DUBAI - For the second running year, the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) has been named winner of the Service Award in the Free Zone Trade & Investment Destination category as part of the World's Greatest Brands & Leaders 2018- 2019 Asia & GCC.

The award was bestowed after an extensive research by the United Research Services in coordination with the audit firm Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of HFZA and Sharjah Airport Free Zone Authority (SAIF Zone) was also named winner of AsiaOne 40 Most Influential Leaders Under 40 2018-2019 Asia $GCC. Al Mazrouei’s accolade was given in recognition of his excellent leadership skills, which have been instrumental in the continuous and unprecedented growth witnessed by the emirate's free zones over the last few years as well as for his vital role in developing a leading logistics services sector at the regional and global levels. Al Mazrouei received the two awards at a ceremony recently organized by Asia One Magazine & United World Holdings LLC at the JW Marquis Marriott, Dubai.

The awarding ceremony was attended by senior officials, businessmen and investors from Asia and the Gulf region as well as representatives of the media. The winners were selected on the basis of research across 16 industries and 62 sub-categories, to select 100 winning brands and leaders from Asia and GCC countries, who have had a significant impact and played a vital role in realizing sustainable economic development in their countries in particular, the Gulf region and the Asian continent in general Al Mazrouei expressed his thanks and gratitude to the United Research Services for the trust they have given him, stressing that the sustained achievements being made in HFZA and SAIF ZONE are the fruit of the unlimited support granted by H.H. Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

"We are inspired by His Highness’ wise vision and directives that enhance the reputation of Sharjah as a major global economic powerhouse characterized by having one of the highest rates of regional economic diversification on the global stage" Al Mazrouei said. He thanked and lauded the relentless efforts made by HFZA staff over the course of the past year, which resulted in winning such a prestigious international award for the second consecutive year. "Winning the award represents an international recognition of our employees’ efforts and HFZA’s leadership and excellence in providing quality services according to the highest international standards. HFZA has become a key magnet for capital, investors and professionals seeking our competitive services, benefits and incentives" Al Mazrouei underlined. "This renewed victory reflects our keenness and continuous efforts to upgrade HFZA’s services and performance," he further said. For the next stage, we are seeking to bring about a quantum leap in HFZA’s different activities and we will continue the march of excellence and achievements thanks to our wise leadership, its vision and directives, HFZA director stated. In the Sharjah-based HFZA alone, a total of 76 companies have won various categories of the Superbrands UAE 2018 Award, which is awarded by the prestigious Superbrands Worldwide organisation, an independent authority that specialises in assessing and highlighting branding excellence around the world.

In the past couple of years, HFZA received a host of prestigious international awards including the 2017 " world's best free zone for 2017 , International Business Excellence (IBX) Awards 2017, the World Confederation of Businesses Award , among many more. HFZA’s winning of various awards emphasizes its excellence and being one of the fastest growing free zones in the Middle East, which reaffirms its leadership in providing superior services, facilities and attractive incentives for companies, investors and individuals from around the world.

© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2019.