World traders While the family’s activity is concentrated


in the Middle East, their business interests also span the Indian Ocean to the city they once called home—Perth. In 2017, Nest spent $50 million buying a


property bordering two of the city’s major train stations. Planning is underway to build a unique commercial, residential and entertainment precinct on the 1.9ha site, that includes a 75-storey skyscraper, tipped to transform the coastal city’s skyline. The Perth City Council estimates the planned project will bring more than AUD $100 million ($78 million) to the region each year. “Australia is very close to my heart,” Abu


Nahl says. “All my family is Australian [citizens]


except me.” The Perth precinct comes under another


of Nest’s business interests: The World Trade Center (WTC) Association. There are 330 business precincts in more than 90 countries operating under the WTC brand, including the site in Lower Manhattan that was targeted in the 9/11 terror attacks. Abu Nahl is a board member of the


association, while Nest owns WTC Cyprus. The Cyprus subsidiary in turn operates 15 business centres in the Middle East and north Africa, plus the planned Perth project. “I think it will be very helpful to


Australia,” Abu Nahl says. “It will link the business community with


all other business communities around the world. This will be very good, especially as Western Australia is more isolated, with less population, but lots of potential.”


Extended family Like many business families, the Abu


Nahls are also keen philanthropists, mainly focusing on education and health causes. When Abu Nahl meets CampdenFB, he is in London being appointed, along with Hind, to the University of Oxford’s Chancellors’ Court of Benefactors, which recognises those who give “exceptional support” to the university. This academic year, Abu Nahl is


supporting 74 law students specialising in human rights. Given his family were displaced by war when he was just a small boy, it is not hard to see why this is a cause close to his heart. “I am of Palestinian origins and I could


say we are a humble people. We never like to see anybody suffering,” he says. “[These students] will be good fighters


for human rights, and against the abuse of humiliated people.” Abu Nahl says part of the joy of doing


business is providing stability and prosperity not just for his family, but the families of his employees. Nest companies now have about 1,300


workers, but Abu Nahl expects this number to grow to more than 6,000 in “the next few years”, as Nest undertakes more property development projects. “I think whoever is working with us will


find a good experience and you could go on to work anywhere else in the world. Our employees are a target to be taken by other professional employers. “I am proud of all of this, when I see a


I am of Palest inian or igins and I could say we are a humble people. We never like to see anybody suffering


big number of families that can grow their families with stability, it is a good feeling.” But Abu Nahl says one of his proudest


achievements is accomplishing a goal he set himself as a young man in his late teens. “My brothers and sisters have all been


educated in good universities and schools. And I have children and grandchildren that are happy. I worked hard for that. My success in this was to keep my father and mother happy, because I stood with the family.”


ISSUE 72 | 2018 CAMPDENFB.COM 31


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