Lead by example: organisational culture at DAMAC Properties

A strong organisational culture is a common denominator among the world’s most successful companies. Here’s how we work to maintain a healthy, motivated and creative working environment at DAMAC Properties .

The world of business is fast-moving and unforgiving, so it’s difficult to overstate the importance of a strong organisational culture. Whether you’re weathering a storm or taking advantage of smooth waters, culture shapes your company’s identity, affects employee behaviour and determines your route to (and level of) success.?

While I appreciate it’s impossible to condense every element of what makes a strong organisational culture into a single LinkedIn article, I’d like to offer a glimpse of how we work to build, maintain and strengthen workplace morale at DAMAC Properties…

Communicating without barriers?

As Managing Director of Operations, I am responsible for a range of critical business activities, including CRM development, handovers and collections, digital marketing and communication, information technology and hospitality. I’ve also played a key role in shaping our DAMAC Properties’ technology strategy and digital transformation.?

Due to the breadth of my role’s scope, I rely on the departments reporting to me (and they on me) to interact effectively. There is no room for hierarchical barriers when it comes to communication. My father and Chairman of DAMAC Properties, Hussain Sajwani , taught me this lesson at an early age. It doesn’t matter whether you are speaking to a senior leader with decades of service or an intern in their very first week; everyone’s input is valuable. All employees should be empowered to speak their minds and feel as though their views are taken seriously.?

What does this look like on a day-to-day basis at DAMAC Properties? Well, we have implemented a range of mechanisms to facilitate effective communications across all levels of our organisation. From regular town hall meetings to impromptu gatherings where employees can talk to me and ask questions in a relaxed environment, I seize every possible opportunity to listen to colleagues – both junior and senior – and consider what they have to say.?

Sharing our values and building trust?

Any organisation's culture starts with a set of shared beliefs and values, which are established by its leaders and then communicated and reinforced among team members. DAMAC Properties’ vision has always been to deliver unique and quality luxury products while continuing to disrupt markets with tech-driven innovation. Our employees appreciate this, and they are just as keen as I am to stay ahead of the curve. Put simply, we strive to work alongside people who share our passion for excellence.?

My siblings and I have always been encouraged to stay abreast of the intricacies across every aspect of our family business, and each of us took this lesson to heart. There is no detail too small to command our attention. At the same time, I believe that my role as a leader is not to micromanage but to trust in my teams by listening, advising and delegating accordingly.?

When colleagues at all levels of an organisation have trust in one another, there is no limit to what can be achieved.?

Creating change?

The markets in which DAMAC Properties operates are dynamic, meaning that constant innovation and adaptability are absolute necessities. It’s for this reason that we have cultivated an organisational culture that promotes creativity and adopts a proactive approach to change. Whether developing exciting digital assets for use in the metaverse or harnessing technologies such as virtual reality (VR) for remote property viewings, we are continuously looking for ways to stay ahead of the curve.?

A business that can create an environment in which its employees feel passionate about a shared vision, are able to communicate openly, and are free to pursue novel ideas is likely to thrive over the longer term. A strong organisational culture can be instrumental in enhancing performance, driving growth and securing market share.?

These elements have certainly represented defining threads in DAMAC Properties’ track record of delivery, and we will never underestimate the importance of organisational culture in our future success.?