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Mohammed Mahfoodh Al Ardhi is an Omani businessman and former military chief. He is currently the Executive Chairman of Investcorp, Chairman of Bank Sohar, [1] Previous Chairman of the National Bank of Oman and was both the youngest and longest serving native head of the Royal Air Force of Oman, having joined as a fighter pilot.
Al Ardhi was born in Sur, Oman, to Omani parents. His father was head of the regional customs office. Due to the demands of his father's career, Al Ardhi's family moved several times during his early life to various parts of western Oman. Eventually the family moved to Al Batana and finally to Muscat, where Al Ardhi attended secondary school. [2]
Al Ardhi's childhood was often difficult, not just for his family but for Oman as a whole. Families often lived without running water and electricity during this period. The Dhofar Rebellion, a conflict that eventually turned out to be the longest armed conflict in the history of the Arabian Peninsula (1965–1975), Britain's last colonial war in the region, and a proxy war in the Cold War, further exacerbated Oman's problems. It wasn't uncommon for civilians to become victims of the political and military conflict. Al Ardhi's family was no exception. In 1968 and 1969, their homes in Alaswad were bombed by revolutionaries. Government facilities, including his father's office, were often attacked. His father narrowly escaped death during a bombing when he stepped away from his desk. [2]
Shaped by the experience of his country and his family, Al Ardhi was drawn into public service as a young adult. His father played a crucial role during this phase, encouraging his son to take up internships with the government rather than attend summer camps, play sports, or travel. Al Ardhi worked briefly as an intern in the Ministry of Oil and Gas and the court of the Sultan of Oman before he joined the Royal Air Force of Oman at the age of 17. [2]
A fighter pilot in the early part of his career, he went on to graduate from the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force Military Academy in Cranwell with a Bachelor of Science in Military Science. He also attended the Command and Staff College in Bracknell and the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. [3] [4] [5]
Al Ardhi's service with the Royal Air Force included serving as chairman of the Oman–U.S. Military Commission and chairman of the Oman–Iran Military Committee. He was appointed head of the Omani Air Force, a position he held for 10 years. While head of the air force, Al Ardhi worked hard to standardize military procurement among Persian Gulf countries. Al Ardhi retired from the Royal Air Force with the rank of Air Vice Marshal. [3] [4] [6]
Recognising his contributions to the Royal Air Force of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said decorated Al Ardhi with the Order of Oman, the country's highest honor, in the year 2000. He has also received the Order of Al Amjad and Order of Al Istihqaq in appreciation of his public service. [3] [5]
Following his military service, Al Ardhi earned a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. After graduation, he returned to Oman to join his family's business. [3] [5]
In December 2017, Al Ardhi was appointed Chairman of Sohar International, a leading financial institution in Oman. [7]
He was presented with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in recognition of his outstanding leadership across the organization and contribution to the financial services sector at the Alam-Al Iktissad Wal-Amaal (AIWA) Awards in 2019. [8]
Prior to his role with Sohar International, Al Ardhi served as Vice Chairman and then Chairman of National Bank of Oman (NBO), one of the country's largest financial institutions. He was also the Chairman of the Executive, Nomination and Remuneration Committee (ENRC). As part of his role, Al Ardhi oversaw the bank's growth strategy and its corporate social responsibility programmes, especially those focusing on youth. [3] [5] Under Al Ardhi's leadership NBO has expanded into Islamic banking. NBO has sponsored a conference on Islamic banking and implemented related training for its staff. [9]
Al Ardhi received the “Bank of the Year” award for 2012 on behalf of NBO. The award, granted by ‘’The Banker’’ magazine and highly coveted, is given for excellence in global banking. [5]
Previously, Mohammed Mahfoodh Al Ardhi served as the chairman of Rimal Investment Projects, which has mandate from the government to direct invest in real estate development, oil and gas industry, and information technology. [10]
Al Ardhi also chaired Sundus Investments, which as of 2013 is spearheading the first Rotana hotel in Muscat, as well as other developments to support the country’s ambitious tourism objectives as outlined in the Sultanate of Oman’s plan for its economy, Vision 2020. As of May 2013, Sundus has invested $60 million in hotels so far and plans four more hotels in Oman including an "eco hotel" on Jebel Akhdar in the Al Jahar Mountains, a resort in Dhofar, and another resort in Sohar. [10] Speaking of his firm's investments in the hotel industry Al Ardhi said, "It ́s pretty much untapped. That ́s why we ́re investing in hotels in Oman. Oman is a fantastic country for tourism; the geography, the people, the topography, We have all the ingredients that make it a hot destination. It is untapped still. It is stable. And the growth is fantastic. That is why we are investing in this." [11]
Al Ardhi was also chairman of Al Ardhi Energy Services, offering support services to oil and gas industry in the GCC region. [10]
He is the Executive Chairman of Investcorp, a leading international provider of alternative investments with a special focus on the Persian Gulf with approximately US$23 billion of assets under management. [12]
Three months after taking up his role as Executive Chairman of Investcorp, Al Ardhi announced a new growth strategy aiming to more than double its US$10.8 billion Assets Under Management (AUM) over the medium term. A number of initiatives were communicated in relation to this plan, namely tapping into European Real Estate markets, establishing a global distribution platform and inorganic growth.
