Dubai: Born in Abu Dhabi, forced to leave the UAE as a child, and returning years later on a bus from Jordan with almost nothing in his pocket, Ali Al Najjar turned adversity into one of the UAE’s most inspiring success stories.
Speaking to Gulf News, Jordanian expat Al Najjar shared his story of rising from cashier of the exchange house to CEO of Al Ansari Exchange through discipline, resilience and hard work.
At 22, Ali Al Najjar arrived in Abu Dhabi after a 38-hour bus journey from Jordan carrying a small bag, a big dream and just Dh40 left in his pocket.
He couldn’t afford a plane ticket. He was not related to influence. No executive title. No guarantee of a job.
What he did have was the belief that the UAE was home, the belief that hard work changes lives and the belief that discipline can take a person further than talent alone.
More than two decades later, the young man who once slept on a mattress in a cramped room now leads Al Ansari Exchange as CEO, overseeing some 4,200 employees and 287 branches across the UAE.
But even today, Al Najjar insists he is still “the same person behind the counter”.
Corporate success
His rise from treasurer to chief executive is not just a corporate success story. It is the story of sacrifice, resilience and the opportunities that the UAE can create for people willing to work harder than everyone else.
“I returned to the UAE in 2002 with about Dh250 in total. After paying for the bus ticket from Amman to Abu Dhabi, I was left with almost nothing. But I always believed this place was home,” recalls Al Najjar, sitting in his plush office in Dubai.
This emotional connection with the UAE began long before his career. His father arrived in the UAE in 1969 and helped set up customs operations in the Al Sila area before later moving to Abu Dhabi. Born in the capital in 1980, Al Najjar spent his childhood growing up in a rapidly developing nation that would eventually shape his future.
But in 1991, after his father’s retirement, the family returned to Jordan, a transition he describes as deeply painful.
“I was born and raised in the UAE, so leaving was emotionally difficult. But I learned early that circumstances can change while your goals remain the same,” he said.
Highest ranking
Determined to succeed, he excelled academically, scoring 96.7 percent in high school and earning the highest rank before graduating from Yarmouk University on scholarship with a degree in accounting and financial banking.
After briefly joining Standard Chartered, he made the life-changing decision to resign and return to the UAE in search of opportunity.
The journey itself symbolized the uncertainty ahead.
Unable to afford a flight, he took a bus from Amman to Abu Dhabi, a journey that took nearly two days.
“When I arrived, I only had Dh40 left. But sometimes all you need is determination and the willingness to keep going,” he said.
For two months, he searched for a job, attending interview after interview. Many employers rejected him because he lacked practical experience.
Progress
Then chance intervened. While waiting outside an exchange house on Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Road for an interview, he met an old friend who worked at the Al Ansari Exchange. Miku spoke passionately about the company, its culture and its chairman, saying that the organization respects dedication and hard work.
That conversation changed everything.
On 2 June 2002, Al Najjar joined Al Ansari Exchange as a cashier earning ADh 2,300 per month.
At that time, the company had only nine branches.
CHALLENGE
He lived in a small room where not even a bed would fit. He slept on a mattress by the door with only a pillow and blanket.
However, he refused to complain. “I was focused on growth,” he said.
The work environment was demanding and mostly manual. International remittances included documents, demand drafts and courier services. Employees had to memorize procedures, customer details and operational processes.
Instead of being limited to his assigned tasks, Al Najjar stayed behind the clock to learn from other teams and understand every aspect of the business.
“I’ve always believed that when you’re given a job, you should think like an owner, not an employee,” he said.
During his first three years, he worked in 11 branches across six Emirates, gaining hands-on experience in customer service, operations and branch management.
Those years would define the philosophy that later shaped his leadership.
Discipline is the key
“Discipline changed my life. Success cannot depend on your mood. Whether you like it or not, you have to show up and deliver,” he said.
In 2005, he got his first big leadership opportunity when he was promoted to branch manager at the Ansar Mall branch, an underperforming branch facing operational and performance issues. He worked tirelessly to restructure operations, motivate staff and improve accountability.
Then came the defining moment. Like many exchange house employees at the time, Al Najjar received an offer from a bank that promised better wages and working conditions.
On the same day, he recalls, Chairman Mohammed Al Ansari visited his branch.
The chairman questioned him extensively about customer behaviour, market conditions, operations and branch performance. Al Najjar responded confidently, describing the changes he had implemented and the opportunities he saw for growth.
The next day, HR called with unexpected news: he had been promoted to Area Manager for Dubai.
“That moment was not luck. It was years of unprecedented hard work that we finally met the right opportunity,” he noted.
The next stage
As one of only two area managers in the organization at the time, he was responsible for multiple branches across Dubai, each serving different customer communities and facing unique operational challenges.
“There was no road map. So I had to create one,” he added.
He developed branch operating procedures, introduced KPIs, implemented accountability systems and created operational frameworks that improved performance across the network.
A struggling branch, already marked for closure, became his biggest test.
The management had decided to shut it down due to losses and poor performance. Al Najjar required six months to turn the business around.
Through staff restructuring, operational discipline, customer engagement and relentless monitoring, the branch became one of the company’s top performers.
It later became the number one branch in Dubai for transactions and held the top ranking for three consecutive years.
“That experience taught me that success is never achieved alone. It is always built with a team,” he noted.
New era
His achievements eventually caught the attention of senior leadership.
In 2010, after meeting with Rashed Al Ansari, who is now Group Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Al Ansari Financial Services, he was promoted to Head of Business Development and Operations Manager, marking his transition to senior management.
Over the following years, he played a key role in the development of key operational and strategic initiatives, including cash management systems, business expansion projects and operational transformation plans.
His leadership journey continued through successive promotions:
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Senior Operations Manager in 2013.
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Head of Operations in 2014.
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Assistant General Manager and Chief Operating Officer in 2015.
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Chief Operating Officer in 2020.
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And finally, the Chief Executive Officer in 2025.
Essential lessons
But despite the headlines, Al Najjar says the main lesson behind his success never changed. “I don’t believe in luck. I believe in hard work, consistency and discipline,” he asserted.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, his leadership was tested like never before. As COO, he helped steer the organization through uncertainty, ensuring no employee lost their job.
He said: “True leadership is revealed in difficult times. Staying close to people is important.”
Today, as CEO, Al Najjar still believes that leaders must remain connected to frontline employees. “The ideal place for a CEO is in the middle. You can’t lead people if you don’t understand what they experience every day,” he explained.
Despite spending decades climbing the corporate ladder, he still carries the mindset of the young cashier who arrived in Abu Dhabi with next to nothing.
And perhaps that is what makes his story resonate with so many people across the UAE.
MeSSAge
His message to the younger generation is simple: work with discipline.
“Dream big. Stay committed. Never give up,” said Ali Al Najjar.
“Success isn’t about where you start. It’s about how determined you are to keep going,” he concluded.
