Ahmed Ben Chaibah, the visionary behind Dubai Aqua Fun, attributes his remarkable achievements, including a Guinness World Record and being named Emirati Businessperson of the Year, to resilience, innovative thinking, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. His journey began with a simple idea sparked by a community need for more child-friendly beach activities, transforming this vision into the world’s largest inflatable water park despite facing 617 rejections in its first year. Ahmed’s leadership philosophy emphasizes the importance of a united team, continuous learning, and the courage to persevere through adversity. His advice to the youth is to pursue dreams with passion, not just for monetary gains but for the joy and fulfillment that comes from making a difference. As he continues to expand Dubai Aqua Fun with new records and awards, Ahmed remains grounded, driven by the impact of creating joyful memories for families.
1- With your Guinness World Record and being named Emirati Businessperson of the Year, how do you view yourself amidst these achievements in your daily life, and where do you go from here?
Ans: I think everything was planed and processed, so that was a surprise. So, you put the work and it all comes to you and we are like oh surprised like this. Everything we had to work for it and then plan it and process eventually.
2-How did your journey with Dubai Aqua Fun Park begin? What inspired you to start this inflatable water park and delve into providing enjoyable activities for people every weekend?
Ans: No idea, it`s a long story. I have been doing this now for 13 years now. We start with hearing that people are amazed with these something to do with the kids and start doing our researches and this idea came through. Then when we started and where we are now there its two different things obviously. So, a lot of people said no to us. In the 1st year we were rejected 617 times. It was like oh first try first go and you Emirati like don`t know and people are saying no, no, no eventually. And we kept going and the genius thing is that we never quit. So, when you go to a race, we all have the same goals but the difference is like the process and the systems. Many people do not have them or the system of process or the work behind it.
3- Do you think it was a tough task and you kept doing it and doing it to reach the target?
Ans: you don`t complain, when you want the target , you have a goal and you go on. You don`t complain that it`s hard and that`s how it`s going to be awesome and you can do it.
4- As the CEO of the year by business Arabia, what leadership principals do you attribute to your success?
Ans: I think it`s choosing the right team and surrounded by trust worthy people. You have to find people who share your vision and share your goals and reach there. That is very important and having people with the right IQ and EQ also and it`s very important for business and treat them right , be kind, be nice to your people and people want to be seen and heard and you give them these two things and there will be there for you. And I would say that we are just warming up and still far away to reach them.
5- We know that you are the world record holder so how did that journey started, would you like to share some story about it?
Ans: we were going to get bankrupted basically and we had our money put in these two projects and these two guys a week before we launch it said that we don`t want to do this anymore I said we put the money and six months later you are telling me that you want this. So, we were struck ok, so now we need to pay the other half a million and there was no money out. So, either go broke or figure something out. So, in business or in your life the most important thing is the destination is the company and and I spoke with my best friend and he said let`s figure this out and then we came up with this idea that let`s make a biggest one in the world. So, we put this together and I wrote I love Expo 2020 Dubai and from there it`s history.
6- So, the idea of Aqua fun seems both innovative and exciting. So, can you please walk us through the process that how you conceptualize this venture and transform this into reality?
Ans: so, we are in the business of creating happy memories, so that was the main vehicle and what we do is the installing the small thing that we do it, so we said the emotion itself. The emotion is very powerful and people having fun , enjoying themselves , becomes the track of emotion itself. And I think it worked well from there.
7- As an entrepreneur, you’ve encountered numerous challenges and hurdles. Just like a raft navigating through ups and downs with additions and subtractions, how did you overcome obstacles to drive forward the success of Dubai Aqua Fun Park?
Ans: I don`t understand quick thinkers like you have a goal and if you didn`t get it then why would you stop. We all going to have obstacles and we know it but that`s not mean that we quit to fast and that`s the issue when you know you can figure out anything by yourself then you need to figure it out by asking questions and learn from the mistakes. So, the more you fail the more you restate faster because you would a lot of thresholds of the previous experiences. I didn1t have the accountant, lawyers and mentors in the beginning so the 1st 3or 4 years were very hard on business and so many problems and obstacles. So, you have to ask for help as you might know a few thinks but need to ask for help from the experienced people. Most people don’t want to justify paying money to these people and say like I don`t have the money to pay it and but I would suggest you to pay it because in a long time it will save you from headaches.
8- What kind of a message would you like to give to the young generation, who have dreamed and want to follow it but again comes back to money segment?
Answer: the problem is not that dream is a goal. Your dream is like you are see as a goal, you mark it there and plan it and that`s all. If your goal is just money then you lost already. I met people who are talking about dollars so in a sense they are about the money only. Money is good to have yes but its not it. You need the peace of mind; you have the family you have to love and you the the relationships and so and on. Having money is fun , yes absolutely but people think it’s the ultimate goal. But its not because after you have all this money then what you are going to do, you buy all the cars and go to all the places and then what you are going to do. Are you coming back home alone with no family and friends? And talking about the question I would say excuses as the time I open a business I didn`t have the money, I wasn`t born to a rich family or something. I had no money, had to figure out something to sell and do the first initials step and then grow that and then go do the process again.
It takes time and it takes a lot of time.
9- Talking to a CEO and a person who is Mr. Ahmed, they are two different personalities. So how can we differentiate them?
Ans: you cannot. It`s absolutely the same. I am the same person as the CEO and the me in person. The best things are I don`t look at these things at all and I still go to the beach and I still do things with my staff and I am still in the water. So, I mean I don`t see myself as that as I only have office where I sit down and talk who I am. And I don`t like that barrier between me and the person and I haven`t entered office in maybe 6 years. For me it`s like sit down and casually talk like that and you and me as equal.
10 -What are the future prospects for Dubai Aqua Fun? Did you ever envision something like this in your childhood, with water splashing, kids having fun, and parents relaxing from their busy schedules at an aqua fun park?
Ans: umm… this year we should be able to get 4 more Guinness World Records and a couple of new awards and scale the business hopefully 700% . its only by hitting crazy goals . I might achieve 300% but need to think 700%. There was no childhood thinking. I realized that it is a niche and need and I provided it. That all it takes. You need to simplified the things. Don`t overcomplicate it as it a very basic thing. Like now I am switching from this to a very different mode of business as they are more fun. Everybody wants to be in 60 business and that`s cool but saturate it and you can be in the car wash and barber shop and everyone wants to be a influencer but not that and you can make more money in that but nobody wants to be that.
