The founder and chairman of Al Islami Foods, Haj Saeed Ahmed Lootah, has been given the ‘Head of State Merit Award’ in recognition of his role in the building of the union, by UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Other personalities were also honoured at the ceremony, a statement from the company said.

'As our country looks forward to more prosperous future, it does not forget the founding fathers and others who had built the federation and made the UAE an advanced state,' Sheikh Khalifa said.  

The event was attended by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and members of the Supreme Council. 

Lootah is a self-made businessman who progressed from being an entrepreneur to an accomplished teacher, author, economist, banker, businessman and a visionary community leader.

He has started a number of businesses as well as not-for-profit education and research ventures.

Lootah also pioneered the development of ‘Halal Food’ and ‘Islamic Banking’ in UAE that spread across the Middle East and beyond.

One such venture is ‘Al Islami Foods’ company, formerly known as Co-op Islami, established in 1981 which has become a trend-setter in the GCC’s processed halal food industry.. – TradeArabia News Service