Latest news with #AlMheiri
Al Etihad
21 hours ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi charts sustainable course for its maritime sector
19 Aug 2025 01:56 Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)Abu Dhabi is not only rolling out greener ferries and eco-marinas – it's embedding sustainability into every aspect of its maritime sector, from its policies and digital services to a strong talent pipeline set to govern its waterways for decades to come. In a recent interview with Aletihad, Captain Saif Al Mheiri, CEO of Abu Dhabi Maritime and Chief Sustainability Officer at AD Ports Group, outlined the initiatives shaping a future-ready maritime ecosystem in Abu June 2025, Abu Dhabi published the new Maritime Safety Regulations (Administrative Decision no. 69/2025), consolidating safety, environmental, and operational standards for all waterway users. Abu Dhabi Maritime is responsible for issuing No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for maritime development, a prerequisite for most shore and offshore construction in the Al Mheiri explained that developers must demonstrate climate resilience in infrastructure design, which includes considerations for sea-level rise, marine habitat protection, long-term material durability, public waterway accessibility, pollution control, and waste management. Digital Transformation Abu Dhabi Maritime continues to digitalise public maritime services to increase their accessibility and broaden awareness of maritime safety rules. Captain Al Mheiri noted that Al Nalia app, now in its second phase, allows residents and maritime operators to book marina berths, report hazards, and access digital safety maps. The app also integrates ticket booking for public ferries and provides push notifications for weather alerts and maritime circulars, making waterways safer and more accessible for residents and Dhabi Maritime also operates MARSDNA, a digital platform that allows maritime companies to measure and improve their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Since its launch less than a year ago, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Mobility, MARSDNA has already helped over 50 companies benchmark sustainability and adopt targeted improvements, according to Captain Al Mheiri. With plans to gradually expand its scope, this digital platform is currently open to shipping companies, port and terminal operators, freight forwarders and cargo beneficiaries, marine and offshore services providers, and marina Saif Al Mheiri also noted that the Department of Municipalities and Transport and Abu Dhabi Mobility Abu Dhabi Maritime are studying opportunities to expand their current network of four water taxi routes (serving nine destinations) and two ferry routes (four destinations). The aim is to maximise connectivity and benefits for Abu Dhabi residents, enterprises, and visitors, he said. Investing in Emirati Talent Beyond infrastructure and digital tools, Captain Al Mheiri stressed that Abu Dhabi Maritime is investing heavily in human capital. The Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy celebrated its first cohort of 194 graduates in June 2025, with 26 joining AD Ports Group immediately. 'Abu Dhabi Maritime and its employees benefit from AD Ports Group's local talent development and Emiratisation initiatives,' Captain Al Mheiri said. These include Al Nukhba Programme, which provides top Emirati talent with industry experience, and the Voyage of Discovery one-year development programme for group also invests in its female workforce through initiatives such as the Empowering Women with Impactful Coaching and Mentoring Programme, which conducted 45 group coaching sessions in 2024. Its GLOW Programme (Gain Leadership Opportunities for Women) also prepares high-potential Emirati women for leadership opportunities. Recognising Excellence in the Maritime SectorIn collaboration with Abu Dhabi Mobility, the 2025 edition of the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards is introducing seven new categories to recognise people-driven contributions to the industry, pioneering projects, and outstanding emerging marinas. The upcoming edition complements the Awards' six existing accolades recognising organisations' overall performance. Details for all categories are available on the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards website: . 'The MENAT region's leading marina awards programme, the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards aim to set new benchmarks for marina excellence while bringing international attention to an industry whose achievements are too often overlooked or underappreciated,' Captain Al Mheiri said.'The seven-category expansion this year builds upon the programme's goals and momentum, representing a holistic view of the elements that drive marina excellence: the dynamic compound of dedicated employees, pilot projects and targeted initiatives, and overall institutional quality.' In 2024, the Awards received 120 submissions from marinas in eight countries, triple the number of submissions in the inaugural 2023 edition.
