Power Letters 2023: Easa Al Gurg, group CEO, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group

The year 2022 was a challenging but productive one for Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group. In the competitive race of the ‘new normal’, prioritising advanced technology, digital transformation, innovation, cybersecurity, data-protection and regulatory compliance was essential.

Hence, we adopted and adapted to new technologies. The pandemic wasn’t the only challenge we faced in the recent past. We have seen an economic slowdown because of market fluctuations caused by crashes in
stock markets. There have been a few other global circumstances that stunted business growth sporadically.

However, the UAE has always triumphed in addressing challenges and accepting changes to better its economy, helping businesses flourish. One such change the UAE introduced last year was the new visa regulation, which will help bring in an influx of people into the country and benefit its GDP.

That said, the UAE is not disconnected from global issues – these impact the smallest of businesses, which then have a ripple effect on medium and large-sized companies. Everyone must plan and prepare.

Despite challenges, we have seen a lot of positive changes in 2022 and we expect the results will be felt most keenly in 2023. We have set up two new businesses in the last quarter of 2022: Al Gurg Joinery (AGJ) and Al Gurg Distribution (AGD).

To increase efficiency, we also plan to have more consolidated operations. We will be investing in five, new large-scale real estate projects for the group to further strengthen our business.

Additionally, we are going into 2023 with a solid start through healthy order bookings and are expected to perform even better this year.

Global e-commerce share of retail sales is set to continue to grow and reach 24 per cent by 2026 which is a 5.2 per cent increase in just over half a decade. With 2022 heralding new technology and customer behaviour trends, the concerted push within the group is to utilise e-commerce platforms as effective tools to drive customers to our products and industry solutions.

ESAG2025 is the road map for the group’s future, focusing on diversity and intrapreneurship. We would like to empower one another to accept no limits, think alternatively and drive positive change.

The recently announced ‘We the UAE 2031’ is an integrated programme shaping the future of the country within the next 10 years with a focus on social, economic, investment and development aspects. The plan, which includes goals for economy, society, diplomacy and life in the UAE, is looking to raise GDP to $816bn and increase foreign trade to $1.09tn by 2031.

As effective partners and contributors to the nation’s economy, our future path will support this GDP growth. The common purpose is to create a flourishing local business environment, enabling UAE companies to excel and lead worldwide.