Marwan Al Sarkal named Middle East’s Best CEO

In a new achievement to be added to its list of prominent successes, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has announced that its CEO Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal has received the ‘Middle East CEO of the Year Award’ by the prestigious Burj CEO Awards.

Bestowed recently during a ceremony held in Washington DC, USA, the Burj CEO Awards are international recognition for the best organisations and top executives from different business sectors around the world. 

Al Sarkal was named as the best CEO in the Middle East in the awards programme in recognition of his non-stop efforts and significant contribution to developing Shurooq’s successful strategies that aim at reinforcing Sharjah’s position on the world business and investment map. The honour also comes in appreciation of Al Sarkal's outstanding success in managing and leading Shurooq, which has succeeded in developing a number of premier tourist and leisure destinations in the region.

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), congratulated Marwan Al Sarkal on the well-deserved award for the role he is playing to position Shurooq and its objectives in high statures of business excellence internally and externally.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said; “We are extremely proud of Shurooq’s management excellence, which has reflected positively on the teamwork, quality of performance, distinctive management skills and excellent delivery of projects and services. The management’s success begins from within the organisation itself, which is represented in the internal organising and corporate development.”

Sheikha Bodour added; “Such awards are the fruit of the corporate strategy embraced by Shurooq since its establishment – an approach based on the management’s attention and concentration on capacity building of its human resources, as well as its confidence in the ability of its in-house manpower to make a big difference and leave a positive impact at their workplace and posts in Sharjah as well as the rest of the UAE.”

Thanking the organisers of the Burj CEO Awards for selecting him as a worthy recipient of such a prestigious accolade, HE Marwan Jassim Al Sarkal said; “The Emirate of Sharjah has equipped its national youth with all the potential and tools that enable them to excel and innovate, gain high leadership skills and realise accomplishments." 

This award is yet more evidence of the sound strategy adopted by Shurooq under the leadership of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qassimi, who lends a great deal of attention to Emirati staff and providing them with training to be highly qualified and efficient personnel. I would like to point out here that planning and management alone are not enough to realise accomplishments. They should be supported by the sincere efforts of employees, which is exactly the case with Shurooq’s staff. This honour is not just for me personally, but extends to all Shurooq’s dedicated team members," Al Sarkal noted.

The Shurooq CEO added; "Winning such a prestigious global accolade is a success for the Emirate of Sharjah as a whole. The award will serve as an incentive that will inspire me to do my utmost to support Sharjah's economic growth, and solidify its internationally acclaimed position as a global business and investment hub."

"I am also very proud to see other Emirati executives winning awards in other categories, in new achievements that show the UAE's success in establishing companies and corporates that managed in a short span of time to become examples for others, not only in the region but in the entire world," he added. 

Among the most prominent companies and organisations that won the award in its various categories alongside Shurooq are the Covenant Bank for Women (Tanzania), DP World, Emirates Airline, Dubai Duty Free, Facebook, 

HP, Hollywood Studios, Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone, and the National Bank of Abu Dhabi. 

The Burj CEO Awards is an affiliate of the CEO Clubs Network and is dedicated to top executives and organisations working in different business sectors worldwide. It is the first award programme launched by the Network since its inception 30 years ago.

The Burj CEO Awards programme aims to recognise and honour the outstanding success and significant contribution of chief executives to the business network and international business community. The CEO Clubs Network’s members have the opportunity to meet more than 16,000 top CEOs in various sectors from all across the globe.