She is a young Bahraini entrepreneur who listened to her heart when it came to choosing her subject of specialization. She also listened to her heart which wanted to help her country through her work. Meet Halel Engineer, owner of the companies Environment Arabia and Reef Arabia, a dynamic lady who has shown the world that passion coupled with dedication and commitment help you reach where you want to be!
How would you describe yourself and recall your childhood?
I used to be very shy when I was growing up, but managed to overcome this gradually when I was at Secondary School as I gained more confidence. By the time I went to university I was confident enough to pursue what I had always believed in. I grew up in my grandfather’s house which was full of people and learnt a lot just being around the older Bahraini generation. I would say my love for the environment was instilled in me from a very young age, as I was joining my grandfather on the farm, the palm plantations and the fresh water pools.
I remember my mother telling me what was happening to the Ozone Layer and how that affected me to the point that I wanted to do something about it. So, I would say my inspiration came from my parents and grandparents.
Tell us about your academic and professional background in brief.
I did my Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science at Plymouth University in the UK and my Masters in Environmental Impact Assessment & Auditing at the University of East Anglia in the UK. I was the first Bahraini to graduate with an environmental degree (so I was told), which made me very proud. When I first graduated I worked for 5 months in an environmental consultancy in the UK as an intern to gain experience. I realized that this is what I really wanted to do in my life. When I returned to Bahrain, I worked for a year and a half in Midal Cables where I was responsible for the environment, health and safety in the company.
Tell us about your enterprise and how you came about starting it up.
I set up Environment Arabia Consultancy Services in 2001, in response to a Ministerial Order in March 2000 which invited environmental consultancies to register with the Environmental Authority of Bahrain as approved companies that could carry out environmental assessments and studies in the Kingdom. Environment Arabia was the first consultancy to be registered on the list of approved environmental consultants in Bahrain. The company’s core business is Environmental Impact Assessments and surveys, in addition to site investigations such as for contaminated soil and groundwater. We have undertaken environmental consultancy work for most of Bahrain’s ministries, private developments and industries since 2001 and remain the number 1 environmental consultancy firm in the Kingdom.
In January 2012, I set up Reef Arabia which is a sister company to Environment Arabia and specializes in the design and manufacture of artificial reefs. Since its set up, Reef Arabia has deployed up to 3,000 artificial reefs in the waters of Bahrain to enhance the marine environment and increase fish stocks. Reef Arabia has the largest artificial reef facility in the Gulf and is the main agent for reef balls in the Gulf. We also have our own in-house designs of reefs which have been approved by other Gulf countries and hope to be selling them all over the world very soon.
What had been the initial challenges when you started up your business?
Luckily, I did not face major challenges when I started up my business as Bahrain needed this type of business and the awareness of environmental issues was increasing amongst the population and decision makers every year. With my parents support and belief in me, the company was formed and the work was coming to us. I received encouragement even from decision-makers in Government.
Is there any memorable experience as an entrepreneur that you would like to share with us?
One of the most memorable experiences was when I was honored as one of the top Bahraini women entrepreneurs by Princess Sabeeka. It was an amazing experience which made me feel honored and proud of all the achievements my companies and my wonderful team had made over the years.
What according to you are the essential qualities of a successful entrepreneur?
- Patience is very important.
- Perseverance and not giving up,
even if faced with difficulties. - Diplomacy.
- Hard work.
- Loves a challenge.
What is the most rewarding aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Seeing the results of hard work come to fruition. Being appreciated for what I do. Inspiring others, especially young students who have the same love for the environment to follow in my footsteps.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I am working on a third company which is specializing in eco tourism and educational programmes as I believe it is much needed in Bahrain.
If you were to take up another profession what would it be?
I can’t imagine myself now taking up another profession as I feel lucky that I realized early on what I really wanted to do in my life. There was a time that I did think of studying nutrition or dentistry but I am glad I chose the path I did in the end.
What is your message to aspiring entrepreneurs of Bahrain?
I say believe in yourself because that is what I did. I studied something I loved and I knew my country needed, and created a business out of it. Be creative and be unique. The best feeling is to wake up every morning of your life and look forward to working on the things you are passionate about.