Award Achievement: MATARAT Holding won the "Best Crisis Communication Strategy" award at the 11th Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA) 2024 for its effective handling of a global cyber outage impacting airports worldwide.
Crisis Management Excellence: The award-winning submission, "The Impact of Global Cyber Outage on Saudi Airports," showcased MATARAT Holding's innovative and responsive communication strategy, demonstrating its success in managing the crisis and achieving long-term results.
Strategic Alignment: The recognition highlights MATARAT Holding's role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s corporate communication and reflects its alignment with the Saudi Aviation Strategy and Vision 2030, aimed at improving airport performance and supporting the Kingdom’s economic growth.
Sharjah, September 6, 2024 — MATARAT Holding has achieved a significant milestone by winning the prestigious "Best Crisis Communication Strategy" award at the 11th annual Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA) 2024. This accolade was presented during a distinguished ceremony held at the Expo Centre Sharjah. MATARAT Holding was honored for its exemplary crisis management approach, particularly in response to a global cyber outage that disrupted operations across numerous airports and businesses worldwide.
The award recognized MATARAT Holding's submission titled "The Impact of Global Cyber Outage on Saudi Airports." This comprehensive entry detailed the company's innovative and effective communication strategy, which was crucial in managing the crisis. The submission highlighted the creativity and uniqueness of the strategy, its responsiveness to the needs and expectations of affected communities, and its successful achievement of both immediate and long-term objectives. The strategy's ability to deliver sustainable results amidst such a significant global challenge was a key factor in the award decision.
Ahmad Almusained, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communication at MATARAT Holding, expressed pride in the achievement, noting that the award signifies substantial progress in Saudi Arabia's corporate communication landscape. "Receiving this award is a testament to the advancement of corporate communication in Saudi Arabia and its growing recognition on both regional and international stages," Almusained stated. He also highlighted the collaborative efforts between MATARAT Holding, the General Authority on Civil Aviation (GACA), and other key stakeholders in navigating the crisis. This collaboration played a pivotal role in implementing an effective crisis management strategy that successfully mitigated the impact of the cyber outage.
Almusained further emphasized the importance of the SGCA, noting that the recognition underscores the critical role of corporate communication in addressing crises and enhancing public and private sector engagement. "The Sharjah Government Communication Award 2024 is a significant acknowledgment, given the intense competition among government entities, international organizations, and the private sector. It brings attention to the vital role of effective corporate communication in both public and private sectors," he remarked.
The SGCA is renowned for recognizing outstanding initiatives, campaigns, and strategies that make a meaningful and lasting impact. It showcases exceptional examples of enhancing communication between institutions and society, and MATARAT Holding's award is a testament to its innovative approach in this field.
MATARAT Holding is responsible for overseeing the operations of 27 airports across Saudi Arabia through its subsidiaries—Riyadh Airports, Jeddah Airports, Dammam Airports, and Cluster 2. This responsibility aligns with the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which is part of the broader National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030. The strategy aims to develop and enhance airport performance, ensuring that Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector keeps pace with rapid global advancements and continues to contribute to the Kingdom's economic and infrastructural growth.