Beirut, 27 October 2026 — The Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR) concluded a two-day introductory seminar on the fourth edition of the Sharjah Public Finance Award and an accompanying training workshop, held on 26–27 October 2026 at the Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel in Beirut, under the patronage of Minister Dr. Fadi Makki.
The event brought together representatives of Lebanese ministries, public administrations and public institutions, alongside the Award team and digital transformation experts. It combined guidance on the Award and its application requirements with practical discussions on digital transformation in public finance, encouraging Lebanese institutions to showcase their initiatives, strengthen public financial management and improve services for citizens.
The opening was attended by H.E. Fahad Al Kaabi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Lebanon; H.E. Dr. Waleed Al Sayegh, Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees; Dr. Nasser Al Hatlan Al Qahtani, Director General of the Arab Administrative Development Organization; Sheikh Rashid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Secretary General of the Award; members of the Board of Trustees; and representatives of participating public entities.
In his opening remarks, Minister Makki stressed that “technology gives us the tools, but people, leadership and management drive transformation.” He highlighted the goal of building a state that costs less and delivers more, with greater capacity and effectiveness, placing leadership and people at the centre of reform and emphasising the importance of using technology to improve administrative performance, public services and outcomes for citizens.
The opening session also featured remarks by Dr. Al Qahtani and Sheikh Al Qasimi, an introductory presentation on the Award, a recognition ceremony and a group photograph.
On the first day, the Award team delivered two introductory sessions covering the Award’s objectives, categories and assessment criteria for institutional and individual entries. Participants also received guidance on eligibility requirements, registration and submission through the online platform, followed by an opportunity to ask questions.
The second day featured a training workshop entitled “Digital Transformation in Public Finance: Integrated Systems and Better Services for Citizens.” Engineer Jamal Aanouti led the first session on the conceptual and technical framework for digital transformation in public finance. Engineer Zein Zbib led the second session, presenting practical experiences from digital transformation initiatives in the field.
By connecting institutional and individual excellence criteria with practical experience, the seminar and workshop supported knowledge exchange and encouraged Lebanese public entities to participate in the Award and showcase their efforts to strengthen public financial management and better serve citizens.