Ahmed Al Khafaj is from Iraq. He was first thrust into the national glare while participating in Star Academy 9 in 2012. Even as he left the show before its culmination, the fire inside him did not subside. Instead, it flared up and saw him competing in the reality show called The Mask where persistence finally paid off. Winning the show at Babylon Theater in Erbil in 2013 with the highest audience vote, Ahmed won the golden trophy called the “Golden Mask,” which was his first major stride into the entertainment industry.

Having a diploma from the College of Fine Arts in Baghdad, Ahmed passion for performing arts bailed him into acting. Early work: Part of popular show Darbt Zawya gave Ahmed the status of one of the brightest newcomers. He then enjoyed further exposure in a string of TV productions including At a Distance from Love, 2022; Corner Kick (2021); and The Gold Khan (2023). Not so busy after all: Very much occupied with acting activities, Ahmed still found time to pursue some other ventures outside of his screen career. In addition to acting, he works behind the camera as a television presenter; to date, programs he presents are broadcast in both Dubai and Baghdad. Among his most popular works is conducting a show for the Al-Sharqiya channel, and he managed to gain enough international recognition to be translated into Japanese. Then, in 2018, he came up with The Other World, securing his place on the media scene.

Ahmed’s popularity should not be confined within the bounds of social media, though social media platforms like Instagram can bring one to a high popularity level with relatively short periods of work. Ahmed was not an exception. His mix of entertaining content, charming personality, and fashionable looks has placed him on the list of social influencers. He is the brand ambassador for Smile J and Alpecin, two giant brands in the region. His endorsements speak well of his ability to influence consumers’ decisions, integrating into his role as an entertainer his capabilities as a marketing powerhouse.

Ahmed Al Khafaj is also a businessman. Being passionate about health and wellness, he established the Fitness Academy, a huge sports club in Baghdad. With this entrepreneurial spirit, such interests and drive show him as a multi-faceted public figure. The existence of the Fitness Academy shows the ability of Ahmed to initiate space to uplift his community. For, through working to cultivate health and fitness he invests towards an emerging Iraqi fit culture while investing into his wholesome value of good wellbeing. He has emerged as one of the top players within the landscape of fitness in Iraq. The gym was constructed with the most diverse members, ranging from all walks of life to improve their physical health.

Rags to riches story by Ahmed Al Khafaj is a testament to his dedication, talent and versatility. Whether he is an actor, TV presenter, or social media influencer, Ahmed continues to break boundaries and challenge the status quo. Entrepreneurial ventures and brand endorsements will further elucidate his multifaceted approach to gaining success. Though Ahmed has already made many marks, there can be no doubt that his journey has not ended in many ways. With future projects and growing influence across the Middle East, Ahmed Al Khafaj is a name we’ll continue to hear, both on and off the screen.

Sharjah Cement & Industrial Development Co. has a story since 1977: shaping the industrial face of this fast place in the United Arab Emirates. The company was instituted with an Emiri Decree from H.H., The Ruler of Sharjah. SCIDC has walked the journey to currently become a synonym for resilience and adaptability, becoming a solid corporation operating in cement, paper sacks, and plastic rope industries.

SCIDC was established with the aim to provide support in the rapid industrialization of UAE. The company is incorporated as a public joint stock company with its registered office at P.O. Box 2083, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Its inception by Emiri Decree marked the start of a great episode in Sharjah’s industrial development. SCIDC has since its establishment contributed adequately to the manufacturing sector. The company specializes in the production of quality cement, tough paper sacks, and versatile plastic ropes. All these products are essential parts of many different industries: construction, packaging, and logistics.

The growth of the company has been quite spectacular. SCIDC’s shares are listed with the Abu Dhabi Securities Market, which reflects its robust presence in the financial sector. Before that, the shares of the company were also being traded on the Kuwait Stock Exchange. SCIDC made its voluntary withdrawal of shares from the Kuwait Stock Exchange in August 2021. The shareholders had approved the move and as per the directions of the Kuwait Capital Market Authority. Strategically, this represents the company’s focus on consolidation of the operations in the markets along with streamlining the investments.

