26 November 2015

The region's best and brightest in accountancy and finance were celebrated last night at the fifth annual Middle East Accountancy & Finance Excellence Awards. The ceremony was held at Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development for the UAE.

Organised by ICAEW, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and with the support of The British Embassy in the UAE, the gala event is a preeminent awards programme for accountancy and finance professionals in the region. H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan opened last night's proceedings with a keynote address in which he praised the efforts of ICAEW in contributing to the development of accountancy and finance professionals in the region.

Commenting on the awards, Michael Armstrong FCA, ICAEW Regional Director for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), said: "We are honoured that His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan has extended his support to the Middle East Accountancy & Finance Excellence Awards for the fifth consecutive year.

"It gives us great pleasure to celebrate the region's best talent in the accountancy and finance profession. These are the finance professionals who are continually demonstrating the highest professional and ethical standards. Their contribution helps not only their respective organisations, but also their local economies as they help build robust financial systems necessary for sustainable economic growth."

There were awards across 12 categories, including the prestigious Business Leader of the Year award. Among the winners were: Sajjad Haider, Founder of Sajjad Haider & Co. for Outstanding Contribution to the Profession by an Individual; Sayyida Rawan Ahmed Al Said, Managing Director and CEO of Takaful Oman Insurance for Business Leader of the Year; Hemant Joshi from NASS Group for CFO of the Year; and  Zafar Husain Rizvi from DSR Professional Training for ICAEW Chartered Accountant of the Year.

Industry professionals from across the Middle East attended last night's gala event, which included keynote addresses from Andrew Ratcliffe, ICAEW President, and legendary BBC chief news correspondent Kate Adie, OBE. Winners were selected by a judging panel comprising nine of the region's most respected industry professionals. The judging committee this year were: Bashir Siman OBE; UKTI Special Representative to the UAE for Financial Services; Dr. Hadi Shahid, Founder & Managing Partner of Alliott Hadi Shahid; Dr. Jeanette Vinke, Senior Lecturer at the American University of Sharjah and advisory board member of ICAEW Middle East; Mark Beer OBE, Chief Executive and Registrar of the DIFC Courts; Dr. Sameer Al Ansari, Founder and CEO, PE+ Capital Advisors; Stephen Williams, CFO of Gulf International Bank; Steven Ralls, Senior Principal, Financial Audit & Examination, Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority; Surya Subramanian, Group Chief Financial Officer, Emirates NBD; and Umar Saleem, CFO, DEPA.

The Middle East Accountancy & Finance Excellence Awards are organised by ICAEW - a world leader in the accountancy and finance profession with over 144,000 members across the globe. The awards were launched in 2011 to celebrate the very best in the accountancy and finance profession in the Middle East and have become a key date in the annual calendar of regional business leaders.

Appendix A:

Middle East Accountancy & Finance Excellence Awards 2015 Winners:



-Ends- 

Media enquiries:
Contact Jamie Douglass, ICAEW press office, on +44 (0)20 7920 8718 or email James.Douglass@icaew.com 
Mutaz Albadri, Mojo PR, on +971 (0)50 570 6785 or email mutaz@mojo-me.com
Raw'a
Al Shamaileh, Mojo PR, on +971 (0)55 155 5753 or email rawa@mojo-me.com

About ICAEW
1.    ICAEW is a world leading professional membership organisation that promotes, develops and supports over 144,000 chartered accountants worldwide. We provide qualifications and professional development, share our knowledge, insight and technical expertise, and protect the quality and integrity of the accountancy and finance profession.

As leaders in accountancy, finance and business our members have the knowledge, skills and commitment to maintain the highest professional standards and integrity. Together we contribute to the success of individuals, organisations, communities and economies around the world.

Because of us, people can do business with confidence.

2.    ICAEW is a founder member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide and the Global Accounting Alliance.

© Press Release 2015