Company Profile:
Hourani group has established their first company in 1979; afterwards, it expanded into more than 8 companies which currently employs more than 3000 people.
Hourani group diversified their activities into different categories which includes:
- Educational (Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Al-Jam’ia Schools, Al-Anduls College)
- Hotels & Tourism (Holiday Inn-Amman 5 Stars, Arena Space 4 Stars, Hotel Arena 3 Stars)
- Dairy (Danish Jordanian Dairy Co., Jordan Dairy Company Ltd.); The former two companies have established their own dairy farms with the total amount of (5000) cows
- Fast food restaurant (java u Café (3 branches) an international Canadian chain, master franchise for the (MENA) and turkey
Foreign investments:
Ahmad Hourani owns and manages several 4 and 5 Star hotels in Bulgaria located in different regions:
Spa Grand Abeer Hotel (Velingrad); Smolian Hotel (Town Of Smolian); Atlantic Hotel (Varna)
How did you start your business?
I started working in 1979 by establishing the company (Institution of Financial and Banking Sciences College) with the starting capital of 27,000 Jordanian dinars. Afterwards; we borrowed 100,000 JD’s and established Al-Andalus College.
When you first started your business, were you expecting that it would become not only your full-time occupation, but also a growing company?
Initially, I established The United Jordanian Company for Investment Projects Ltd. The purpose of this company was to purchase the land for housing and building. The company achieved tremendous amount of success in this field.
Soon after, I bought the university schools group with it’s three branches (The first, Second, and third), and I realized that the company’s development should be extended. I was privileged to establish the first Ahliyya University in Jordan and in the Arab world.
What is the most rewarding thing you have accomplished and why do you cite it above all your other accomplishments?
I consider that each project has it’s distinguishable characteristics. However, the most apparent one, as I mentioned earlier, was obtaining the privilege to establish the first Ahliyya Amman University in Jordan. The timing of this step was appropriate due to the increased need to set up a scientific edifice for the growing numbers of student seeking and wishing to study abroad. Furthermore, I set up the student transfer program. By doing so, the foreign currency can play a role in contributing to support the national economy.
There were also other important projects:
- Purchasing most of the stocks of the Jordanian Dairy Company from the Danish; a company for producing yoghurt and it’s derivations. Soon after, it was reformed to generate strongly.
- Establishing Al-Sharq Company for investment projects, it owns Holliday Inn in Amman.
- Instituting the Arena Space Company for Tourism and Hotel Investments; Arena Space has 3 and 4 Star hotels.
- Owning and managing three hotels in Bulgaria (Velngrad, Smolian, and Varna). Those hotels range between 4 to 5 Star categories.
- Founding Al-Hasriya Food Company for fast food franchises which operates for its’ restaurant and java u Café in Jordan.
What were your biggest challenges you faced as an entrepreneur and how did you overcome them?
There were numerous challenges; but the most demanding was practicing the work at the local and international stock markets. This field deals with purchasing and selling stocks, bonds and currencies in order to invest. Hence it needs more experiences and caution.
What do you think it takes to be successful in the industry your company competes in?
Maintaining success continually depends on many things. The most important factor, in my opinion, is continuously supervising my companies’ activities, the financial and managerial affairs. Moreover, I should carefully select each company’s director because it is considered to be one of the most imperative elements that contribute to each company’s success.
In addition, I should be careful not to expand the work to a level that exceeds my financial and managerial abilities. Consequently, daily follow-ups with the bank accounts regarding all the work is mandatory. Lastly, I monitor the abovementioned in a way that guarantees that the work will be accomplished and under control.
What advice would you give to those contemplating their own business?
I advice them to concentrate their energies on the work they want to achieve, to finish it as soon as possible with the best condition and specifications, and to try to expand into different ventures. If the chosen work was realistic and needed in the society, the chances of success will be guaranteed. Pursuing and following illusions will only cultivate the loss; on the other hand, hard working and being faithful to your work will help you prosper.
“The winner horse is the one who does not look at others, but pays attention to the goal he wants to reach.”
What is the question I did not ask, but should have?
I think we briefly tackled all the aspects, I hope that our dialogue will be useful for some people.
With knowledge, humans can choose to learn from their own mistakes if he/she deals with the consequences by either correcting or avoiding the mistakes.
Finally, I wish success to your magazine and readers. Good luck.
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