This week we’re charging our batteries on a family break in Dubai. The place needs no introduction, in fact it’s famous for Scale:

• It built the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, which can be seen from 95km away.
• One out of every 4 cranes in the world is located in Dubai.
• The Burj Al Arab hotel uses enough gold to cover the Mona Lisa painting 46,265 times.
• Dubai’s artificial Palm Islands use enough sand to fill 2.5 Empire State Buildings.

On top of that, the city has the largest indoor mall in the world, the biggest aquarium, the biggest automated fountain, the longest automated rail network and the largest indoor ski park…

But how did it go from a small desert town to a vibrant city in just 50 years?! 

Well, due to the touristic approach of many Dubaites in the entrepreneurial sector, and the high standard of living, Dubai’s culture has gradually evolved towards one of luxury, opulence and lavishness with a high regard for leisure-related extravagance.

Their mission is to be a pioneering and record-breaking blue-print for the rest of the world to follow.

Over the years they have created systems and processes to ensure they remain cutting edge; the above ground metro station which opened in 2009, consisted of 42 stations, and was built in just 18 months. Yes, they built an entire system is less than two years!

They’re constantly coming up with solutions to solve problems; camel racing is a hugely popular sport but only children can ride due to the size of the camels.  To eliminate illegal child labour, they’re now building robots to ride the camels instead.

Like it, or loathe it, you cannot knock their appetite for scale, and their focus on what they do best – luxury and innovation (remember my blog from a few weeks back on niching and owning your area)? If you’ve not yet looked at this, now would be a good time…

Talking of time, happy hour is beckoning (we’re in a different time zone, that’s my excuse anyway!).

Speak soon.

Martin Norbury

The Scalability Coach | Britain’s Top 10 Adviser 2018 | Author of #1 bestseller I don’t work Fridays  | Ex-CEO of a PLC