During the first year of his chairmanship, Investcorp strengthened its institutional shareholders base by agreeing to sell a 20% of interest in the company to Mubadala Development Company, the Abu Dhabi-based investment and development company. [10]
Al Ardhi serves on the International Advisory Board of The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. and is a trustee for the Eisenhower Fellowship in Philadelphia. [13]
Mohammed Al Ardhi is the author of three books, Arabs Down Under and Pearls from Arabia and Arabs Unseen.
Arabs Down Under is a novel about an Arab journalist who takes his family on vacation to New Zealand, explores the cultural chasm between Arabs and the West, and ultimately sees a brighter future with peace and reconciliation. Pearls from Arabia is a collection of aphorisms from the Prophet Mohammed that seek to guide and inspire the reader towards a life of simplicity and virtue. [4] [14]
Arabs Unseen explores the enlightening journeys of 10 exemplary figures from the modern Arab world. It embraces the theme of drawing inspiration from these individuals who overcame various challenges to build a body of work in their respective fields. [15]
Mohammed Al Ardhi regularly speaks on international trade, real estate, tourism, relationship between the Middle East and the West, security of the Gulf, and other topics. [4]
Examples of Al Ardhi's political contributions include:
- What El-Sisi Must Bring to Egypt [16]
- Iran's Nuclear Diplomacy: A Response from Oman [17]
- Arab region has resources, but challenge remains [18]
Mr. Mohammed Al Ardhi also publishes his writings on his official blog.
An outdoor enthusiast, he has climbed Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro. Al Ardhi lives in Muscat, Oman with his wife, three daughters and two sons. [19]
Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is an Arab country located in Western Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of the Persian Gulf. Oman shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, while sharing maritime borders with Iran and Pakistan. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the southeast, and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The Madha and Musandam exclaves are surrounded by the United Arab Emirates on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman forming Musandam's coastal boundaries. Muscat is the nation's capital and largest city.
The Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, also known briefly as the State of Muscat and Oman during the rule of Taimur bin Feisal, was a sovereign state that encompassed the present-day Sultanate of Oman and parts of present-day United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, in the second half of the 19th century and 20th century. Ruled by the Busaid dynasty, it was established as a result of the partition of the Omani Empire upon the death of its last ruler Said bin Sultan. The Sultanate transitioned into a new form of government after the palace coup of 23 July 1970 in which the sultan Said bin Taimur was immediately deposed in favor of his son Qaboos bin Said.
Ajman is the capital of the emirate of Ajman in the United Arab Emirates. It is the fifth-largest city in UAE after Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Al Ain. Located along the Persian Gulf, it is engulfed by the larger emirate of Sharjah in territory.
Oman is a country on the Arabian Peninsula. Tourism in Oman grew considerably during the 2000s, and a 2013 report predicted that it would become one of the largest industries in the nation. In 2019, Oman attracted about 4.1 million visitors from around the world, a massive increase from 3.1 million in 2017 as per the 2019 Tourism Statistic Bulletin from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Oman.
