UK businessman awarded MBE

By Peter TownsonStaff Reporter

Emad Turkman: awarded an MBE for his services to British business interests and to the British community in Qatar

The CEO of Rumaillah Group, Emad Turkman, is quite accustomed to attending meetings with high level-officials and diplomats, but he was pleasantly surprised recently to receive notification of an occasion to which only a very select few get invited.Sat in his office on a seemingly typical day, Turkman received a phone call from the British Ambassador, John Hawkins, to inform him that he had been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by HM Queen Elizabeth II of England in her birthday honours list of 2011.The British businessman, originally born in the Turkish part of Iraq, was nominated by the British embassy “for services to British business interests and to the British community in Qatar.”“It’s nice to be recognised for your efforts every once in a while - you don’t do these things for awards or recognition but it is nice to be thanked,” he said, adding “it came completely out of the blue and I was over the moon.”“This reward really makes you realise the people who are important to you, who have helped you along the way, such as my wife, my children, my colleagues and friends – I am very grateful to them all,” he noted.Rumaillah Group are currently partnered with around seven companies in joint ventures, and recently bought the majority share in British company, Apton Partitioning.Turkman is also the vice-chairman of the Qatar British Business Forum (QBBF), a role which he has held for a number of years which has seen him work tirelessly to promote British business in Qatar, and connect people to promote partnerships between the two countries.Rumaillah are also involved in a number of corporate social responsibility programmes, and have assisted numerous community events and groups such as the Doha Players, among many others.However, as the saying goes, ‘charity begins at home,’ and Turkman is also passionate about the treatment of his staff at Rumaillah.None of the 1,200 members of staff lives in labour accommodation, and Turkman explained that the company constantly monitors its employees’ working and living conditions.Unfortunately, this is not the case with all companies here, but Turkman’s commitment to his employees is another factor upon which his strong reputation in Qatar has been built, and which contributed to his nomination for this prestigious award.Additionally, Turkman has been chairman of the board of governors at Doha English Speaking School for the past three years, and has used his network of business and social contacts to improve the school’s position within the wider society.Turkman arrived in Qatar in 1995, and has seen spectacular changes throughout the country during his time here.He saw companies such as Qatargas and RasGas in their relative infancy, and he witnessed the first tower to be constructed in West Bay.  From small beginnings, Qatar has become “a vibrant and great place to live,” and “a magnet for international business.”The CEO described trade relations between the UK and Qatar as going from strength to strength, and he praised the efforts of both governments in recognising the country’s mutual interests and in identifying areas of development.But development also requires people in positions of authority to make the right decisions with integrity and honesty, values that Turkman rates as extremely important in both the professional and personal arenas.  “Rumaillah is 100% Qatari-owned group holding run on old-fashioned values – we are one family where everyone is looked after well,” he said, “if you work hard then you get rewarded.”And their CEO has certainly been rewarded for his work over 16 years, with his inclusion on this prestigious list.Turkman is unsure as to when he will receive his MBE or where he will meet Her Majesty.  It could be at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral or elsewhere, and will probably take place at some point towards the end of the summer.Wherever or whenever it takes place, one thing is certain that as Emad Turkman becomes Emad Turkman MBE, himself, his family and friends, and a great number of colleagues and associates in Qatar will be extremely proud.