Religious Diversity in Dubai

Ahmed Wahbi was born in Sudan in 1985. He grew up in an environment characterized by political and social upheaval. Early on, he decided to pursue a career that would offer prospects in agriculture and resource utilization. He graduated with a degree in Agricultural Sciences and later worked as a Senior Agronomist in Sudan.

In 2014, Ahmed moved to the United Arab Emirates to take on a new professional challenge in Dubai. Dubai is characterized by a high degree of cultural and linguistic diversity, as over 85% of its residents come from abroad. In his role as Agricultural Extension Officer for the Dubai government, he worked with farmers to promote sustainable agricultural practices and the adoption of new technologies. One focus of his work was on optimizing agricultural yields and the efficient use of resources such as water - an issue of particular importance in a region that is heavily dependent on food imports.

Ahmed joined the K+S Middle East team in May 2021 and was initially responsible for the United Arab Emirates and Oman as GCC sales agronomist. Currently, as Regional Sales Manager, he oversees the Gulf States. In this capacity, he collaborates extensively with distributors, from Yemen to Syria and Oman. He is also responsible for agronomic advice and fertilizer registration.

The multicultural environment at K+S Middle East is a significant aspect of his work. While his previous role with the Dubai government primarily involved collaboration with Arab colleagues, his current position offers a more diverse working environment, including colleagues from various cultural and religious backgrounds. He works with 13 colleagues from 11 different nations and various religions, ranging from Buddhism and Hinduism to Christianity and Islam.  "Working with people from different cultures and religious backgrounds has broadened my view of the world," says Ahmed. He values the open atmosphere and respectful interaction within the K+S team, which he believes transcends cultural and religious differences.

Ahmed's Muslim faith is a central part of his life, providing him with the strength to achieve success both professionally and personally. As a devout Muslim, he prays five times a day. His five- to ten-minute prayers are also integrated into his working hours twice a day. "K+S enables me to fulfill my religious obligations by giving me time to pray," explains Ahmed.

It is currently Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims. During this period, Muslims abstain from food and beverages from sunrise to sunset, a practice that serves as a physical and spiritual cleansing of the body and an opportunity for introspection and reflection on one's inner values. "It is a time to be in contemplation," says Ahmed. The fast is broken in the evening after sunset, and it is tradition to gather with family and friends to eat together. The month-long fast concludes with Eid al-Fitr, a three-day celebration that marks the end of the fasting period

Ahmed is a family man; he is married and has two children, a seven-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son. He enjoys spending his free time with his family, going for a run, or watching a soccer game. 

His family from Sudan now lives mostly in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which he describes as one of the more difficult experiences of his life. Due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has been one of the world's largest humanitarian crises since April 2023, his mother and six siblings had to flee the country two years ago. The conflict, which escalated between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, has resulted in thousands of casualties and forced millions of people to seek refuge. Despite the geopolitical challenges posed by this situation, the family is keeping together and supporting each other.