CEO Insights Magazine

Demographic shifts and lifestyle changes are creating new global opportunities in the gardening and landscaping industry, today. Most importantly, the demand originates from the high income demography in the urban areas with a higher millennial population, which generates a healthy portion of the market revenue. Abdullah Bani Hani, Chief Executive Officer of Horti Group, is an industry veteran with an experience of over 26 years, is leading the top landscaping company in the Middle East. Created in 2004, Horti Group is a landscaping company that provides a full range of services to commercial and residential clients all over the Middle East and Gulf region.

Abdullah Bani Hani has built a solid reputation in the Middle East, successfully managing small and largescale landscape and contracting companies. CEO Insights Asia Magazine engages in an exclusive interaction with Abdullah Bani Hani. Let’s hear from him.

How would you define Horti Group as an organization and its current position in the market? The landscape company, Horti Group, provides a full range of landscaping services to commercial and residential clients throughout the Middle East and Gulf region. Since 2004, for over 19 years, Horti Groups' devoted conviction to transforming land into art has enriched the essence of nature, which entitled Horti Group to be a leading company within the Kingdom of Bahrain. The company's creative team of professionals have unlatched the firm's gate of success by working on various scaled projects encompassing all landscape services from design and consultancy to maintenance, irrigation works, and construction.

What are the major projects that you have undertaken till now? How did you overcome the challenges associated with them, and what did you learn from them? The major projects in my professional career were the completion of Diyar AI-Muhraq Park, a large public park on a large island named Diyar AI-Muhraq in the Kingdom of Bahrain's northern region. The next major project we executed in Bahrain was a one of  a-kind shipping container house. Furthermore, we created the hardscape and softscape work for the NBR building's boulevard. Another project we worked on was the Dar AI Salam project, which involved building structures on the  seashore. Horti group has designed and executed over 100 beach houses within the significant development of Durrat Al Bahrain Island. Our quick recovery from challenges and adaptability, which we have, help us be ready to accept and respond to any change. The lessons learned were resilience and adaptability.

Tell us about your leadership approach. What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow as a leader? What is the motivation that fuels your daily routines? I believe in the value of influence with the ability to encourage, motivate, and guide others to think and act in a specific way. Following the vision by having a clear understanding of goals and objectives and having a clear plan to communicate effectively with the team is essential. Honesty and transparency are valued while building trust and respect, accompanied by a passion for the work.

Regarding my motivation, passion is one of the driving forces that drives me to continue working to achieve our goal even when we face a challenge or unexpected conditions.

Going forward, what are the changes in market behavior that you anticipate and what are the opportunities you foresee? Changes in technology and consumer preferences will reshape the construction and landscape industry. Any construction or landscape contracting company that wants to compete and remain viable in the future will have to not only embrace technology but completely adjust the culture of their companies to include innovation and continuous education. The organization must be active and rapidly respond to change through assets and investments. Creating a corporate mindset that is aware of and open to technological change isn’t easy, but it is necessary. These industry-wide changes are needed because consumer preferences have changed. Disruption will push many companies out of their comfort zone, but ultimately those that adapt will play a role in reshaping the new construction industry rather than getting phased out.

In light of your strong experience within the industry, what advice would you give to budding industry leaders? Adopt policies that ensure the consistent delivery of highquality work and accuracy through efficient services and practical principles that lead the aspirations to achieve the maximum and provide solutions in all circumstances. The landscape designs and construction should be exerted with the latest technologies and adhere to the most advanced standards that act in accordance with the clients' and regulatory authorities' technical and safety specifications.

Abdullah Bani Hani, Cheif Executive Officer, Horti Group Abdullah Bani-Hani holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering and Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture from Jordn University of Science and Technology in 1993. He has 29 years of experience managing overall landscape projects from development to delivery, encompassing planning, monitoring, and controlling phases of the project life cycle, inter-discipline, coordination, administration and resource planning.

Hobbies: Walking, Watching Movies, Reading, Football, Horse riding Favorite cuisine: Mansaf, Grilled Fish Favorite Book: Wonder by R.J Palacio Favorite travel Destination: Spain and Italy Award and Recognition: Top 10 CEOs in Bahrain – 2022 (CEO Insights Magazine), the expert certificates agriculture engineer association, and many certificates of honor and awards from several countries.