learn from adults the values ​​of life, work, and responsibility,” expressing his hope that open councils will spread because of their important social and educational role.
He continued: “Previously, during Ramadan, men would gather after Tarawih prayers in gatherings to exchange conversations and strengthen social relations, which is a tradition that reflects the nature of Emirati society based on human closeness and direct communication,” stressing that Ramadan is an annual opportunity to revive these values ​​and enhance the spirit of family, work, and solidarity among people.

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Al Habtoor Group expands into Central Europe

The businessman, founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Al Habtoor Group, Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor, confirmed that the group’s business recorded a strong performance during the past year 2025, compared to the previous year, driven by the accelerating economic momentum witnessed by the Emirate of Dubai, and the competitive business environment and various investment opportunities it provides.
He said that the sustainable growth in the tourism, real estate and hospitality sectors was directly reflected in the group’s results, noting that the strong performance of the local economy contributed to enhancing demand and expanding the scope of operations. He added that the group continues to implement its expansion strategy, with a focus on innovation and improving operational efficiency, in line with Dubai’s economic vision and strengthening its position as a global center for business and investment.
Al Habtoor revealed, during a special meeting with “Emirates Today” in his Ramadan Majlis, that the group will expand its investments in Central Europe, within a long-term vision that aims to build sustainable economic partnerships in promising European markets, pointing out that the next stage will witness a greater presence of the group in this region.
He stated that the new regional office will form a platform for managing the group’s operations in Hungary and surrounding markets, as part of a gradual expansion plan that includes new projects that will be announced successively, stressing that Central Europe represents a new growth phase for the group’s business outside the region.

Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor:

. Investing in Ramadan is in reading the Qur’an, asking for forgiveness, helping others, and receiving and welcoming people.

. I allocated 88 residential apartments for young people about to get married, and I will bear 70% of the value of each apartment from my own money.

. Ramadan tables in the past were modest and often limited to dates and rice, and contentment and contentment were strongly present.

. Khalaf Al Habtoor wakes up at 4 a.m. and begins his first meetings at 7:30 a.m.