07/03/2018
07/03/2018
KUWAIT CITY, March 6: Five prominent Kuwaitis in business and finance sector have been named among the top 100 Arab personalities for 2018 by the Gulf Business Magazine, reports Al-Rai daily. Mohamed Abdul-Aziz Al-Shaya, Board Chairman of Al Mabani Company and Chief Executive Officer of Mohammed Al-Shaya Company was 27th in the list. He was recognized as a major player in the retail market where he manages over 80 global brands in the Gulf region and Middle East. He announced opening 25 stores at Al-Khail Mall in Dubai, and for the first time, launched 15 brands at the Avenues Mall in Bahrain — the first outlets under concession agreements with Charlotte Telbury and Grady 400. Al-Ghanim Group’s CEO and Board Chairman of Gulf Bank Omar Al Ghanim was ranked 39th. Gulf Business named him as one of the country’s leading business leaders. Al-Ghanim Industries and its subsidiaries across 40 countries through their good performances managed to win the title of Gold Certified Employer. He was identified as a personality who continues to work with the Kuwaiti youth, besides signing a memorandum of understanding to educate Syrian refugees. In his position as chairman of the Gulf Bank, Al-Ghanim had earlier announced a 10 percent increase in the net profit within the first half of 2017, making it another positive year for the entrepreneur. Bader Al-Kharafi, Vice-Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zain Group claimed the 47th place. The magazine pointed out that Al-Kharafi was distinguished by his commitment to empowering women and young people. He was also honored last year by King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa in recognition of Zain’s efforts to spread the culture of tolerance, dialogue and peace. Recorded Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Chief Executive Officer Mazen Sa’ad Al Nahidh ranked 54th and Gulf Business said the group recorded a market volume of about 16.6 billion dollars in the sukuk market in 2017, which was 45 percent higher than his achievement in 2016. The magazine pointed out that KFH won the “Best Islamic Finance Provider for Projects in the World” from the Global Finance Magazine in 2017. Executive Vice-President at the National Bank of Kuwait Sheikha Al Bahr came 95th. Gulf Business considers her among the most important executives in the Kuwaiti financial sector. It noted the bank has achieved more than $78 billion in assets to enable its presence in some 15 countries around the world. Founder and CEO of Emirates Airline FlyDubai and the National Bank of Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed bin Sa’eed Al Maktoum, topped the 100 Arab personalities for 2018, followed by Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Board Chairman of Saudi Aramco Company, Khaled Al Falih. Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) Yousif Al Bunian ranked third, and Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) for the first time in six years, did not top the list after dropping his ranking to seventh place this year.