The Operator's Playbook

16 Years. 42 Companies. 11 Sectors.

Frameworks, techniques, and lessons learned from building and scaling businesses across the UAE. No theory — just what actually works.

By Prateek Saxena · Group General Manager, Al Zaabi Group

Operations 6 min read
The Multi-Sector Operating System
How to manage 42 companies across 11 sectors without micromanaging — the actual rhythm, dashboards, and decision hierarchy.
Read → 01
Growth 6 min read
The 10-Year Partnership Model
What makes a principal relationship last a decade. Lessons from Saint-Gobain, Bosch, Henkel, and CEAT.
Read → 02
Leadership 5 min read
From Engineer to Operator
How Purdue, Bose, and John Deere built the foundation for managing a multi-billion dirham group.
Coming Soon 03
Operations 6 min read
Lean in the Gulf
Applying Six Sigma and industrial engineering to UAE distribution. What transferred from American factories — and what didn't.
Read → 04
Growth 5 min read
NH47: Zero to 2,500 Reviews
The playbook for launching Abu Dhabi's largest premium dining destination. Site selection, team, positioning, and early mistakes.
Coming Soon 05
Digital 5 min read
AI in a Family Business
From INSEAD's AI certification to Fepy PRO. Where artificial intelligence works in traditional businesses — and where it fails.
Coming Soon 06
Leadership 5 min read
Building Teams That Outlast You
SOPs, delegation, and trust frameworks. How to make a business unit self-sufficient.
Coming Soon 07
UAE Market 5 min read
The UAE Distribution Landscape
How distribution actually works here. Exclusive vs multi-brand, credit culture, contractor relationships, and what newcomers get wrong.
Coming Soon 08
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Have a question about any of these frameworks?

If you're building a business in the UAE or navigating a challenge I've written about, I'm open to the conversation.

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