Abdin Nasralla. Abdin Nasralla.

Abdin Nasralla
General Manager
Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa

A 35-year career in the hospitality industry has involved Abdin Nasralla contributing significantly to the growth in the tourism industry of Dubai and resulted in him being one of the few residents in the UAE to be honoured with UAE citizenship by the Dubai Government.

Having started his career as a chef with Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, Nasralla is “a walking encyclopedia in the world of food and beverage”. After a long association with Jebel Ali Resort & Spa, he moved on from the role of resident manager in 1999 to take a similar role at the Oberoi — Mena House in Cairo.

The departure was short, however, as Nasralla returned to Dubai in 2000 to join Jumeriah Group, where he set up Jumeirah
Hospitality and then became general manager for the World Trade Centre Hotel, Dubai before launching Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa in 2004.

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 According to those that nominated him for the General Manager of the Year Award, Nasralla has a paternal approach to his team and an openness to receiving feedback, with the specially created General Manager’s Majlis designed to facilitate frequent meetings with staff.

He is universally characterised by his friends, colleagues, and clients as one of the most insightful, passionate, and compassionate individuals in the hospitality business in this region.

Nasralla’s understanding of what it takes to succeed in the Middle East, a deep understanding of the culture, ethics, laws and history of the region, mastery of the language, a long association with the ministries, government bodies, celebrities and decision makers build his credibility as hotelier to be reckoned with, and as a result he gained a place on the Hotelier Middle East Power 50 earlier his year.