AbdulAziz Al Ghurair, CEO of Mashreq, a leading financial institution in the UAE, has won the Arab Banker of the year for the private sector award 2010-2011 from the Union of Arab Banks (UAB).

He received the award during the annual International Arab Banking Summit (IABS) for 2011, which was hosted by Union of Arab Banks and Associazione Bancaria Italian in Rome.

The criteria for selecting the UAB Arab Banker of the year for the private sector included contribution to the overall development of banking in the Arab world, extensive experience, and developing inter-Arab banking relations and actively supporting the objectives of the UAB.

“It is a great honour for me to receive this award, which recognizes the efforts of influential industry leaders,” Al Ghurair said.

“I am grateful to the Union of Arab Banks for this award and I am aware of the responsibility that comes with it. The financial industry in the region certainly succeeded in achieving stability and we look forward to a bright future, which requires long-term planning and execution as we anticipate steady growth.”

Al Ghurair held various dignitary positions, which had its impacts both regionally and internationally, most significantly elected as the Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council (UAE Parliament) for a tenure of four years, which ended in February.

As the chief executive officer of Mashreq, Al Ghurair’s extensive expertise led the bank to expand in GCC and the region, offer its customers high quality and prompt services. – TradeArabia News Service