Al Etihad
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Meet Theban Al Mheiri, a champion for UAE's athletes of determination
29 July 2025 01:07 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Theban Al Mheiri was on his way to the airport that day in 1994. With dreams tucked in his pocket, the then 23-year-old Emirati was supposed to travel to the US to study an English course — but fate had other plans. Al Mheiri went through a devastating car accident that left him partially paralysed with a spinal injury. His personal journey of recovery eventually turned into a lifelong commitment to empowering people of determination. Today, Al Mheiri uses his voice, experience, and influence to help others overcome challenges he once faced alone. 'After the car accident, I faced some of the biggest challenges of my life, mainly learning how to live with and overcome my disability,' he told Aletihad in a recent interview. 'It was incredibly difficult at first. But someone r eached out and helped me, and it changed everything. From that moment, I realised I needed to do the same for others in similar situations.'In the wake of his accident, Al Mheiri turned to sports not only as a path to physical recovery but as a source of purpose and empowerment. He was one of the first Emiratis to actively participate in sports for people of athletic achievements were paralleled by a rise in leadership, culminating in his role as Secretary General of the UAE Disabled Sports Federation, a position he has held for the past eight taking on that title, he served in various capacities, including an administrative role at the Abu Dhabi Police and as a driving force in the Al Ain Club for the Disabled from 1999 to 2010. Through every role, his mission remained the same: to create opportunities and recognition for athletes of determination and to help society see their true potential.'I overcame my disability by embracing challenges with determination. Along the way, I've been able to help many others in the community,' he said. 'Often, they were simply waiting for someone to believe in them and extend a hand.'Al Mheiri believes it is his shared experience with people of determination that makes his support more meaningful. He understands that trust - when it comes from someone who has walked the same path - opens hearts.'People of determination are often more open to advice and support when it comes from someone who truly understands, someone who's lived a similar experience,' he explained.'There are physical and emotional challenges to adapting to life with a disability that you can't fully understand unless you've experienced them firsthand.'Supporting the Champions of TomorrowEarly on, Al Mheiri met others like himself in hospital waiting rooms and gymnasiums. He struck up conversations, built trust, and slowly began guiding others toward recovery and reinvention. His work has had a ripple effect throughout the UAE. He was instrumental in launching national programmes that enabled athletes of determination to represent the UAE on the global stage. He is determined to ensure that young athletes of determination have the needed resources, support, and belief to thrive.'We invest in our youth because they're the champions of tomorrow. It's our job to give them the opportunities they deserve,' he said. Al Mheiri believes that inclusion is a shared community responsibility.'People of determination are just like anyone else. When you give them trust and confidence, they'll show you they have so much to offer and can be a real asset to any community,' he said. 'To me, this is the true meaning of life – making someone else's life a little easier, a little brighter. That's what brings me peace.'In 2017, Al Mheiri received the prestigious Abu Dhabi Award in recognition of his contributions. He draws inspiration from the legacy of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who turned desert landscapes into lush greens through extensive environmental initiatives. Al Mheiri's daughter, Thabia, looks up to him with the same admiration. 'My father is my biggest hero,' she told Aletihad . 'I feel inspired by everything he does every day.'
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Fintech to elevate the banking industry, says Ibrahim Al Mheiri
Demand for seamless, convenient and accessible transactions is driving uptake of fintech solutions while AI-driven solutions have also enhanced Islamic investment options, providing hyper-personalised results that comply with Islamic principles, says an industry veteran. Ibrahim Al Mheiri, Head of Islamic Banking, Mashreq, said Shariah-compliant banking is actually suitable for every customer, including non-Muslim customers. 'We are seeing increased demand for financial solutions that align with customers' ethical principles, and by its very nature, Islamic banking meets that demand,' Al Mheiri told BTR. In an exclusive interview, Al Mheiri deep dives into how Islamic finance can harness the potential of open banking and embedded finance have made financial transactions seamless, more convenient and accessible. Excerpts from the interview: Fintech has changed banking and sets new benchmarks. How did it revolutionise Islamic banking? As with conventional banking, fintech has had tremendous impact on Islamic banking. Innovations such as open banking and embedded finance have made financial transactions seamless, more convenient and accessible, while digital banking and mobile apps have allowed customers — especially in underserved regions — access Shariah-compliant financial services easily, as well as making transactions faster and more efficient. Technology such as blockchain has enabled greater transparency in Islamic financial contracts, such as Murabaha and Sukuk, increasing compliance. Predictive analytics based on artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) now help Islamic banks assess creditworthiness in a Shariah-compliant way, avoiding interest-based credit scoring, and sophisticated fraud detection and compliance monitoring tools enhance operational security and regulatory adherence. AI-driven