Former Oman Oil Minister was honored in a special award ceremony on 2 December 2024 during the 18th Annual GPCA Forum in Muscat, Oman
Muscat, Oman, 3 December 2024 – H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamed Al Rumhy, Minister of Oil & Gas (2020 – 1997) and Minister of Energy and Minerals, Oman (2022 – 2020), was recognized with the 6th GPCA Legacy Award “Al-Rowad” in a special award ceremony on 2 December 2024 during the 18th Annual GPCA Forum at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Muscat, Oman.
H.E. Dr. Al Rumhy was awarded for his tremendous contribution to developing and significantly growing the downstream petrochemical and chemical sector in the Sultanate of Oman. During a star-studded award ceremony Dr. Al Rumhy was presented with a special trophy by Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, CEO, SABIC and Chairman, GPCA, and Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA. H.E. Dr. Al Rumhy delivered a moving acceptance speech following a special recognition video that narrated his lifetime achievements and included special tributes from regional and global leaders.
In his role as Minister of Oil & Gas, and subsequently Minister of Energy and Minerals, Dr. Al Rumhy was instrumental in securing natural gas feedstock, which fueled Oman’s downstream journey in the early 2000s. Dr. Al Rumhy played a pioneering role in developing Oman’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) sector, including modernizing and constructing new facilities to strengthen its position on the global market. He grew Oman’s petrochemical industry in the areas of methane-based operations, olefins, polyolefins and aromatics.
Dr. Al Rumhy was the driving force behind the consolidation and integration of Oman’s downstream and upstream industry, including the creation of OQ Group in 2019, a mammoth national consolidation effort that involved the integration of nine Omani companies into one big conglomerate with operations spanning the entire value chain. During his 25-year legacy, Dr. Al Rumhy enacted a series of strategic reforms which maximized efficiency, encouraged investment and modernized Oman’s sector to align with global standards. He left a lasting legacy which inspired generations and helped to build Oman into the powerhouse it is today.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented: “H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Rumhy dedicated his life to developing the energy industry in Oman. He made an enormous contribution not just to the Sultanate, but also to the international energy community as a well-respected and consulted member of OPEC. Among his closest circles, he is known for his exceptional humility and contagious sense of humor. His impactful leadership has touched the lives of many over a span of 25 years. He left a lasting mark on Oman’s petrochemical industry and raised a competent generation of leaders who followed in his footsteps. We are proud to bestow Dr. Al Rumhy with the GPCA Legacy Award and congratulate him on receiving this honor.”
Dr. Al Rumhy is the latest industry pioneer to be recognized with the GPCA Legacy Award alongside Eng. Hamad Rashid Al-Mohannadi, former General Manager, and Chairman, QAPCO and Founding Board Member, GPCA, who was honored with the 5th GPCA Legacy Award in 2023; Mohammed Al-Mady, former Vice Chairman and CEO, SABIC, and Founding Chairman, GPCA, bestowed with the 4th GPCA Legacy Award in 2022; H.R.H. Prince Faisal Bin Turki Bin Abdulaziz AISaud, Advisor to the Royal Court, Saudi Arabia and former Advisor to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and Yousef Bin Omair, former Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, UAE, former Group CEO, ADNOC and former Chairman, Borouge, both of whom were honored with the 3rd GPCA Legacy Award in 2021; the late Abdulaziz Al Zamil (1941 – 2019), former Minister of Industry and Electricity, Saudi Arabia, and former Chairman, SABIC, who was recognized with the 2nd GPCA Legacy Award in 2019; and the late Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi (1940-2010), former Minister of Industry and Electricity, Saudi Arabia, and founding Chairman, SABIC; Yousef Al Shirawi (1927 – 2012), former Minister of Development and Industry, Bahrain; and Abdulbaqi Al-Nouri (1929 – 2010), former Chairman and MD, PIC, Kuwait, who were the first pioneers to be awarded the inaugural GPCA Legacy Award during its launch in 2017.
Delegates at the 18th Annual GPCA Forum will have the incredible opportunity to learn about the lifelong achievements and contributions of these industry pioneers, who laid the foundations for a competitive chemical and petrochemical industry in the Arabian Gulf through a specially curated Hall of Fame on the forum’s exhibition floor. The lifelong journeys of the Arabian Gulf Chemical Industry Pioneers will come to life to create an immersive experience, which will take delegates back in time to learn about the history of the chemical industry in the region and its founding fathers.
Now in its 6th edition, the GPCA Legacy Award takes place on an annual basis and honors individuals, who have made extraordinary contributions to foster and strengthen the chemical industry in one or more of the GCC states.
To learn more, visit: www.gpca.org.ae/gpca-legacy-initiative-awards
About the Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association
The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) was established in 2006 to represent the downstream hydrocarbon industry in the Arabian Gulf. Today, the association voices the common interests of more than 250 member companies from the chemical and allied industries, accounting for over 95 percent of chemical output in the GCC. The industry makes up the second largest manufacturing sector in the region, producing over USD 108 billion worth of products every year.
GPCA supports the petrochemical and chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf through advocacy, networking and thought leadership initiatives aimed at helping member companies to connect, share and advance knowledge, contribute to international dialogue, and become prime influencers in shaping the future of the global petrochemicals industry.
Committed to providing a regional platform for stakeholders from around the world, GPCA manages six working committees – Plastics, Supply Chain, Fertilizers, International Trade, Research and Innovation, and Responsible Care – and organizes six world-class events each year. The association also publishes an annual report, regular newsletters and various other industry reports.
For more information, visit www.gpca.org.ae.