UAE's Omniyat Properties President named 2008 Young Global Leader

A selection committee comprising the world's top media leaders and chaired by Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, selected 30-year-old Amjad, who presides over businesses generating $1.5bn of sales and more than 500 staff throughout the GCC region, for his outstanding technical and managerial achievements in accelerating Omniyat's rise as a major private developer with a unique focus on smart and intelligent buildings.

"The World Economic Forum recognizes and acknowledges the top young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society, and potential contribution to shaping the future", said WEF Founder and Executive Chairman, Klaus Schwab.

"We need young global leaders to be a voice for the future in the global thought process and catalysts for initiatives in the global public interest."

From its inception, Omniyat's focus has been on developing iconic projects and creating futuristic, innovative and high-tech buildings, transforming people's expectations of future homes and offices.

Omniyat translates from Arabic as 'wishes' and its vision reflects Amjad's innovation in shaping the company into one of the region's most respected and successful privately owned premium developers with an international reputation for world-class delivery.

"While I intend to steer Omniyat towards persistently pushing beyond conventional boundaries, this global honour, though personal in nature, belongs to the company as a whole and its dedicated staff," said Amjad, who was last year named one of the GCC's top 100 CEOs by CEO Middle East magazine.

"The company will also live up to the social responsibilities inherent in the WEF accolade by this year establishing the Omniyat Foundation, which will drive health and education initiatives for the underprivileged. In striving towards this goal, I hope to benefit from the Young Global Leaders community to make a difference globally."

The essence of Amjad's leadership is matching inspiring vision with people who can successfully translate it into reality.

Amjad joins a powerful Young Global Leaders community of 245 executives, public figures and intellectuals who are all aged 40 or younger. He has also been invited to join The Forum of Young Global Leaders, a global network of peers formed to significantly impact world affairs and shape the global agenda.

"It is our belief that this community of committed individuals can actually change the status quo," said David Aikman, Senior Director and Head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders. "They are not only a preview of what effective, collaborative 21st century leadership might look like, they are actually putting it into practice today. It is our privilege to work with such inspirational leaders."

As part of their engagement, Young Global Leaders give their time to task forces to initiate, develop and drive innovative solutions on important, globally oriented issues, including health, education, the environment, global governance and security, and development and poverty.