Alinma Bank CEO, Mr. Abdulmohsen Al-Fares was presented with the “CEO of the Year” award at this year’s Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA), which were held recently in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The award was presented in the presence of Bosnian president, Bakir Izetbegovic, who was this year’s GIFA Laureate and the event’s guest of honor. Al-Fares was recognized for his leadership in the Saudi banking industry, and for the integral role he has played in the establishment, growth, and success of Alinma Bank, which has become a pillar of the Saudi economy, and a leader in modern, innovative, Shariah-compliant prodcuts and services.
Speaking about the award Al-Fares said: "I am delighted to have received this award from one of the world's leading Islamic banking industry award programs. This award recognizes not only me; but also, all of my colleagues and staff at Alinma, whose efforts have made our collective success possible. Additionally, I am honored to have been recognized among other noteworthy individuals from around the world, who have dedicated themselves to the advancement of Islamic finance and the Islamic economy globally, and have contributed significantly in this regard.
“I thank God for guiding me through the establishment of Alinma Bank, which has strengthened the banking sector in the kingdom, and which stands as a testament to the efficacy of Islamic banking. I thank my colleagues and staff at Alinma Bank who have been thoroughly committed to bringing our vision to fruition. I thank the Alinma Bank Board of Directors for their unending support of Alinma’s executive management, in their execution of strategic initiatives. And I thank the Saudi government, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, as well as supervisory and regulatory bodies, which have created a financial environment that is efficient, effective, and competitive at the global level.
The Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) launched in 2011 and have since grown to become one of the world's most recognized Islamic award programs. GIFA is highly regarded by Islamic banking and finance professionals. It monitors and evaluates financial organizations and entities, regulatory bodies, central banks, service providers, researchers, and academics in various sectors of Islamic finance, while working to achieve its overall objective of strengthening the Islamic banking and finance industry globally.