A 38-hour bus journey, combined with relentless discipline and hard work, shaped his rise to the top.
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 transformed hardship into one of the UAE’s most inspiring corporate success stories.
Jordanian expatriate Al Najjar shared his journey from working as an exchange house cashier to becoming CEO of Al Ansari Exchange.
His formula: discipline, resilience, and relentless 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 could not afford a plane ticket, had no influential connections, no executive title, and no guarantee of a job.
What he did have was a belief that the United Arab Emirates was home, along with faith that hard work can change lives and 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 around 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 cashier to chief executive is not just a corporate success story—it reflects sacrifice, consistency, and the opportunities the United Arab Emirates can offer to those willing to work harder than everyone else.
“I came back to the UAE in 2002 with around 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 country was home,” Al Najjar recalled while speaking from his office in Dubai.
That emotional connection with the United Arab Emirates began long before his career. His father arrived in the UAE in 1969 and helped establish 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 United Arab Emirates, so leaving was emotionally difficult. But I learnt early that circumstances may change while your goals stay the same,” he said.
Top rank
Determined to succeed, he excelled academically, scoring 96.7 per cent in high school and securing a top 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 United Arab Emirates in search of opportunity.
The journey itself symbolised the uncertainty ahead.
Unable to afford a flight, he boarded a bus from Amman to Abu Dhabi, a trip that lasted nearly two days.
“When I arrived, I had only Dh40 left. But sometimes all you really need is determination and the willingness to keep moving forward,” he said.
Breakthrough
For two months, he searched for work while attending interview after interview. Many employers rejected him due to lack of practical experience.
Then chance intervened. While waiting outside an exchange house in Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Street for an interview, he met an old friend working at Al Ansari Exchange. The friend spoke passionately about the company, its culture, and its chairman, describing an organisation that valued dedication and hard work.
That conversation changed everything.
On June 2, 2002, Al Najjar joined Al Ansari Exchange as a cashier, earning AED 2,300 a month.
Challenges
He lived in a tiny room where even a bed could not fit. He slept on a mattress beside the door with only a pillow and a blanket.
Still, he refused to complain. “I was focused on growth,” he said.
The work environment was demanding and largely manual. International remittances involved paperwork, demand drafts, and courier services. Employees had to memorise procedures, customer details, and operational processes.
Instead of limiting himself to his assigned duties, Ali Al Najjar stayed after working hours to learn from other teams and understand every aspect of the business.
“I always believed that when you are given a job, you should think like an owner, not like an employee,” he said.
Over his first three years, he worked across 11 branches in six emirates, gaining hands-on experience in customer service, operations, and branch management within the United Arab Emirates.
Those early years helped define the philosophy that would later shape his leadership.
Discipline is the key
“Discipline changed my life. Success cannot depend on your mood. Whether you feel like it or not, you must show up and deliver,” he said.
In 2005, he received his first major leadership opportunity when he was promoted to branch manager at the Ansar Mall branch of Al Ansari Exchange, an underperforming branch facing operational and performance challenges. He worked tirelessly to restructure operations, motivate staff, and improve accountability.
Then came the defining moment. Like many exchange house employees at the time, Ali Al Najjar received an offer from a bank promising better pay and improved working conditions.
On the same day, he recalled, 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, outlining 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.
Next stage
As one of only two area managers in the organisation at the time, Ali Al Najjar 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 built operational frameworks that improved performance across the network.
One struggling branch—already marked for closure—became his biggest test.
Management had decided to shut it down due to losses and weak performance. Al Najjar requested six months to turn it around.
Through staff restructuring, operational discipline, customer engagement, and constant monitoring, the branch was transformed into one of the company’s top performers.
It later became the number one branch in Dubai for transactions and held top rankings 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 Rashed Al Ansari, he was promoted to Head of Business Development and Manager of Operations, marking his transition into senior leadership within Al Ansari Exchange.
Over the following years, he played a key role in major operational and strategic initiatives, including cash management systems, business expansion projects, and operational transformation plans.
His leadership journey continued through successive promotions: Senior Manager Operations in 2013, Head of Operations in 2014, Assistant General Manager and Head of Operations in 2015, Chief Operating Officer in 2020, and finally Chief Executive Officer in 2025.
Core lessons
Despite the titles, he says the core principle behind his success has never changed: “I don’t believe in luck. I believe in hard work, consistency and discipline.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, his leadership was tested when he helped steer the organisation through uncertainty while ensuring no employees lost their jobs.
“True leadership is revealed during difficult times. Standing by people matters,” he said.
Today, as CEO, he continues to believe leaders should stay connected to frontline employees. “The ideal place for a CEO is in the middle. You cannot lead people if you do not understand what they experience every day.”
Despite decades of corporate growth, he still carries the mindset of the young cashier who arrived in Abu Dhabi with almost nothing.
His message to younger generations remains simple: “Dream big. Stay committed. Never give up.”
“Success is not about where you start. It is about how determined you are to keep moving forward,” he concluded.
