Saad Alkaabi

Saad Essa Saad AlManea Alkaabi is a Qatari human-resources and banking professional. He holds a diploma and a master’s degree in banking and finance from the Arab Academy for Banking and Financial Sciences in Jordan, completing the latter with distinction.

Difficult circumstances taught the children contentment, understanding, personal responsibility and self-reliance from an early age.

Hardship did not prevent a happy childhood. The family found pleasure even in difficult moments: during power cuts, for example, they gathered late into the evening by the light of a car’s headlamps.

Strength and balance became visible as his character developed. He combined schoolwork with daily training at Al Shamal Sports Club. Hunting with his father and uncles was another important interest; their expeditions and conversations taught alertness, patience and judgement.

At the beginning of the 1980s, when he was five and ready to start school, the region opened its first integrated primary school. As part of the first intake at Al Kaaban Primary School for Boys, he remembers the new desks, spacious courtyard and brightly coloured walls with particular excitement.

Preparatory and secondary education were more demanding because Al Kaaban had no suitable school. He travelled to Al Khor in a crowded vehicle carrying at least ten pupils. An unfinished road, changing heat and weather and the lack of air conditioning made the daily journey difficult.

Immediately after secondary school in 1995, he entered Qatar University to study science and biology, the specialism then available to him. At the same time, he began working for Qatar National Bank. Evening lectures allowed him to serve a morning shift at the bank, but combining the two required considerable effort and sacrifice.

English remained an obstacle in a workplace involving colleagues and clients of many nationalities. His British manager supported further study. In 2007, Saad arranged a language course in Britain within ten days, but officials at the airport found that he held a business rather than student visa. He spent twenty-four hours in detention alongside people he found intimidating before being returned to Qatar. Two days later, he travelled again with the correct arrangements and completed the course. It did not give him complete fluency, but it substantially improved his ability.

Success in the diploma encouraged him to pursue a master’s degree in the same field in Jordan. When financial difficulty arose, his father sold a substantial part of his flock to provide the necessary support.

The master’s degree and language training transformed his professional opportunities. Qatar National Bank nominated him to lead human resources even though his previous experience had centred on customers. To prepare, he joined a six-month intensive human-resources programme at the Qatar Finance and Business Academy, affiliated with the Qatar Investment Authority. After the local stage, the programme placed him with a leading bank in Scotland.

Language again demanded deliberate effort. He kept a notebook of unfamiliar banking and human-resources terms, recording each in English and Arabic with the help of a bank translator, then studying them independently until they became familiar.

Friends and relatives encouraged him to stand for the Shura Council because they recognised his enthusiasm, professional competence and desire to contribute. The campaign became a valuable civic experience and reinforced his commitment to Qatar and its citizens.

A childhood passion for falconry also developed into recognised expertise. He raised falcons, entered beauty competitions and achieved leading positions in Qatar and abroad.