logo
Thoburns appoints leading GCC communications advisor to senior team

Thoburns appoints leading GCC communications advisor to senior team

Zawya04-08-2025
London – Thoburns, a leading reputation management consultancy specialising in private capital investors and high-growth companies, has appointed Maram Alkadhi as a Director. A highly experienced communications strategist, Maram brings nearly 20 years of international experience advising public and private sector clients across the UK and the Gulf, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
His appointment reflects Thoburns' continued investment in deepening senior-level expertise in the Gulf, a region where the firm is seeing growing demand from private capital investors and high-growth platforms operating at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and government-led transformation.
Maram has held senior roles at leading international consultancies, most recently as Senior Vice President at Teneo in the Middle East. He has advised some of the region's most ambitious and high-profile initiatives, including NEOM, Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Research and Publishing Company, and the COP29 Presidency in Azerbaijan, where he was seconded to deliver international media relations. Maram has an established track record of managing complex, high-stakes communications for sovereign clients, government ministries, and global investors, often during periods of intense transformation and scrutiny.
Richard Thoburn, Chairman of Thoburns, commented:"Maram is a uniquely accomplished communications advisor, with an instinctive understanding of how to build trust and shape reputation in complex geopolitical environments. His experience in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and his ability to navigate government, media and investor landscapes with cultural fluency, will be of immense value to our clients across the Gulf and beyond."
At Thoburns, Maram will provide senior counsel to clients with operations or interests in the Gulf, including private capital firms, sovereign-backed entities, and technology-enabled platforms. He will also support clients looking to strengthen their narrative and stakeholder engagement as they expand into or operate across the region.
Maram Alkadhi, Director at Thoburns, said:"Thoburns has an outstanding reputation for strategic counsel in markets that are dynamic, complex and fast-moving - many of which I have worked in over the past two decades. I am delighted to be joining a senior team that understands the nuances of operating across jurisdictions, and I look forward to supporting clients as they grow their presence and impact across the Gulf."
About Thoburns: Founded in London in 1986, Thoburns specialises in reputation management for private capital investors and transformative, high-growth companies. With deep expertise in navigating the challenges faced by its clients, Thoburns provides tailored advice that addresses both immediate needs and long-term objectives. The firm works with dynamic companies in fast-paced sectors, helping them shape their narrative and manage their reputation on the global stage. With a global network of partners, Thoburns ensures it can support clients wherever they are in the world.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UAE corporate tax: Businesses will need to adapt for future legislative changes
UAE corporate tax: Businesses will need to adapt for future legislative changes

The National

timean hour ago

  • The National

UAE corporate tax: Businesses will need to adapt for future legislative changes

In the world of tax, it is vital to be aware of contradictions that could occur. What starts out looking like an advantage could change with future legislation. When patching for shortfalls, it is the bigger issues that get the immediate attention, but that does not mean something is being ignored. Being aware of this and acting ahead of a loophole being closed is a gamble. Also, assuming that the legislation will only apply from the date of enactment is a chance. We recently discussed a working example with regards to corporate tax in the UAE. Ministerial Decision No. 173 of 2025 closed the ability to acquire non-depreciated investment property assets and take immediate tax advantage to claim all the accumulated depreciation in one go against current year taxable profits. The law's backdating was only seven months. It might have been to June 2023 when corporate tax launched. Indeed, a court might read the law to mean that it would be impossible for an entity to take advantage in the short time before the change. This form of court intervention was a mechanism that was used in issued law when VAT was launched. So, the precedent exists. What time period should be required between the commencement of a government regime and law which is obviously a patch? That is a matter for the courts. Some might indulge in tax limbo – in other words, staying technically within the law. For instance, we have seen businesses set up multiple entities to avoid any one company from having a headcount that exceeds a number which would then require specific hiring policies. While not in the spirit of the law, it is an action that is legal. Imagine a business that had paid a person, Timmy, who is both the owner and managing director, Dh2 million a year. While a profitable business, the salary is well beyond what an individual would be paid if they were not also the owner, which is more likely to be in the ballpark of Dh475,000 a year. Timmy is legally a connected party. When submitting their corporate tax return, a connected party declaration with detailed supporting proof would be required to justify the remuneration. This rule applies if the amount is more than Dh500,000 per annum. Setting up five entities and dividing the business evenly between them, while not an easy ask, could keep the individual below the reporting threshold. Notionally, none of those salary payments would be disallowed as a charge against taxable profits, thus reducing any payable tax amount. Is this legal? I cannot find anything in the legislation or clarifications that says it is not. I am not suggesting that there is always calculated tax planning on any individual's part. Entrepreneurs in the SME sector may accidentally find themselves in this position. Keep in mind though that blatant tax avoidance can lead to an organisation's structure being changed. The regulatory authorities can look through the organisation and reorganise it if required. Another matter to consider is one of contradictions. Timmy wants to stay on the right side of the law. He wishes to inform the Federal Tax Authority in his submission that the sum total of his remuneration across multiple entities might by higher than what they would consider reasonable. However, there is no place in the online return platform to do so. The portal is very black and white when it comes to thresholds. If you exceed a reporting value, additional screen options appear. Otherwise, you would not even know they existed. You could manually disallow an amount within one of your overhead expenses lines when completing the return. As this is visible to the tax inspectorate, this might raise questions later that you would rather deal with immediately. Relying in the future on memory or archived records can be both distracting and cost a business valuable time. If a couple of these entities qualified for small business relief, with a turnover under Dh3 million, then even this option would not be open to you. This relief comes with a lighter reporting requirement. Hence, there is no clear solution in this regard.

