Amin Neghabat, 46, is the group chief executive of Bourn Hall International, a group of fertility clinics in the Middle East which claims to be responsible for bringing the IVF concept to the Middle East and North Africa region and India. The American father of two sons, aged 11 and nine, has lived in Dubai for four months.
How did your upbringing shape your attitude towards money?
My family immigrated to the United States from Iran in 1978 and left much of our wealth there. They relied on their education and upbringing, hard work ethic and immigrant mentality. My father always preached the philosophy that in America, whoever works the hardest will earn a good life. I realised a long time ago there is a healthy balance between living a miserly existence and spending foolishly. However, living for today is not always the worst decision, contrary to Warren Buffett’s philosophy.
How much did you get paid for your first job?
It was US$10 an hour to work at a fish market in Los Angeles during my college years. I worked all throughout my graduate school as well. I would work during the day and go to school at night. This taught me the importance of developing a strong work ethic.
Are you a spender or saver?
Being an eternal optimist, I’m definitely a spender and like to grow everything. To balance this, my wife is the accountant and the family CFO.
What is your most cherished purchase?
In 2007, my wife and I bought a beautiful summer cabin on the water in the San Juan Islands in the US. We take our kids there during our vacations and it’s our happy place. At that time I believe it was $1.2 million.
Where do you save?
We invest in properties, homes and land. We own a home on Bainbridge Island, Washington, a suburb of Seattle where my boys and wife live. We own rental properties in Washington State and own land in southern California. Recently, we started looking at investing in apartments in the UAE, specifically in Dubai, where I currently work and live.
Do you prefer paying by credit card or in cash?
I believe cash is king. Having cash in hand is always the highest position of strength.
What has been your best investment?
When my wife and I went through IVF treatment in the US, we knew it would be an additional financial strain. We found out about a programme called “Shared Risk” that offered us three fresh cycles of IVF for a discounted rate, and the best part was if we did not take home a baby by the third cycle, we would get all our money back. We luckily had our baby boy after the first try. I was so impressed we launched the programme in the Middle East at Bourn Hall Fertility Clinic in Dubai.
What do you most regret spending money?
I bought a convertible, silver Mercedes Benz 500SL a few years ago. What can I say? Midlife crisis.
Do you have a plan for the future?
Build successful companies, and spend quality time with the people you love. We plan to open additional fertility centres in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi, expand our current footprint in Dubai and New Delhi and look for strategic partnerships in South-East Asia.
What would you raid your savings account for?
A seven-day round trip ticket to the Maldives for my wife and I for our upcoming 20-year wedding anniversary. She more than deserves it.
mkassem@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @TheNationalPF
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
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What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Scoreline
Germany 2
Werner 9', Sane 19'
Netherlands 2
Promes 85', Van Dijk 90'
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
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