For billionaire Khalaf Al Habtoor, the obsession with "world’s richest" lists misses the mark when it comes to measuring true success. Instead of focusing on fluctuating net worth estimates, Al Habtoor is calling for a shift in perspective that celebrates the foundational work of Emirati business families. He specifically pointed to iconic names such as Al Ghurair, Al Futtaim, Juma Al Majid, and Al Rostamani, emphasizing that their real value lies in the generational expertise and enduring economic infrastructure they cultivated long before the UAE gained its current global status.

Al Habtoor remains skeptical of the methodologies used by publications to rank private entrepreneurs, noting that they often lack a scientific or factual basis. Since private companies are not required to disclose their financial records, he argues that any public claim about an individual's personal fortune is merely speculative rather than accurate. Ultimately, he believes that a business leader’s legacy should be defined by their tangible contributions to society, job creation, and the longevity of the institutions they build, rather than a superficial position on a list that fails to capture the true weight of their achievements.