“When Henry Ford made cheap, reliable cars, people said: 'What’s wrong with a horse?’ That was a huge bet he made and it worked.”
So said Elon Musk, the billionaire businessman and innovator, in an interview in 2003. Its implication was clear: that Mr Musk sees himself among the great cohort of inventors, from Thomas Edison to Leonardo da Vinci, whose creations altered the course of history.
It is that perceived arrogance that has fuelled Mr Musk’s many detractors. The scattergun approach that underpins his genius – Mr Musk is working simultaneously on electric cars, the hyperloop and space exploration – is perhaps most maddening for his shareholders, who are right to demand some say in the direction of the companies into which they have deposited their money.
But revelations this week that Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund could help fund a deal to take Tesla private – with the involvement of Goldman Sachs and others – could lend him legitimacy on international markets. It is unclear how history will remember Mr Musk but should mass uptake in electric cars arise, we will most likely have him to thank.
But it is Mr Musk's spirit that sets him apart. His is a style not unfamiliar to residents of the UAE, where bold, aspirational projects – from the Burj Khalifa to the Emirates Mars Mission – are the norm. Mr Musk plans to reduce travel time from New York City to Washington DC to 29 minutes and make man a multi-planetary species by colonising Mars. On both, he can already point to discernible technical progress.
In the UAE and elsewhere, his Tesla vehicles are already a familiar sight. But he is not a pioneer without principles: last year he called for a ban on the use of autonomous weapons in war.
In the coming years, Mr Musk's projects will require billions in funding. Securing it will require him to improve the way he deals with investors.
Meanwhile his detractors will need to recognise that greatness cannot be realised without occasional failure – and that it takes a healthy dose of audacity and ambition to change the world for the better.
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
Ibrahim's play list
Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute
Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc
Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar
His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach
Also enjoys listening to Mozart
Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz
Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica
Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support