Khalid Mohammed Abdulrahim
MSc Construction Management
Founder and chairman of the KAR Group
With a string of inspiring projects under his belt, it is the £100million construction of the Bahrain Formula 1 circuit in 2004 that Khalid counts as his most impressive.
Talking us through the formation lap of his career, he said: “The project was 10 times larger than anything I had done before. In fact, people said it was too big for me to take on, that I would fail. I took this as a challenge. I find nothing more motivating.”
Leaving your comfort zone to achieving the unexpected
Despite the complexity of the project, Khalid decided simultaneously to study a Masters in Construction Management at GCU, to help him better understand the theory behind the process he knew well.
The project was the brainchild of the Crown Prince of Bahrain, who had sought advice from another GCU honorary graduate, Sir Jackie Stewart, on how to promote the circuit.
Khalid said: “The brief stated the project had to be completed by May 2004.
“It had to be ready for the first race of the season. The penalty for being late was £30million. So when F1 suddenly told me they now wanted the circuit ready for April instead of May, I was faced with a crisis.”
Recollecting, he said: “His Highness asked me outright, ‘can it be achieved, yes or no?’”
Late nights of scheduling, planning and productivity followed, all of the things Khalid had learned while studying his Masters. Applying his learned theory, he was able to go back to the Crown Prince to deliver a confident ‘yes’. Needless to say, he went on to deliver and it is a success he credits to GCU.
As a token of gratitude, Khalid has been a generous contributor to the University for the past decade or so. His donations have helped fund prizes, study trips and even an Arabic language and culture course for students planning to study in Dubai.
A friend of mine told me it was the place to go. Thank god I listened to him. My education at GCU allowed me to take that calculated risk with the F1 circuit. It gave me the confidence to commit because I had considered all eventualities in a structured and methodical way. I am beholden to GCU for all it has taught me.