The chairman, who has been instrumental in shaping the region’s real estate landscape, is also a trusted advisor to Dubai’s Ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammed. In a sign that Emaar has balanced its books after Dubai’s real estate crisis, the company announced a 50 per cent rise in Q3 net profit in 2013 and launched a number of new projects including a $3 billion development in Iraqi Kurdistan. Charismatic Alabbar runs 60 global companies beneath the Emaar banner, spanning global real estate, health and services.