Emaar Properties has a backlog worth around AED 180 billion, founder and managing director Mohamed Alabbar said, adding that the company collected 98 percent of amounts due last year after a temporary dip during the period of regional tensions.

Emaar typically sells about 4,000 units a month, Alabbar said. Booking cancellations, which stood at roughly 600 units a month before the crisis in the region, doubled to 1,200 during it before falling back below 600 once tensions eased. He described the return to normal cancellation levels as a sign of buyer confidence in the strength of the UAE market.

Alabbar was speaking at a session titled "The CEO's Guide: Leading Through Permanent Transformation" at the ninth edition of the Sharjah Investment Forum 2026, attended by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq).

Citing data from e-commerce platform Noon, he said consumer indicators remain positive, while activity in the hospitality sector is more than 60 percent above its previous levels.

He urged companies to maintain financial discipline and build cash reserves during periods of growth, noting that his businesses work with five-year financial forecasts and revise their plans every three months.

Alabbar also warned that companies slow to integrate artificial intelligence into their operations could face competitive pressure within 12 months, and encouraged business leaders to learn AI tools, particularly prompt engineering.

He reaffirmed his refusal to offer discounts that could undermine the trust of customers who bought at original prices, and revealed that 10 percent of profits are allocated to senior staff.