Areej Darwish is following in the illustrious footsteps of her father, Late Mohsin Haider Darwish, who guided and mentored her to be what she is today – tackling new challenges and taking the business to diversify frontiers and further success..

Already a winner of many coveted international awards and recognitions, including gracing the cover of the prestigious Forbes magazine in the Middle East, she upholds the family legacy making her mark in everything she does.

Having joined the company 27 years ago, Areej Mohsin Darwish has been playing a key role in MHD’s business operations. She spearheads the automotive, construction equipment and renewable energy (ACERE) division.

Areej leads the organisation to develop better practices and aims to carry the family legacy to greater heights.

She believes that true leaders inspire enthusiasm and commitment, help remind everyone of the big picture and challenge people to outdo themselves to work towards a common goal. 

She has undertaken several development projects which reflect the company’s commitment to sustainability and diversity in the workforce and highlight its alignment with Oman’s Vision 2040.

Areej stresses that the company has to constantly reinvent every few years and allineate the product portfolio with changing business needs to suit the consumer of the future.

The path to success is not a straight line. It’s very often a curved one with challenges along the way, but this doesn’t deter Areej as she embraces the challenges with positivity and believes that no obstacle is big enough to overcome.

As an ambitious leader with progress as goal, she believes that it is important to be resilient in one’s pursuit to create a sustainable growth for the future.

“You don’t set up a plan and hope it works, you plan for all scenarios, good and bad”. One should have a conviction that, to win, one has to be more agile than others and set the business objectives in line with the rapidly changing business environment.

Success can be seen from far, and Areej proved it true.  Her career is a journey towards empowerment in the corporate world.

The numerous awards received over the years in recognition of her leadership by global bodies motivate her to raise the bar. The year 2021 has been no exception with her gracing the front cover of the Forbes magazine in the Middle East, among the top 100 Arab family businesses, as well as featuring on its list of the Middle East’s most powerful businesswomen.

Areej was recognised by CEO Middle East as a woman of influence in the Arab world, and Arabian Business listed her in its distinguished power list.  Besides, she has won accolades for her leadership from Harvard Business Council International Awards, Bronze Stevie – Woman of the Year; International Business Awards, Bronze Stevie – Female Executive of the Year, Women in Business, Gold Stevie – Woman of the Year – Women in Business, Al Mara Woman of the Year and Most Inspirational Woman award at the Woman of the Year Awards, to name a few.

As a board member of the Unicef Leadership Circle, she represented the private sector at the Upshift initiative which was launched in collaboration with Oman’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth.

With Omanisation as a key objective for Oman Vision 2040, this programme aims at building skills and encouraging entrepreneurship among the Omani youth.

Her business acumen and astuteness in the business arena is well recognised and she sits on the board of numerous companies. She is the Chairperson of Areej Vegetable Oils & Derivatives SAOG, and Duqm United Logistics and a board member of Dar Al Atta, Muscat University.

As an exemplary leader, who directs an organisation in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent, her aim is to leave a legacy that will continue to make an impact as the responsibility to the country and its people goes beyond today and tomorrow. She has shattered the glass ceiling and is an inspiration and role model to Omanis as well as others.