Azizi renews partnership deal with Saudi group Bahra Electric
Azizi renews partnership deal with Saudi group Bahra Electric

Zawya

timean hour ago

  • Zawya

Azizi renews partnership deal with Saudi group Bahra Electric

UAE-based Azizi Developments has announced that it has extended the partnership deal with Bahra Electric, a leading Saudi-based electrical solutions provider, for provision of advanced busbar and earthing lightning protection systems across its projects. Under this collaboration, Bahra Electric is providing advanced busbar and earthing lightning protection systems across Azizi's projects in Dubai South, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai Sports City, and Al Furjan, including Venice, Creek Views III, Grand, and Central. Founded in 2008, Bahra Electric is a leading electrical manufacturing company that specialises in a wide range of products including wires, cables, busway systems, panel boards, transformers, and switchgear. With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, the company adheres to international standards like ISO 9001 and IEC, ensuring high-quality products for sectors such as construction, utilities, and oil and gas across the Middle East and North Africa. Bahra Electric is committed to sustainability and innovation, continuously expanding its product lines and market presence. Group CEO Farhad Azizi said: "We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Bahra Electric, a major regional force known for its reliability, technical excellence, and future-ready infrastructure solutions. Their continued support in supplying our developments with world-class electrical systems reflects the trust we place in their products and capabilities." "As we expand our project pipeline and accelerate construction, we remain committed to engaging exclusively with best-in-class suppliers who help us uphold our standards of quality, safety, and innovation," he noted. ⁠Azizi Venice will comprise more than 36,000 residential units across 100+ apartment complexes and over 109 ultra-luxury mansions. Azizi Developments is taking on the role of master developer, in charge of constructing the buildings, roads, and all the infrastructure. Centered around a vast, crystal-blue lagoon that encircles its condominiums, villas, and mansions, Azizi Venice provides a picturesque setting for leisure, retail, and commercial spaces. The turquoise, desalinated waters are bordered by sandy beaches, an 8 km-long cycling and jogging track, yoga and sports facilities, and a vibrant promenade featuring a variety of artisan eateries and boutiques, stated the developer. The area is enhanced by leafy, dense, and beautifully manicured greenery, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere throughout, it added.

Aramco signs $11bln Jafurah midstream deal with international consortium
Aramco signs $11bln Jafurah midstream deal with international consortium

Zawya

time2 hours ago

  • Zawya

Aramco signs $11bln Jafurah midstream deal with international consortium

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia: Aramco has signed an $11 billion lease and leaseback deal involving its Jafurah gas processing facilities with a consortium of international investors, led by funds managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock. Jafurah is the largest non-associated gas development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, estimated to contain 229 trillion standard cubic feet of raw gas and 75 billion Stock Tank Barrels of condensate. It is a key component in Aramco's plans to increase gas production capacity by 60% between 2021 and 2030, to meet rising demand, according to the Saudi Press Agency. As part of the transaction a newly-formed subsidiary, Jafurah Midstream Gas Company (JMGC), will lease development and usage rights for the Jafurah Field Gas Plant and the Riyas NGL Fractionation Facility, and lease them back to Aramco for a period of 20 years. JMGC will receive a tariff payable by Aramco in exchange for granting Aramco the exclusive right to receive, process and treat raw gas from Jafurah. Aramco will hold a 51% majority stake in JMGC, with the remaining 49% held by investors led by GIP. The transaction, which will not impose any restrictions on Aramco's production volumes, is expected to close as soon as practicable, subject to customary closing conditions.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store