Tamweel CEO Adel Al Shirawi named Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum

Al Shirawi joins an elite group of 250 global leaders under the age of 41, including 25 from the Middle East. He was nominated to this prestigious group by the Forum's Selection Committee, which is chaired by Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan and is composed of the world's top media leaders.

Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, said in a written statement: "Confronting and tackling global challenges will require fresh, strategic thinking from global leaders, as well as innovative and truly international solutions based on global collaboration. This is why I created The Forum of Young Global Leaders - to be a voice for the future in global thought processes."

Adel Al Shirawi said: "Being named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum is a great honour for both me personally and for Tamweel. As an organisation, Tamweel has proven its commitment to global best practices in our rapidly growing community. Indeed, we see our role as far more than only providers of home finance: we are dedicated to helping individuals and companies realise their ambitions and dreams."

He continued: "The World Economic Forum, under the leadership of Professor Schwab, has proved what can be accomplished at a global level when great minds dedicate themselves to genuine dialogue and concerted action. At a much more local level, Tamweel shares those same aims. I am extremely grateful to the World Economic Forum for its recognition of all that has been achieved at Tamweel over the past few short years. This is truly an honour for all of us."

Established in March 2004, Tamweel became a public joint-stock company in June 2006. A provider of a wide range of unparalleled customer-service solutions and innovative Sharia-compliant home finance products, Tamweel works with 265 partners across the country. Under Al Shirawi's leadership, the company has set its sights on becoming the regional home finance leader.

Prior to being appointed CEO, Al Shirawi was an active member of Tamweel's Board of Directors, where he helped devise long-term growth and expansion strategies. Having financed property worth more than AED 7 billion, the company has demonstrated its commitment to both the individual dream of home ownership and the nation's collective aspiration to global economic excellence.

These core values are embodied by Al Shirawi, who brings to Tamweel a lifetime of service as a key decision-maker at many of the UAE's most important businesses. He has served as Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer at the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), and as Secretary General and Executive Director, Shared Services, at The Corporate Office Group.
Al Shirawi also served as Assistant Director General, Finance and Administration, at the Dubai Department of Ports and Customs and as that organization's Director of Information Technology.

Over the course of his storied professional career, Al Shirawi also served as a member of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Technology Taskforce, an executive member of the Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC) and member of the Dubai 'e-Government' Executive Team.

Drawn from a pool of 4,000 candidates, the 250 Young Global Leaders for 2007 includes 125 business leaders, as well as leaders from governments, academia, media and society at large from nearly 70 countries. The current community of 416 Young Global Leaders represents 90 countries and includes Larry Page and Sergey Brin, co-founders of Google; Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia; and Michelle Guthrie, Chief Executive Officer, Star Group.