SCIDC is strategically invested in investment securities, private equities, and properties apart from the core manufacturing activities.  This diversified investment approach enables the firm to utilize surplus funds appropriately in a sustained growth and financial stability path. The firm is located in Sharjah, its headquarters, and has excellent market presence not only in the United Arab Emirates but in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. SCIDC’s product quality and reliability have consistently gained it a good reputation, thereby taking its business to an international platform.

Quality of SCIDC’s success lies in the rigorous commitment toward excellence and innovation. The company continues to invest in current high-end technology and processes that help the company increase efficiency and overall quality in its products. Through on-going training and development programs, its commitment extends to its workforce as well, to equip employees with the skills and knowledge to drive company success. After the transformation SCIDC is likely to face from the evolving industrial landscape, keeping on with its focus on leveraging its strengths and adapting into emerging opportunities is of great importance. The strategic investment and global reach of the company put it in a good position to grow further and be on top for many more years ahead.

Conclusion: Sharjah Cement & Industrial Development Co. epitomizes one of the most important examples of industrial development and strategic thinking. From its inception with a humble beginning under an Emiri Decree until its rise as one of the foremost manufacturing and investing companies today, SCIDC stands testament to its promise and future prosperity.

NCC, short for National Cement Company, has been the leading industrial house in Dubai since the days of its 1968 inception. While it was founded with the patronage of late H.H. Sheikh Rashid Bin Sayed Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai at that time, the company was primarily built to fuel the urbanization and infrastructural development hordes that were envisioned during those rapidly celebrating city transformations in the UAE. Using locally sourced and raw materials, NCC’s aim was simple: to become the cement giant, not just for the country but for the future of its building block. For all the exponential growth over the years, the company remains an industry giant in the UAE cement, serving the local market and, wider GCC region.

The late Sheikh Rashid had a vision for Dubai; visionary and ambitious. He realised that in order for Dubai to become a global hub, an absolutely solid structure was necessary, and cement would be part of that. National Cement was thus established to produce what construction needed, given the boom in construction going on at the time. Such an action represented one of the first serious efforts at setting up a heavy industry within the emirate. NCC had the task of providing quality cement for the rising demand within the UAE and areas too. Sheikh Rashid’s vision helped NCC climb the ladder in the region, making it instrumental for the whole construction sector.

National Cement has risen from its humble beginnings to achieve very significant growth in operations. It now finds itself as one of the largest cement manufacturers in the UAE, with an annual production capacity of over 1.5 million tons of cement, since the plant alone produces about 3,300 tons of clinker per day with a grinding capacity of 1.5 million metric tons annually. These figures support NCC as the market leader in cement suppliers in Dubai and the GCC, feeding into an ever-growing high-quality construction material market. Its strategic location in Dubai also provided the company with access to prime markets in the UAE and neighbouring countries. Over the years, National Cement has created a majority share of the cement market in Dubai; its branded cement products are now tantamount to quality and reliability.

The firm provides a range of cement products that are specific to the demands of the construction industry as a whole. From ordinary Portland cement, to cement-based specialized products, all NCC products have earned a strong reputation based on their durability and quality. The products it offers enable it to cater to a wide variety of projects-big and small-from residential buildings and commercial establishments to highways and bridges.

The UAE remains the mainstream market for NCC, but the company has expanded its presence within GCC countries. It is able to establish itself in regional positions as the leading cement manufacturer by exploring the markets mentioned above. The company is currently focusing on its production processes for sustainability. National Cement Company has a commitment to keeping itself abreast of international standards in quality and environmental management, to assure its clients that NCC’s products not only meet the current needs of construction but also meet a healthier and more sustainable future.

Investment continues into state-of-the-art technology to strengthen the processes and decrease the company’s environmental footprint. This way, NCC maintains a competitive advantage within the international cement market with compliance to best practice sustainability principles.