Top global Asian leaders were honoured at the 16th ABLF Awards under various categories in a glittering ceremony at the Expo 2020 Dubai. 

 

The ABLF Awards 2022, held under the theme Resilience Rising: The Great Reset, showcased the power of resilient leadership and meaningful collaborations as 21 global stalwarts from industry, governance, technology and social enterprise, were felicitated by Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and ABLF Patron, with Guest of Honour of the evening, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO, Emirates Group. 

 

Leaders including Ban ki-moon, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Zayed R Alzayani, Sheikha Khawla Bint Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Sheikh Shamma Bint Suhail bin Faris Al Mazrui, Mariam Almheiri, Shamma Al Mazrui, Nadia Zaal, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Aroon Poorie, Nuseir Yassin and Majid Al-Usaimi were among those honoured. 

 

The ABLF Awards, which returned as an in-person event after the onset of the pandemic, was held in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy and Dubai Cares.  

 

The high-profile event featured iconic leaders from the UAE along with their counterparts from Israel, South Korea, Sri Lanka, China, Bhutan, India and Bahrain, in a true reflection of the Great Asian Century with a special focus on the measures adopted by leaders to steer their countries, companies and communities towards growth in the post-pandemic era.  

 

As a prelude to the grand Awards Gala was an engaging panel discussion featuring Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Dr Tariq Al-Gurg, CEO and Vice-Chairman, Dubai Cares; Mariam AlMheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, UAE and Alain Bejjani, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Holding. 

 

The discussion rallied around the strategies and approaches that leaders need to implement to recover from the impact of pandemic with the overarching conclusion being that effective partnerships and a deep commitment towards improving the lives of people, were the only ways to foster equitable and sustainable growth.   

 

This was followed by the ABLF Awards presentation that saw some of the most inspiring and influential leaders receive the sustainably-crafted 3-D printed, diamond-studded ABLF Awards trophy. Each Trophy carried a high quality diamond certified from the ABLF Luxury Partner Dhamani Jewels, as a  timeless symbol of authentic and integrity-led leadership.

 

Congratulating the winners of the ABLF Awards on their commitment towards development, Sheikh Nahayan said: “We are here because we know the immense value of ABLF Initiatives. ABLF devotes its energy and resources to promoting the great potential of Asian business. It highlights a clear determination in the region to improve the business and economic environment, to promote growth and development, to encourage innovation at all levels, and to have greater participation and influence in the global economy. ABLF is clearly dedicated to fostering the regional cooperation essential to the growth of knowledge and the seizing of opportunities in Asian countries.”  

 

Gender parity was one of the key narratives of the ABLF Awards 2022 as some stellar leaders whose contributions towards society and achievements in their respective fields had made them towering icons of women empowerment. Among the key winners were Sheikha Khawla bint Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Founder, Khawla Art and Culture, UAE; Sheikha Dr Shamma Bint Mohammed Bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Chairperson, Board of Directors, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions, UAE; Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, UAE; Shamma Bint Suhail Bin Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, UAE; Nadia Zaal, CEO, Zaya & Al Barari, UAE; and Dr Aisha Bint Buti Bin Bishr, Vice Chairwoman of Emaar Development Board.

 

The ABLF Awards in 2022, showcased a powerful partner profile with the Aditya Birla Group (A $48 billion global conglomerate headquartered in India), Zand (UAE's first digital bank to provide both retail and corporate banking), the Etisalat Group (among the world’s leading telecom groups in emerging markets), UNICEF and the ABLF Luxury Partner, Dhamani 1969.

 

The following is the list of winners of the ABLF Awards 2022:

ABLF Sustainable Leadership Icon Award : Sheikha Khawla bint Ahmed Al Suwaidi -Founder, Khawla Art and Culture, UAE     

ABLF Social Influencer Award:

● Sheikha Dr Shamma Bint Mohammed Bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Chairperson, Board of Directors, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions, UAE 

● Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Global Designer | Founder & Creative Head, Sabyasachi, India

● Nuseir Yassin  CEO & Founder, Nas Daily and Nas Academy, UAE

● Majid Al-Usaimi, President, Asian Paralympic Committee (APC); UNICEF National Ambassador, UAE

ABLF Business Courage Award: Zhang Junguo Chairman, Middle East Region Committee, ICBC, Hong Kong

 ABLF Outstanding Business Achiever Award: Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director, Lulu Financial Group, UAE

ABLF Ambassador of Commerce Award: Zayed R Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Bahrain               

ABLF Statesperson Award: 

• Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President, Uganda

● M K Stalin, Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu, India

● Lyonpo Loknath Sharma, Minister of Economic Affairs, Bhutan

● Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister, Sri Lanka 

ABLF Business Excellence Award: Purushottam Agrawal  Chairman, Samta Group, India, Founder, Ajanta Pharma Ltd, India     

ABLF Trailblazer Award: Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, UAE

ABLF Business Innovator Award: Nadia Zaal, CEO, Zaya & Al Barari, UAE

ABLF Business Innovator Award: Dr Aisha Bint Buti Bin Bishr, Vice Chairwoman of Emaar Development Board, Former Founding Director-General, Smart Dubai, UAE

 ABLF Rising Star Award: Shamma Bint Suhail Bin Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, UAE   

 ABLF Lifetime Achievement Award: 

• Aroon Purie, Founding Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, India Today Group, India

● Lt. General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General, GDRFA Dubai, UAE

ABLF Outstanding Business Economist Award: Dr Ron Malka, Director-General, Ministry of Economy & Industry, Israel                   

ABLF Social Humanitarian Award: Ban Ki-Moon, Co-chair, Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens; 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations  -TradeArabia News Service