Mohammad Burbayea : World Jet Ski Champion : Kuwait

Mohammad Burbayea, Jet Ski racer, has the most IJSBA World Championship wins (male) by an individual : 22 , achieved by between 2007 and 2018.

Burbayea has won over 28 titles including 15 World Championships with 12 consequtive wins.

IJSBA : International Jet Sports Boating Association

pix : jetski-worldseries.com

_________

Kuwait

Hicham El Guerroj – World’s Fastest Run 1,500m : Morocco July 1998

Hicham El Guerrouj won the 1,500 metres event at IAAF Golden League Golden Gala in Rome, Italy, in a time of 3 minutes 26 seconds on 14 July 1998.

He beat the existing record by more than a second.

El Guerrouj also retained 4 other world record times:

over one mile (indoors and outdoors) 2,000 metres (outdoors) and 1,500 metres (indoors) as on 2017

Record: Guinness World Record

__________

Morocco

Mourad Boudjellal – Founder – Soleil Production, France

French businessman, publisher and sports enthusiast.

Owner:

  • Soleil Production – French Comic Publisher
  • President – RC Toulonnous (2006-2009)
  • Former – Toulon Rugby Club

___________________________

France / French -Tunisian

Tunisia made World Cup History . First Arab or African Nation to Win a Match in a World Cup : Argentina 1978

Tunisia’s golden generation of footballers became the first Arab or African nation to win a match in the World Cup.

History was made. Argentine 1978 – World Cup

Tunisia won against Mexico finishing 3-1 and history was made on June 02, 1978. Thus recording their first-ever world cup win by an Arab or African nation and in their first attempt as well.

Till that day, no Arab or African nation had ever won at the competition.

This paved the way for Algeria, Morocco and Saudi Arabia to record famous victories in future World Cups.

________

Tunisia

First & Only Player from Oman to Win a FA Cup Medal. Ali Al Habsi

Ali Al Habsi . Professional Footballer. Omani International Goal Keeper. Captain of Oman International Football Team.

First and only Player from Oman to Win a FA Cup Medal. Only player from the Gulf to have a successful career in Europe.

Played for Oman. Clubs overseas in Norway, United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

Awards/ Recognitions: A few

-Norway’s Best Goal Keeper (2003-2004) / – Best Goal Keeper Award at Gulf Cup, 5 consecutive years – 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2011 / -Oman won their 1st ever Gulf Cup (2009) with his leadership as Captain / Winners – Saudi Professional League (2017) / Winners – Saudi Super Cup (2018)

_____________

pix : twitter @AliAlhabsi

__________

OMAN

Nassef Sawiris – Egypt’s Billionaire Businessman

Nassef Onsi Sawiris – Businessman in Construction and Chemicals. Youngest of the 3 brothers Naguib Onsi Sawiris and Samih Onsi Sawiris. Children of businessman baron Onsi Sawiris

Business Interest/s

  • CEO – Orascom Construction Industries (OCI), one of the world’s largest nitrogen fertilisers producer with plants in Texas and Iowa. Trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Exchange
  • Orascom Construction – Trades on the Cairo Exchange and Nasdaq Dubai
  • Holdings include stakes in the cement giant Lafarge Holcim
  • Holdings include stakes in Adidas AG . Supervisory Board Member of Adidas AG, Germany

Sports :

  • Joint Owner : Aston Villa FC , British Football Club

Other/s :

  • Board of Directors – Cairo Stock Exchange ( 2004-2007)
  • Board of Directors – Alexandria Stock Exchange ( 2004 – 2007)
  • Board of Directors – Dubai International Finance Exchange (DIFX) (2008-2010)
  • Member – Cleveland Clinic’s International Leadership Board
  • Member – University of Chicago’s Board of Trustees

Education:

B.A. – Economics , University of Chicago

Philanthropy :

  • Donated USD 6 million to Chicago Booth School of Business
  • Donated USD 24 million to aid Egyptian studends and fund an executive education program (2019)

Scholarship Fund:

  • Onsi Sawiris Scholar Program (in honour of his father Onsi Sawiris) – 2015

General :

  • Listed in Forbes List of Billionaires 2020
  • Listed in Africa’s Billionaires of 2020
  • Fourth Richest African – Forbes 2019

________

Egypt

Ayanleh Souleiman – Athlete – Indoor World Record – 2016

Ayanleh Souleiman (aka) Hassan Ayanleh (aka) Hassan Ayanleh Souleiman winner – Indoor World Record for 1000 metres at Globengalan event, Stockholm, Sweden.

Middle distance runner with a specialisation in 1500 metres

Awards:

  • Indoor World Record for 1000 metres – Globengalan event, Stockholm, Sweden (2016)
  • Winner – Men’s 1000 metres – IAAF Diamond League Record – (2016)
  • Winner – Bowerman Mile – Prefontaine Classic, Hayward field, Oregon (2014)
  • Bronze Medal – World Championships in Athletics, Moscow (2013)
  • Silver Medal – 1500 metres – African Championships in Athletics (2012)
  • Winner – 1500 metres – Pan Arab Games, Doha (2011). Won Djibouti’s first medal in the competition.

___________

Djibouti

Abdel Nader – Professional NBA Basketball Player : USA

Abdel Nader – professional Basketball player for ‘ Oklahoma City Thunder’ of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Plays in the position of Small forward / Shooting guard

Awards / Highlights :

  • NBA D-League Rookie of the Year (2017)
  • All-NBA D-League Second Team (2017)
  • NBA D-League All-Rookie Team (2017)
  • NBA D-League All-Star (2017)
  • MAC All-Freshman Team (2012)

_________________________________________________

American / American-Arab / Egyptian-American

Saudi Falconry Festival Breaks World Record : Feb 2019

‘ King Abdul Aziz Falconry Festival ‘ confirmed by Guinness World Records (GWR) as the ‘ World’s Largest Falcon Racing Tournament ‘

The participation of a record 723 falcons , competing for 10 day ( Jan 25 to Feb 03, 2019). The total purse value at SR 17,630,00.

______________

Saudi Arabia

Nawal El Moutawakel – Olympian – Gold Medallist .

Nawal El Moutawakel , Morocco. Olympic Gold Medallist. 400 metres hurdles, women. Summer Olympics – 1984

Positions :

  • Minister for Youth and Sports, Morocco – 2007
  • Council Member – International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) – 1995
  • Council Member – International Olympic Committee (IOC) – 1998
  • President – Assocation Marocaine des Sports ets Development (AMSD)
  • Vice-President – Moroccan Royal Federation of Athletics

Firsts :

  • First Woman from a Muslim majority country to win an Olympic Gold Medal
  • First Moroccan to win an Olympic Gold Medal

__________

Morocco