Mohammed bin Saud honours Sharjah Public Finance Award winners

The event witnessed the presence of ministers, undersecretaries, directors general of the winning Arab government entities, senior officials from local departments, representatives from the UAE’s financial sector, participants from various Arab countries, and the award’s valued partners and sponsors.

The ceremony opened with the UAE national anthem, followed by a recitation from the Holy Quran. Attendees then viewed an introductory video showcasing the award’s objectives, developmental milestones, and its growing regional impact across the Arab world.

Financial excellence: A development imperative

In his opening address, His Excellency Salem Youssef Al Qaseer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, stated: “What we are witnessing today is not merely a recognition ceremony, but a reflection of the Arab region’s growing institutional maturity. Financial excellence is no longer a luxury—it is a developmental necessity and a tool for shaping the future. Today, we celebrate exceptional achievements and visionary Arab professionals who are setting a new standard in public finance—anchored in efficiency, transparency, accountability, and continuous innovation.”

He further noted that the third edition of the award saw robust participation from 11 Arab countries—including Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Tunisia, Kuwait, Morocco, Yemen, Mauritania, and Oman—as well as UAE federal and local entities from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah. Their initiatives reflected genuine efforts to enhance public financial performance and adopt governance and sustainability best practices.

Al Qaseer emphasized that the true value of the award lies not only in winning but in the institutional transformation it fosters—encouraging entities to review internal systems, enhance financial tools, and improve spending efficiency.

Sharjah’s vision for regional financial governance

His Excellency Sheikh Rashid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Secretary-General of the Award and Director of the Sharjah Finance Department, affirmed during his speech: “Since its inception, the award has carried a noble message: to promote excellence and instill a culture of innovation in public financial management across the Arab world, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.”

He added that the award’s general secretariat has embraced this strategic vision by developing a comprehensive operational framework—starting with submission and screening, through to evaluation in partnership with the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO)—based on strict transparency and objectivity criteria.

He highlighted a major development in the third edition: the introduction of six new categories, bringing the total to 22 categories (11 institutional and 11 individual), reflecting the growing scope of the award and its alignment with the evolving needs of public financial institutions and professionals.

A unified Arab vision for financial excellence

Speaking on behalf of the Arab Administrative Development Organization, His Excellency Dr Nasser Al Hatlan Al Qahtani, Director General of ARADO and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, described the award as a powerful model of unified Arab intent to strengthen public financial governance.

“This strategic partnership with the award reinforces our joint mission to equip Arab governments with tools of excellence and sustainable development, aligned with global best practices and regional contexts,” he said.

Dr Al Qahtani noted the award’s role in fostering positive competition, embedding a culture of quality, and encouraging innovation in financial planning and resource management. He commended the third edition’s submissions for their analytical depth, geographic diversity, and pioneering spirit.

Honouring the winners

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi honoured a wide array of institutional and individual winners during the ceremony.

Among the Institutional Awards, the "Outstanding Public Finance Entity" award was presented to Al Ain Municipality (UAE) and Greater Amman Municipality (Jordan). Dubai Police (UAE) received the award for "Outstanding Financial Systems & Applications." The "Outstanding Financial Project Management" award went to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Saudi Arabia) and the Directorate of Financial Affairs, Ministry of Education (Iraq). The Federal Tax Authority (UAE) was recognised for "Innovation in Public Finance," while the General Financial Control Authority, Ministry of Finance (Tunisia), received the award for "Financial Control & Risk Management."

Dubai Department of Finance (UAE) and the Ministry of Finance (Kuwait) were honoured for "Financial Service Delivery." The "Procurement & Contracts Management" award was given to Ras Al Khaimah Police (UAE). The Ministry of Finance (UAE) won for "Cash & Sovereign Funds Management," and the National Social Insurance Authority (Egypt) was awarded for "Social Security Fund Management." The "Financial Sustainability" award went to the New and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Egypt).

In the Individual Awards, the "Outstanding Arab Financial Sector Leader" award was presented to Mohammed bin Abdul Latif Al Huzami (Saudi Arabia), Anwar Abdel Jabbar (Palestine), and Jalal Hamimo (Morocco). The "Outstanding Arab CFO" award went to Nouf Al-Fuhaidi (Qatar), Amina Al-Shamsi (UAE), and Amina Al-Enzan (Qatar).

The "Outstanding Financial Expert" award was granted to Noufel Al-Nasri (Morocco), Moaz Al-Saliti (Tunisia), and Haitham Al-Aqrabawi (UAE). Recognised as "Outstanding Financial Researchers" were Mohammed Adnan Zaid (Palestine), Al-Hassan Kotb Abdel Rahman (Egypt), and Mohammed Abragh (Morocco).

In the category of "Outstanding Budget Director," winners included Hassan Bosna (Saudi Arabia), Salem Al-Abdulrazzaq (Kuwait), and Zuhair Rahmouni (Tunisia). Saida Qaddoumi (UAE) received the award for "Outstanding Tax Director."

The "Outstanding Accounts Manager" award went to Nermine Mohamed (Palestine), Dr. Heba Sabir (Egypt), and Dr. Hanan Abu El-Maati (Egypt). Honoured as "Outstanding Financial Systems Managers" were Ahmed Al-Jawadeh (Jordan), Amina bin Lutah (UAE), and Hazem Riyad (Palestine).

The "Outstanding Procurement & Contracts Manager" award was given to Sulaiman Abdullah (UAE), Mohamed Hosni Mustafa (Palestine), and Mona Al-Maadawi (Egypt). Amina Al-Mandous (UAE), Hussein Al-Abdoli (Dubai), and Alaa Al-Khatib (Jordan) received the award for "Outstanding Section Head / Mid-level Leader."

The "Outstanding Financial Auditor" award was presented to Nazem Qeiza (Tunisia), Sabira Nasib (Egypt), and Yazan Al-Shubailat (Jordan). Finally, the "Outstanding Financial Accountant" award went to Areej Tayseer Taim (Jordan), Mohamed Yousry Khalifa (Egypt), and Amina Al-Balushi (Dubai).

A regional platform for financial governance excellence

Launched in 2018, the Sharjah Public Finance Award is a pioneering Arab initiative that aims to foster a culture of excellence in public sector financial management. It seeks to create a unified Arab identity in financial governance—rooted in transparency, efficiency, and innovation.

As a leading Arab award in its field, it champions the adoption of high-performance standards in public finance, promotes best practices, and supports institutional transformation across the Arab world through a rigorous, transparent, and impartial evaluation framework.