The Sharjah Award for Public Finance entered its third edition on 14 August 2024, when the Sharjah Finance Department (SFD) officially launched the new cycle in collaboration with the Arab Administrative Development Organisation (ARADO). The award is designed to promote the highest performance standards in public finance and encourage the sharing of best practices across financial institutions throughout the Arab world.
Ceremony and Key Officials
The launch ceremony was attended by senior officials, including Sheikh Rashid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah Finance Department, and Salem Youssef Al Qaseer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Sheikh Rashid emphasised that the award strengthens proactive public finance practices and supports sustainable development across the Arab region.
Nasser Al Hatlan Al Qahtani, Director General of ARADO, also highlighted the award's importance in boosting the efficiency and quality of Arab financial institutions.
22 Categories and Expanded Scope
Under the leadership of Salem Al Qaseer, this edition expanded to 22 categories — 11 institutional and 11 individual — reflecting the award's growing reach and influence. To promote awareness, planned visits and workshops will take place in several Arab countries, with the goal of deepening engagement among regional financial institutions.
Arab Financial Forum and Registration
A key feature of the third cycle is the second Arab Financial Forum, where previous award winners will offer guidance and mentorship to new participants. An introductory session at the launch provided an overview of the award and its sub-programmes.
Registration is open from August 2024 through April/May 2025, welcoming eligible institutions and individuals from across the Arab world to apply.
Drive Toward Arab Financial Excellence
The Sharjah Award for Public Finance is the first award of its kind in the Arab world, established to drive innovation and transparency as foundations for sustainable economic growth. The third edition is expected to deliver a significant positive impact on the Arab financial sector, reinforcing a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
