DUBAI, UAE, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, August 28, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — A new book is soon to be published that looks closely at how family-owned businesses in the Middle East work and how they can prepare for the future. Written by Alexander Campbell and Dr. John Mathew, the book brings together many years of direct experience working with family firms in the region. It explains in simple and practical ways how companies can manage people, strengthen governance, and develop leaders while respecting family traditions.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
Family-owned firms are at the heart of the Middle East economy. They have grown across generations, created opportunities, and played a central role in national development. But today, these firms are facing new challenges. Nationalisation policies, generational transitions, and the fast rise of artificial intelligence are changing the way businesses need to operate.
The book shows that for family firms to remain strong, they must invest in how they manage their people, how they define family and corporate roles, and how they prepare the next generation for leadership. Without these steps, many will struggle to stay competitive in a rapidly changing world.
๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค
The book is structured as a practical guide. Some of its main themes include:
โข ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ: Why people are the real advantage in business, and how to hire, develop, and keep the right talent.
โข ๐
๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐: How to set clear structures, define roles, and make decisions fairly between family and non-family members.
โข ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: How new leaders can balance respect for tradition with the need to innovate and embrace technology.
The authors also cover important areas such as succession planning, nationalisation policies, compensation systems, and performance management. Each subject is explained with regional examples and tools that can be applied directly to real family firms.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค
The book is mainly written for owners and leaders of family firms across the GCC and the wider Middle East. It is also useful for senior managers, advisors, and HR professionals working with these businesses. Policymakers, consultants, and universities may also find the book relevant, as it provides a clear picture of how family firms can succeed in both local and global markets.
๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ
๐๐ฅ๐๐ฑ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ has served as a senior HR leader across Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. He was the first Group Director of HR at Al-Futtaim in Dubai and has since worked with several other large family-owned firms in the region. His career has focused on building modern HR systems while keeping family values intact.
๐๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฐ has more than 17 years of experience in HR roles across different family-owned businesses, primarily in the Gulf. He currently leads People and Culture at Ebrahim K. Kanoo in Bahrain. His background combines academic research with hands-on leadership in talent management, succession planning, and HR technology.
Together, the authors bring both regional knowledge and international expertise. Their combined goal is to provide a guide that is practical, respectful of tradition, and useful for leaders working in real business conditions.
๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ
The book has already received praise from global HR leaders. Dave Ulrich, Marc Effron, Doris Sims, and Reg Athwal are among those who have endorsed the work, noting its balance of global best practice with a deep understanding of Middle Eastern culture. These voices highlight how the book connects modern HR with the realities of family enterprises in the region.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ
This book stands out because it focuses only on Middle Eastern family-owned firms. It does not remain in theory but instead offers lived examples, models, and tools that leaders can use immediately. It also makes a strong case that family businesses can succeed only if they adapt modern management practices while still holding on to their unique cultural strengths.
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The book is planned for release soon. It will be introduced across regional book fairs, HR summits, universities, and family business forums. Interviews with the authors and launch events are also being prepared to encourage open discussion on how family firms can secure their future.
Bracken Joseph
Gulf Publisher
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