Our Culture
Our Values & The Jameel Principles
Throughout our evolution as a business, our core values have remained unchanged from those embodied and personified by our late Founder, Abdul Latif Jameel.
Today, enshrined in what we call The Jameel Principles, they form the very basis of commercial enterprise. They underpin who Abdul Latif Jameel is as a network of businesses and serve as a compass for the relationships and interactions with clients, customers, and business partners, and among Associates and the communities in which we operate.
Guiding principles for greater success
The Jameel Principles are based on four core values and are the fundamental building blocks of our corporate culture.
Taking shape under his leadership, and championed by our Chairman, Mohammed Jameel, KBE, they are manifested by successive generations of the Jameel family and in the priorities of our business and our people every day.
Our values guide the way we work with our business partners, within our communities, and with each other. Through Respect, Innovation, a Pioneering Spirit, and Empowerment, we are proud of our culture which sees ideas blossom, people thrive and success flourish.
Today, we’re building inclusive respectful workplaces grounded in transparency, openness and accessibility. That’s why our network of businesses has Associates from over 85 nationalities across more than 35 countries worldwide.
Note: While certain strategic priorities may be aligned across the Abdul Latif Jameel network, through board-level oversight, day-to-day management, operational controls and business decision-making are undertaken by the management team of the relevant businesses within the network in their respective jurisdictions.
“Success is the true gain, and profit is not everything.”
“Energy, honesty, and integrity are among the elements of success.”
Abdullatif Jameel (1912-1993)
Respect
Respect is one of our most substantial values and has deep roots within Abdul Latif Jameel. We pride ourselves on being a responsible business and conducting commercial operations with integrity and honesty.
This approach manifests itself in respect for Associates, customers, business partners, and the societies in which we operate. We interact with utmost sincerity, fairness, and equality; regardless of gender, ethnicities, backgrounds, or religions.
- Abdul Latif Jameel respects Associates’ desire for growth and development, to become better professionals and pursue a better life. As a result, both strive to create a reciprocal relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and a shared responsibility.
- Of course, we appreciate that our customers will always have numerous choices. And so, we work hard to earn their trust and loyalty. We always endeavor to stand in our customers’ shoes, and continuously work to improve, to anticipate, and to exceed their expectations.
- We deal with our business partners with honor, integrity, fairness, and transparency, working to find mutual ground to guarantee success for both parties.
- We understand that businesses have a vital role to play in supporting communities, providing opportunities, and enabling local economic growth.
“I witnessed the people who walked a straight path, and the ones who were manipulative.
The latter ones went up so high then fell down to the bottom; but the ones who chose to walk a straight path went up on a solid base.”
Abdullatif Jameel (1912–1993)
Improve
We are dedicated to continuous improvement and to consistently challenging ourselves to be better . . . not just today, but every day.
The Abdul Latif Jameel network of businesses is precise with our actions and passionate about the details that truly make the difference.
With this at the core of our businesses, we place a strong focus on continuously improving our products and services – embodied in the adoption of the Japanese philosophy of ‘Kaizen’ – to deliver an exceptional experience for everyone we do business with.
“Life without problems is meaningless. One should overcome problems with patience.”
“I lived by the saying: To be successful, you must do what you love and love what you do.”
Abdullatif Jameel (1912–1993)
Pioneer
At Abdul Latif Jameel, we see challenge as opportunity – always looking for new ideas, and innovating to make a real, and sustainable, difference.
We have retained the visionary and determined outlook of our late Founder, who was dedicated to thoughtful, conscientious growth and the pursuit of positive change. It is this pioneering spirit that keeps us moving forward today, unlocking new potential and realizing new opportunities.
We understand that driving progress and creating a better world cannot be done alone. Partnerships where potential, people, ideas, capital and opportunity come together is essential.
Abdul Latif Jameel strives to build win/win relationships grounded in mutual trust and respect – and we choose to work together with our partners, with shared goals and values . . . towards a more beautiful tomorrow.
As our Founder said:
“. . . I knew that you could not reach the top by sitting and doing nothing. You have to make an effort; read a lot; work hard and look for challenges, instead of waiting for them to come to you.”
“Every merchant encounters some turning points in his life one way or the other . . . You do not make circumstances, they make you.”
Abdullatif Jameel (1912–1993)
Empower
We believe in the power of our people.
And so, our Associates are provided with the freedom and encouragement to contribute to achieving our vision, empowering them. Encouraging bold decisions and enabling their creativity to flourish for mutual development.
Everyone has a valuable contribution, regardless of position. In the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, the idea of ‘genchi genbutsu’ (going to the source) reflects this approach of finding true solutions by listening to those on the front line with first-hand experience – this is also embodied in our core value of ‘Respect for Associates’.
As our Founder said:
“Even if a child came to me and offered advice, if it was insightful I will seriously consider it.”
“Do not put a barrier between you and people because they are the ones who give you the truth, not papers and reports.”
Abdullatif Jameel (1912-1993)
