Abraham Accords peace deal gives Emirati youth leader new slant in life
December 2, 2021, 12:33 am

Abraham Accords peace deal gives Emirati youth leader new slant in life

Saoud Saqer bin Hamoodah with Ilan Sztulman Starosta, the Israeli Consul-General in Dubai

The Khaleej Times reported, Saoud Saqer bin Hamoodah is a 30-year-old socially active Emirati youth leader and winner of the Khalifa Award for Education. The Abraham Accords peace deal has given him a new slant in life and now he aspires to become an ambassador and represent the UAE.

It mentioned that Hamoodah, a graduate in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the United Arab Emirates University, has led many initiatives to encourage youngsters to join hands in nation building.

He said: “From 2014 up to 2016, I was part of the UAE youth empowerment strategy. I was the leader of the project called: National Youth Council. I was very busy then. So, we would be working on the weekends with the ministry.”

UAE-Dubai city buildings/Pixabay

During university years which till 2017, Hamoodah initiated a marketing programme to promote the university in the region.

“I started a discount card programme. It was one of the biggest programmes at the university. I was marketing the university in the region by making collaborations with companies and establishing new cooperation with other universities. The university actually liked the programme so much that they gave me a job there. So, while I was studying engineering, I was also working for the university.”

The highlight of his university days was winning the Khalifa Award for Education for his innovative project.

He talked about this saying: “The project was based on utilising nano lasers to create artificial hearts. Basically it creates micro channels in the artificial hearts. This is related to bio-engineering. The actual project would have cost Dh700,000 but we did it at just Dh17,000. It was innovative.”

The Khaleej Times said that Hamoodah headed the university’s mechanical association and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and also created an innovation club.

He told the Khaleej Times: “I believe that the greatest person is the one who spreads greatness around. If you want to be a great person and achieve something, you have to spread greatness among your team. It should always be about ‘we’ and not ‘I’.”

With his work experience, Hamoodah was appointed as the head of sales and marketing at UAE Events.

However, following the Abraham Accords, Hamoodah has shifted his focus on promoting Israel-UAE relations and wishes to represent the country as a diplomat.

Hamoodah added: “I am a consultant for the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the UAE’s affairs. This happened after the Abraham Accords. I have travelled to Israel. I have moved from engineering to international relations. In the future, I see myself more into public relations and diplomacy. Hopefully, I will be an ambassador one day."

Source: khaleejtimes

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.