‘They Pick Up Calls At 1 AM’: Burj Khalifa Builder Says Indians Work Harder Than Anyone Else

In a world where talent is often glorified, Mohamed Alabbar’s remarks offer a sharp reminder that discipline and persistence may matter far more than raw ability.

Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Emaar Properties and the developer behind the Burj Khalifa, has praised Indian professionals for what he described as the strongest work ethic in the world.

Speaking at the Make It in the Emirates summit, Alabbar said his preference for hiring Indian talent stems from their consistency, dedication, and willingness to go the extra mile.

He pointed out that many Indian employees remain accessible even at unconventional hours, reflecting a deep sense of responsibility toward their work.

According to him, success in business is less about intelligence and more about sustained effort and attention to detail. “I always tell people, from my own perspective, my IQ is average, but my hard work is the best,” he said, according to Gulf News. “I believe in hard work.”

Why does Mohamed Alabbar believe hard work beats talent when hiring Indian professionals?

“The harder you work, the luckier you will get," Alabbar noted, citing a famous adage.

He emphasised that hard work goes beyond putting in long hours. It involves carefully evaluating opportunities, taking calculated risks, building the right teams, and ensuring disciplined execution.

Reinforcing his views, Alabbar said, “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard, and this is why I like to hire Indians—because they answer the phone even at one o’clock in the morning," as quoted by Gulf News.

According to Alabbar, Indian professionals are "highly committed and dependable," and their willingness to arrive prepared at whatever time of day bolsters his faith in their capacity to oversee his international endeavours.

He attributed Emaar's success, from the world’s tallest skyscraper to the Dubai Mall, to a culture of perseverance, adding that companies navigating uncertain environments must remain vigilant, continuously reassess risks, and push teams to deliver consistently.

Reflecting on past disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 financial crisis, Alabbar said businesses must build resilience before crises emerge.

“There was a hard lesson for everyone. We had some hard lessons during the COVID pandemic as well as other crises. When you learn from 2008 and from COVID, you have to build an agile and resilient business that can handle these circumstances," he explained.

Drawing from these experiences, he said Emaar took early steps during recent crises to safeguard its workforce, including assuring employees of job security and stable salaries, decisions shaped by lessons learned during previous downturns.