Majid Al Futtaim is an Emirati holding company based in Dubai. As of 2015, it owned and operated shopping malls, retail, and leisure establishments in the Middle East and North Africa with operations in 13 countries including UAE, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Armenia, Iran, and Georgia. The group was established by Majid Al Futtaim in 1992 and manages three major operating subsidiaries: Majid Al Futtaim Properties, Majid Al Futtaim Retail, and Majid Al Futtaim Ventures.
The 2011 Omani protests were a series of protests in the Persian Gulf country of Oman that occurred as part of the revolutionary wave popularly known as the "Arab Spring".
Hajj Moosa AbdulRahman Hassan was an Omani businessman, tribal leader, and landlord. He was born in the old town of Muscat and finished his studies in the American Mission School. He established a firm in 1927 in supplying coals and foodstuffs to British ships & frigates in Muscat.
Badr or Badar bin Saif was a member of the Al Said dynasty of Oman. In 1804 he became regent while the heirs to the sultanate were minors. When he attempted to increase his power in 1806 he was killed.
The Omani Empire was a maritime empire, vying with Portugal and Britain for trade and influence in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. At its peak in the 19th century, Omani influence or control extended across the Strait of Hormuz to modern-day Iran and Pakistan, and as far south as Cape Delgado. It also controlled the costal region of Somalia. After the death of Said bin Sultan in 1856 the empire was divided between his sons into two sultanates, an African section ruled by Majid bin Said and an Asian section ruled by Thuwaini bin Said.
The Yarubid dynasty were rulers of Oman between 1624 and 1742, holding the title of Imam. They expelled the Portuguese from coastal strongholds in Muscat and united the country. They improved agriculture, expanded trade and built up Oman into a major maritime power. Their forces expelled the Portuguese from East Africa and established long-lasting settlements on Zanzibar, Mombasa and other parts of the coast. The dynasty lost power during a succession struggle that started in 1712 and fell after a prolonged period of civil war.
Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi was the first ruler of Oman of the Al Said dynasty. He came to power during a period when Oman was divided by civil war, and the Persians had occupied large parts of the country. During his long rule as Imam the country prospered and regained its leading position in the Persian Gulf.
Bal'arab bin Himyar was an Omani Imam, a member of Yaruba dynasty. He was elected Imam in 1728, holding power in the interior of Oman while his cousin, Saif bin Sultan II, held power on the coast. In 1737, he renounced his claim after being defeated by Saif's Persian allies. He was again elected Imam in 1743 during another Persian invasion, and again held power in the interior while Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi was recognized as ruler by the coastal people. He died in battle against Ahmad bin Said in 1749, who shortly after became the undisputed ruler of the country.
Sultan bin Murshid was one of the rival Imams during the civil wars in Oman in the final years of the Yaruba dynasty. He was elected Imam in 1742 in place of Saif bin Sultan II. His predecessor called on the Persians for assistance. In mid-1743 Sultan bin Murshid died while defending the town of Sohar against the Persian force.
Muhammad bin Nasir al-Ghafiri was one of the rival Imams during the civil wars in Oman in the final years of the Yaruba dynasty.
Salim bin Sultan was joint Sultan of Oman with his brother Said bin Sultan, ruling between 1804 and 1806.
Qais bin Ahmad was the third son of Ahmad bin Sa'id Al-Busaidi, the first Sultan of Oman of the Al Said dynasty. After his father's death he made more than one attempt to gain the throne.
Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed Al Barwani is an Omani billionaire businessman, the founder and chairman of MB Holding Group of companies, which operate in oil and gas exploration and production, oilfield services, engineering and mining.
Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing Company, also known as Al Maha, is a petroleum company based in Oman. The company is named for the Arabian Oryx.
Mohammed bin Said bin Salim Al Shanfari was an Omani dramatist playwright and director. It was said of him that “His ideas inspired a generation.” He spent his working life advancing the cause of drama and the theatre. He received several awards in recognition of his work together with favourable reviews in Arabian media while he was alive, and also after his death.
