PERSONALITY
Traditional meets modern man
I
f true leadership is a faith, dedication and lifestyle, then a man doesn’t need a very high position to become a distinguished leader in his professional team. This theory may be applied very well to Mohammed Rashid bin Serdah, Director of the CEO’s office at RERA. He can be considered as a unique personality in whom traditions meet modernity. The story of Mohammed Rashid takes many different turns beginning with his bedouin lifestyle and the change he added to his life by working at the Land Department and then RERA, as well as his unique outlook on life and its ethics. Mohammed Rashid graduated from Dubai College of Higher Technology with a diploma in Business Administration, however he did not put this degree to use until 2004. Prior to this, Mohammed Rashid remained free from work, spending most of his time in the desert practicing his favourite hobbies of falconry and shooting. He joined the Land Department in 2004 as a secretary for the deputy Director General, then as the secretary for the Director of Technical Affairs. He ended up working in the compensation department. In this team he proved his loyalty, dedication and he gained the trust, as well as appreciation, of his bosses resulting in many offers for him to progress upwards. However, Mohammed Rashid’s passion for working with Eng. Marwan bin Ghalita, RERA CEO, based on the respect and equality with which Eng. Bin Ghalita treats all of his employees, kept him as his office manager despite the fact that this kept him on a lower pay scale. His experience
Mohammed Rashid bin Serdah
with Eng. Bin Ghalita has made his personality richer with knowledge, expertise and refining his people skills. He began working as Director of the CEO’s office in 2008, being extremely busy setting the foundation for RERA, a new establishment that required much attention and care. Then he received the Unknown Soldier Award from the Dubai Government Excellence programme which was predictable considering his valuable contributions to the Land Department. His work as the director of the CEO’s office involves following up with the CEO’s directions and their execution, communicating with other departments, and coordinating between these departments and the CEO’s office. Mohammed adds that working in this position
requires a very trustworthy and reliable individual because you deal with many sensitive and important issues. His belief in RERA’s role in regulating the real estate market, protecting investors’ rights, and his belief in the team’s ability makes him proud to be a part of this agency that works along with other government bodies to improve Dubai and its image. He admits that the government work has changed his vision of Dubai and made him understand what a lot of hard work lies beneath Dubai’s accomplishments. Asking him about his strengths and weaknesses, Mohammed Rashid said he is quick to act and make decisions; and, by asking the people who work with him, we discovered a very high class individual
who has a strong work ethic with a concentration on honesty and trustworthiness for colleagues and friends. The desert takes up much of Mohammed Rashid’s time; he is a good shooter, he hunts with falcons, likes camel races, farming and taking care of camels. As well, Mohammed Rashid loves sailing. He loves to read about history and be religiously educated, spend time with his wife and children who are very understanding of his work schedule and provide him with stability at home. He gives credit of his great personality to his mother and father who raised him in the many beautiful Arabic traditions with the Islamic religion and good ethics too. He considers raising children by being a good example to be the best means of parenthood. He is always a friend to his son and daughter. Mohammed Rashid doesn’t believe in having one idol. He thinks that a man should take the best in everybody and he should become an idol himself, to force his good personality on people and to see God in everything that he does. He who does this does not need to look for an idol in another man. The last word, for his colleagues in RERA, are to cooperate and to complement each other because every member in this family completes the other – and we are all here to serve the community that we are a part of. If we can no longer do this, we should leave our place in this house for one who deserves it. Of course there will be more another day about this amazing man that has a lot of wisdom, is humble and dedicated.
DUBAI REAL TIMES
By Amal Abdul Rahim Al Sahlawi
7