solutions have also enhanced Islamic investment options, providing hyper-personalised solutions that comply with Islamic principles. How do you see fintech will drive Islamic banking in the coming years? Do you think it will help promote Shariah-compliant products? The more fintech — and the associated technology and innovation — makes Shariah-compliant banking and financial solutions more accessible and convenient, the more it will drive uptake of Islamic banking. Essentially, we will see parallels between fintech in conventional banking and fintech in Islamic banking; it stands to reason that what will drive trends in one will be replicated in the other. A key area in which fintech will help promote Islamic banking is in ethics and principles; with tech and innovation enabling ever greater transparency and compliance, the involvement of fintech will make it easier for customers to choose financial products and services that match their religious and ethical requirements. What are the key factors influencing the Islamic banks to adopt fintech and promote its usage in today's day-to-day banking? As with conventional banking, the technology and innovation with which fintechs are associated are enabling something of a revolution, as are shifts in consumer expectations and developments in operational processes. Demand for seamless, convenient and accessible transactions is driving uptake of fintech solutions such as those made possible by open banking and embedded finance, while automation of everyday processes behind the scenes is enabling banks to enhance the customer experience to keep pace with expectations of always-available service. Financial inclusion, a core tenet of Islamic finance, is also a key factor; by adopting fintech solutions and the associated technology and innovation, we can expand our reach, increase financial inclusion and ensure the unbanked and underbanked can access the financial solutions they need. Underscoring all of this is the simple fact that Shariah-compliant banking is actually suitable for every customer, including non-Muslim customers. We are seeing increased demand for financial solutions that align with customers' ethical principles, and by its very nature, Islamic banking meets that demand. Do you see any adverse impact of fintech on Islamic banking? While developments such as automation — with technology and innovation taking over many of the more mundane, previously human-led processes — can naturally cause concern in the banking industry thanks to changes in human capital deployment, we see such changes as an opportunity. Instead of having their time taken up with routine tasks, our teams can focus on customers, and on providing a vastly enhanced customer experience. Automation also means quicker processes with fewer errors, benefiting everyone, and more time to focus on more complex tasks means customers can have their needs met faster and more intuitively. How do you expect fintech to lift Islamic banking in the next five years? We expect fintech to elevate the banking industry, whether conventional or Islamic. Technology and innovation are opening whole new avenues for banks and their customers, with vast enhancements to the customer experience and to operational efficiency. Key areas of evolution will be in driving innovation, enhancing efficiency, expanding reach, and increasing financial inclusion. With the continued acceleration of digital transformation, Islamic finance will become ever more accessible, transparent, and competitive, both in the GCC region and across the globe.
The National
26-02-2025
- Business
- The National
Investment platform 2PointZero to be listed on ADX by end of year, CEO says
Abu Dhabi-based investment platform 2PointZero aims to list its shares on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange by the end of this year amid the continued momentum for initial public offerings in the UAE. The company 'is extremely welcoming of partnerships across the globe, and aims to expand in Asia, Latina America and Africa,' group chief executive Mariam Al Mheiri told the Investopia conference in the UAE capital on Wednesday. She did not provide details of the total size of the planned offering or how much 2PointZero aims to raise through the transaction. Abu Dhabi's International Holding Company set up last year 2PointZero year with a total asset base of Dh100 billion ($27.2 billion). Companies under 2PointZero include private investment firm Chimera as well as its subsidiaries Lunate and Beltone. International Resources Holding, which is focused on energy transition minerals, Sagasse Investments, which had total assets of Dh8 billion as of 2023 and Citadel Technologies, which operates a crypto mining plant in Abu Dhabi and specialises in Bitcoin extraction, are among other businesses in the new holding company. Earlier this month, IRH bought Cairo-based digital financial service provider Maseera Holding and revealed plans to invest up to $1 billion over the next few years to support its expansion. Last year, IRH completed the acquisition of Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia, to expand its operations in the mining sector, with the value of the deal resting at $1.1 billion. Ms Al Mheiri said the Zambia mine is delivering about 100,000 tonnes of copper, with a plan to increase output to 220,000 tonnes. "IRH is a fully integrated mining company, exploration, mining all the way up to trading. So it's not just buying assets in the mining sector, but actually operating," she said. The listing plans come as IPO momentum continues in the Middle East, with the region's economies moving ahead with their diversification strategies. Last year, a number of companies listed their shares on regional stock markets including food delivery platform Talabat Holding, Lulu Group, Oman's oil and gas company OQEP, ADNH Catering, a unit of Abu Dhabi National Hotels, NMDC Energy, a unit of Abu Dhabi contractor National Marine Dredging Company, and Alef Education, among others. On Wednesday, UAE technology company Alpha Data said it raised Dh600 million from its IPO on the ADX.
