Dubai, UAE: Esam Al Obthani, the first student to enrol at the Canadian University of Dubai in 2006, has an impressive portfolio of restaurants despite graduating just last year
The first student to enrol at the Canadian University of Dubai wasted no time in making his mark on the business world – he bought the campus canteen after just a year.
Esam Omar Al Obthani, 32, began studying marketing at the university when it first opened in 2006. Back then he was one of just 18 students at the university.
“It has certainly grown since that time,” said Esam, who graduated last year. “In the second year there were around 400 students – that was when I bought the school canteen.”
Encouraged by his father and Professor Karim Chelli, President and Vice Chancellor at the Canadian University of Dubai , the young Emirati entrepreneur was proactive in fulfilling his business dreams.
“My father, and also Dr Karim, pushed me and gave me the power to get things done,” he said. “I approached Dr Karim and asked him if I could buy the campus canteen. I could see it had potential and knew that I could run it well.”
Esam, who is considering returning to the university for the next academic year to study a master’s, was also working for his father and soon found himself juggling three roles – student, employee and business owner.
His day would start at 6am, when he would bring in stock that he had bought for the canteen and set-up the business for the day. At 9am, with the canteen open, he would head to work for his father. After lunch he would return to the university for classes, which would run until 7pm or 8pm.
“Was it tough? Yes, but I am young and I knew that it would be difficult initially,” he said. “I was working towards a better future.”
Today, Esam still runs the university canteen and is planning to relocate it, within the campus grounds, in order to gain extra cooking and food preparation space.
Last year he has also opened Al Mallas restaurant, which serves Emirati dishes, and Falla juice bar – both are on Jumeirah Beach Road. Esam operates another restaurant at Al Jazeera University and this year plans to open two more restaurants – one in Dubai’s Business Bay and another in Abu Dhabi.
“I started with three staff and now I have 25,” he said.
Esam credits his time at the Canadian University of Dubai with building his confidence in the business world.
“When I started at the Canadian University of Dubai I had a limited eye for the future, but studying there has opened my eyes to the possibilities,” he said.
“Not only did the university educate me but the staff also supported me. They took a chance on me. If they hadn’t done that I wouldn’t be as driven as I am today.”
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ABOUT THE CANADIAN UNIVERSITY OF DUBAI:
The Canadian University of Dubai (CUD), an initiative of Emirates Investment and Development PSC, offers programs ranging from Bachelor & Master degree programs, professional certificates, corporate training, etc. from its campus. From September 2012, it will offer a newly accredited Arabic programme in English Language and Translation. CUD is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and has affiliations with reputed and well known international universities and institutions from Canada, France, Ireland and USA. CUD provides education services at the Tertiary Level, providing a gateway for students to pursue Higher Education in Canada by providing high quality education in the UAE. CUD attracts students from across the globe with over 86 different nationalities currently pursuing degrees in various disciplines.
ABOUT THE 2012 GRADUATION CEREMONY:
At the Dubai World Trade Centre on June 7, 2012, the Canadian University of Dubai will award degrees to some 400 students. The moment marks a seminal moment in the six-year-old university’s short history as it sees the first group of students from its architecture and interior design and environment and health sciences schools graduate. At the university’s inaugural graduation ceremony in 2011, 200 students graduated from the schools of engineering, applied sciences and technology, business administration and MBA.
For further information please contact the Seven Media team:
Yazan Neme
00971 50 978 6513
yazanneme@sevenmedia.ae
Leah Oatway
00971 50 325 9521
leahoatway@sevenmedia.ae
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