Latest news with #HamriyahFreeZoneAuthority
Zawya
24-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saud Salim Al Mazrouei wins Most Innovative Leader of the Year at Stevie Awards 2025
Al Mazrouei: This accolade is a testament to the achievements of the two free zones made possible thanks to the vision of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. UAE: His Excellency Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) and the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone), has been honoured at the 2025 Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, receiving silver in the "Most Innovative Leader of the Year" category and bronze for "Innovative Achievement in Thought Leadership." The Stevie Awards, one of the most prestigious globally, honoured Al Mazrouei in recognition of his excellence in leading strategic projects that promote sustainable economic development. His expertise in managing Sharjah free zones has helped attract more than 15,000 companies from 160 countries, reinforcing their status as top investment hubs in the region and beyond. Al Mazrouei was selected from a pool of more than 1,100 nominees representing 13 countries. The awards ceremony, held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah under the patronage of the Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce, featured a distinguished judging panel composed of global business and economic experts. The judging process involved a detailed and detailed set of criteria to evaluate the creativity and real-world impact of leadership practices implemented by institutions and individuals, ensuring that only those with the highest standards of excellence and innovation were chosen as winners. Al Mazrouei received the honour from Michael Gallagher, Executive Chairman of the Stevie Awards in the presence of senior government officials, private sector representatives, and members of the press. Outstanding achievement His Excellency Saud Salim Al Mazrouei emphasised that winning the Stevie Awards is a testament to the collective efforts of the teams at both HFZA and SAIF Zone. 'This prestigious recognition will further reinforce our commitment to adopting cutting-edge practices, fostering innovation, and striving for excellence in managing the two free zones. From creating a model investment environment to delivering world-class services that streamline business operations, the free zones have set a benchmark for global competitiveness,' Al Mazrouei said. 'This achievement would not have been possible had it not been for the wise vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his ongoing support for the development of the Emirate's free zones.' Leading global destination His Excellency noted that HFZA and SAIF Zone achieved significant milestones last year, attracting more than 1,600 companies from across the globe. 'This recognition is more than just an award—it's a motivation to keep pushing forward, strengthening Sharjah's position as a global leader in free zones and innovative services. It also reaffirms the emirate's role as a key economic powerhouse, known for its remarkable diversification. I sincerely appreciate the Stevie Awards organising committee, the Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce, and the jury for this honour. Our commitment to investors, along with our drive for innovation and excellence, will continue to guide us as we enhance our services and introduce new, forward-thinking initiatives.' Al Mazrouei added. Earlier in 2024, the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority earned three prestigious global accolades at the 11th edition of the Global Free Zones of the Year awards 2024 by fDi Intelligence, affiliated with the Financial Times. HFZA has ranked second as the best free zone globally in 2024, winning the Global Free Zone of the Year Award. In addition, HFZA received high commendations in two key categories: Highly Commended Industrial Free Zone—Middle East and Highly Commended Industrial Free Zone—Globally. Global award Established in 2002, the Stevie Awards is one of the world's leading business awards, recognizing the outstanding achievements and contributions of organizations and individuals globally. It has become one of the most prestigious awards worldwide, with a jury comprising over 200 executives, entrepreneurs, and experts from various industries. The organization is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, USA. It manages several international business awards programs, including the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, which specifically cater to businesses and professionals in the MENA region. This year, the competition was fiercer than ever, with a record 1,100 nominees vying for top honours across more than 150 categories. These categories cover a broad spectrum, including achievements and innovations, institutional excellence, public relations and corporate communications, customer service and human resources, individual and organisational accomplishments, live and virtual events, social media, management and technology, sustainability, thought leadership, and many more. -Ends- Ahmad Dwairi: Misbar Communications Nermin Fodah: Misbar Communications nermin@
Gulf Today
15-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Sharjah's investment opportunities highlighted to Chinese businesses
The Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) and the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (SAIF Zone) hosted a high-level delegation from the People's Republic of China to discuss ways to enhance bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The discussions focused on boosting investment opportunities for Chinese businesses in the Emirate of Sharjah, capitalizing on the two zones' competitive advantages, including advanced infrastructure and cutting-edge logistical solutions. These benefits empower global businesses, particularly the Chinese enterprises, to pursue their growth and expansion plans in regional markets. Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of HFZA and SAIF Zone, received Ou Boqian, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, along with the accompanying delegation. The meeting was attended by key officials from both sides. Lucrative opportunities: The meeting highlighted the business growth opportunities the Emirate of Sharjah offers to investors, thanks to its strategic location and its interconnected land, sea and air transportation network. The visiting delegation was also briefed on the attractive investment prospects and incentives available to the Chinese business community. The delegation's visit aimed to explore avenues for mutual collaboration, taking advantage of the commercial and industrial benefits that Sharjah and its free zone offer to investors. These advantages cater to companies seeking to invest in a stable and fertile environment equipped with integrated services and robust infrastructure that foster the growth and prosperity of their businesses. 95 Chinese companies in HFZA and SAIF Zone Saud Salim Al Mazrouei praised the robust economic and trade ties between the UAE and China. He pointed to the continuous growth in the number of Chinese businesses investing in the Hamriyah Free Zone and Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, with over 95 companies operating in diverse sectors, including oil and gas, electronics, heavy machinery, and engineering. This underscores the Chinese companies' increasing interest to invest and expand their footprint in Sharjah, leveraging the emirate's competitive advantages and attractive incentives offered to entrepreneurs and investors from around the world. These benefits provide Chinese businessmen with exceptional opportunities to establish strategic centers for their core businesses, industries and entrepreneurship. Cooperation potential: For her part, Ou Boqian underlined Sharjah's prominent status as a distinguished cultural and civilizational hub in the UAE, lauding its rich heritage and history that exemplify a sense of multicultural integration and peaceful coexistence. She highlighted the strong historical ties between Sharjah and China, which create a solid foundation for enhancing future cooperation between the two nations across various economic sectors. Recognized for its advanced investment landscape, Sharjah boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure that includes world-class ports and airports, coupled with the comprehensive services available in its free zones. These factors facilitate business operations for Chinese companies, empowering them to grow and thrive in various fields including heavy industries, advanced technology, and e-commerce. The Chinese delegation ended their visit with a tour of the facilities located in SAIF Zone and selected customs centers. They were introduced to the range of services including streamlined customs clearance procedures. These efforts leverage digital technologies to deliver high-quality, swift, and efficient services to investors. Sharjah's freezones marked major achievements and milestones in 2024, reinforcing their pivotal role in establishing the emirate as one of the most attractive destinations for local, regional, and international businesses. During the last year, the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) and the Sharjah Airport International Free Zone Authority (SAIF Zone) attracted more than 1,600 companies from various countries worldwide, including the US, Africa, India, Japan, the UK, Spain, Belgium, and others. In 2024, the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority attracted 900 companies and corporations across diverse sectors, specifically for the iron and steel manufacturing industry in the Middle East and Africa. In a global acknowledgement of these achievements, the authority clinched prestigious international awards at the 2024 iteration of the Global Free Zones of the Year Award by fDi Intelligence, a publication by the Financial Times Group, for the second consecutive time. The Sharjah Airport International Free Zone Authority experienced significant growth in the past year, attracting over 700 international and local companies from diverse sectors.
