Mohammed Mahfoodh Al Ardhi

Photo of Mohammed Mahfoodh Al Ardhi

Mohammed Mahfoodh Al Ardhi is an Omani businessman and former military chief. He is currently the Executive Chairman of Investcorp, 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.

Family background and early life

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.^[1]

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.^[1]

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.^[1]

Career and education

Military service

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.^[2][3][4]

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 Gulf countries. Al Ardhi retired from the Royal Air Force with the rank of Air Vice Marshal.^[2][3][5]

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.^[2][4]

Kennedy School at Harvard

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.^[2][4]

Banking

Al Ardhi (now Chairman) was appointed vice-chairman of the National Bank of Oman (NBO) in 2010. NBO is one of the country’s largest financial institutions. He is also the chairman of the Credit Committee. As part of his role, Al Ardhi oversees the bank’s growth strategy and its corporate social responsibility programmes, especially those focusing on youth.^[2][4] 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.^[6]

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.^[4]

Energy, real estate, tourism, and other investments

Mohammed Mahfoodh Al Ardhi is 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.^[7]

Al Ardhi chairs 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.^[7] 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."^[8]

Al Ardhi is also chairman of Al Ardhi Energy Services, offering support services to oil and gas industry in the GCC region.^[7] He serves on the board of Investcorp, a leading international provider of alternative investments with a special focus on the Gulf with approximately US$11.5 billion of assets under management.^[7]

Non-profit work

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.^[9]

Writing and speaking

Mohammed Al Ardhi is the author of two books: ‘’Arabs Down Under’’ and ‘’Pearls from Arabia.’’ ‘’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.^[3][10]

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.^[3]

Examples of Al Ardhi's political contributions include:

- What El-Sisi Must Bring to Egypt^[11]

- Iran’s Nuclear Diplomacy: A Response from Oman^[12]

- Arab region has resources, but challenge remains^[13]

Mr. Mohammed Al Ardhi also publishes his writings on his official blog.

Family life and hobbies

An outdoor enthusiast, he has climbed Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro. Al Ardhi lives in Muscat, Oman with his wife, three daughters and two sons.^[14]

References