World Record Winner of ‘Marathon des Sables’ – Lahcen Ahansal

Lahcen Ahansal . Athlete. Long distance runner.

He has the world record for most wins by an individual – 10 wins. The first in 1997 and then 9 of them consequtively 1999 upto 2007

Marathon des Sables is considered to be the toughest running race in the world. It is a six-day ultradistance event that covers 254 km across the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

Lahcen Ahansal is also an organiser to trekking in Southern Morocco and the ‘Zagora Marathon’.

Other Events:

  • 2010: Winner of the Al Andalus Ultimate trail 
  • 2006: Winner of the Ultra Marathon of Belgium (100  km )
  • 2006: 2 nd  place in the Beaujolais Marathon (team winner)
  • 2006: 3 th  place at the Ultra Marathon Verbier , Switzerland
  • 2002: 2 nd  place in the 100 km of Biel , Switzerland
  • 2001: Winner of the Swiss Alpine Marathon ( Davos , Switzerland)
  • 1999: Winner of the Défi Val-de-Travers , Switzerland (74  km , 2952D +)
  • 1998: Winner of the Super Marathon des Gorges du Verdon , France
  • 1998: Winner of the Austrian Ultra Marathon
  • 1995: 3 rd in the Moroccan Super Marathon (contested in the Atlas Mountains)

– A Book by Belgian journalist Marie-Pierre Fosny ‘Marathonien des Sables – Lahcen Ahansal, Nomadic Child and Desert Star’

pix: moroccansoftheworld.com

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Morocco

First Saudi Woman to Head a Bank. Chairman, Saudi British Bank – Lubna Olayan : June 2019

Lubna Suliman Olayan (aka) Lubna Olayan . Business Woman. Business Executive. Philanthropist.

Breaking the Glass ceiling :

Firsts:

  1. The Saudi British Bank (SABB ) and Alawwal (First) Bank have appointed Lubna Olyan as the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the merged banks, to become the first Saudi woman to hold this position.
  2. First woman in Saudi history to deliver an opening keynote at a major conference in Saudi Arabia – Jeddah Economic Forum (Jan 2004)

-Chairman – Saudi British Bank and Alawwal Bank – merger / Former CEO – Olayan Financing Company

-On the Board of several Saudi Arabian and International Companies etc…

Awards/Honours :

-One of the Top 100 most influential people of 2005 – Time magazine / Forbes list of Most Powerful Women

-Awarded Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year (2010) etc…

Education :

-MBA : Business Management, Kelly’s School of Business, University of Indiana, USA / Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture : Cornell University, USA

pix: weforum.org

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Saudi Arabia

Khalid Al Falih : Minister of Investment. Chairman – Aramco : Saudi Arabia : Feb 2020

Khalid A. Al-Falih is the Minister of Investment, Saudi Arabia. Concurrently Chairman of Aramco.

Achievements / Honour:

-Listed in Forbes Most Powerful People for 2016

-Distinguished Alumnus Award ,Texas A & M University (2013)

-Petroleum Executive of the Year Award 2016 from Energy Intelligence

-Top 100 most powerful Arabs 2019 – Gulf Business

-The Order of the Rising Sun , Japan

Education:

-Harvard Business Program in Global Leadership (1998)

-MBA : Financial Business Adminstration, King Fahd Petroleum & Mineral Resources

-B.E. : Mechanical Engineering , Texas A&M University, USA

pix: arabnews.com

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Saudi Arabia

First Arab Musician to be Featured on Times Square Billboard in New York : Amr Diab – Egypt : 2019

Amr Diab (aka) El Hadaba . Musician. Actor.

One of the top selling Arab music recording artists.

Awards :

-7 – World Music Awards / 6 – African Music Awards / many more etc.

-The First Arab singer to receive the largest number of International Music Awards for most album sales in the Middle East . Guinness World Record – 2016

-Inducted into ‘Dubai Star Walk of Fame’ – 2019

-First Arab Musician to be featured by Spotify on a Times Square Billboard in New York – 2019

-Will feature in upcoming Netflix Arabic series for Middle East and North Africa, after his 27-year hiatus from acting.

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pix: musicinafrica.net

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Egypt

World’s 5th Largest Lake Island – Ukerewe Island : Tanzania

Ukerewe Island in Tanzania is the largest Island in Lake Victoria.

It is also the Largest Lake Island in Africa.

It is also the 5th Largest Lake Island in the World with an area of 530 km2 (200 sq ml).

pix : safarijunkie.com

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Tanzania

World’s Tallest Indoor Artificial Climbing Wall – Abu Dhabi, UAE : August 2020

The World’s tallest indoor artificial climbing wall is at a staggering 42.16 m (138 ft).

It is one of 2 world records of CLYMB Abu Dhabi, a sports and leisure attraction on Yas Island.

The other record is of the ‘World’s Biggest Indoor Skydiving Flight Chamber/ Wind Tunnel).

CLYMB Abu Dhabi is awarded for both by Guinness World Records.

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Climber Sasha DiGiulian scales the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall at Clymb Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National / pix: thenational.ae

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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E)

World’s Biggest Indoor Skydiving Flight Chamber : Abu Dhabi, UAE : August 2020

World record breaking 32 ft (10 m) in diameter and height of 104 ft making it the world’s largest indoor skydiving wind tunnel.

It is one of 2 world records of CLYMB Abu Dhabi, a sports and leisure attraction on Yas Island.

The other record is of the ‘World’s Tallest Artificial Climbing Wall’

CLYMB Abu Dhabi is awarded for both by Guinness World Records.

CLYMB Abu Dhabi is awarded for both by Guinness World Records. / pix: drifttravel.com

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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E)

Lamia Tazi – CEO – Sothema, Morocco : Jan 2020

Lamia Tazi appointed as the new CEO of the Moroccan pharmaceutical company Sothema.

Other positions:

-Vice President – Moroccan Association of Pharmaceutical Industry (AMIP) / Member of Executive Board – Moroccan Association of Exporters (ASMEX) / Member of Board of Directors – National Agency for Evaluation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Scientific Research (ANEAQ)

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pix: biznisafrica.com

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Morocco

Egypt – World’s Largest Exporter of Frozen Strawberries : 2019

Egypt was the world’s number one exporter of frozen strawberries in 2019, according to a report by the United Nations’ (UN) World Trade Center. 

The Egyptian Food Export Council revealed that Egyptian exports of frozen strawberries made up 20% of all global exports last year, amounting to about 140,000 tons valued at $165 million

In second place behind Egypt is Poland, who exported 94,000 tons of frozen strawberries in 2019. Mexico came in third with 84,000 tons, with Morocco coming in fourth place with 73,000 tons, and in fifth place was China with 48,000 tons.

pix: nilefm.com

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Egypt

LYOUM – Tunisian Fashion Brand – Founders Claire & Sofiane Ben Chaabane : 2011

Founded by the French and Tunisian couple Claire and Sofiane Ben Chaabane. 100% Made in Tunisia. Both for the Tunisian market and International exports.

Ready to wear Mediterranean apparel mixing Arabic and European influences with a touch of Parisian chic.

Two boutiques established in Tunisia – La Marsa and Tunis El Menzah. Plus ‘pop up’ boutiques in Paris and London.

A quarterly magazine launched titled ‘Holma’ covering the Tunisian-Mediterranean lifestyles flavouring the Lyoum brand.

www.lyoum.fr

pix : zeineb Fellah / businessnews.com.tn

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French / Tunisian