Excellence Awards 2025: Ahlam Al Marzooqi transforms finance into a strategic enabler

With over 14 years of experience spanning investment markets, banking, and government entities, Ahlam Ali Al Marzooqi has carved a distinctive path in the world of finance. Today, as Director of Finance at the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), Ahlam leads with clarity, precision, and a forward-thinking mindset that has helped transform traditional finance roles into strategic pillars of growth and sustainability.

“Finance always attracted me due to its direct impact on decision-making and value creation,” she says. “Strategic financial planning, in particular, appealed to me because it blends analytical rigour with vision, ensuring financial discipline while enabling growth.”

At PCFC, Ahlam has played a critical role in shifting the perception and purpose of the finance function. One of her biggest challenges, she explains, was evolving finance from a compliance-focused department into a strategic business partner. “We had to change mindsets internally,” she says. “That meant engaging stakeholders early, showing value through clear analysis, and aligning financial goals with operational priorities.”

Among her most notable accomplishments is leading the development of advanced financial planning frameworks that enable data-driven decisions across the organisation. Under her leadership, the finance division now plays an integral role in long-term sustainability and strategic alignment across PCFC’s complex operational landscape. She also received the Excellence in Finance - Best Strategic Financial Planner award at Excellence Awards 2025.

Yet the journey hasn’t always been smooth. “Establishing myself required consistent delivery, a deep understanding of the business beyond numbers, and the courage to voice insights, even when they challenged the status quo,” she says. “Early in my career, I learned that credibility is built not only by technical competence but also by fostering trust and aligning finance with organizational strategy.”

Ahlam acknowledges that gender dynamics plays a role. “While finance has traditionally been male-dominated, I have seen increasing acceptance and support for women in leadership roles, particularly when they bring clarity and added value. At times, being a woman required me to prove my capabilities repeatedly; however, it also gave me a unique perspective in negotiations, stakeholder engagement, and building collaborative teams.”

She credits her achievements to continuous learning, the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights, and maintaining a strategic mindset that aligns operational excellence with long-term vision.

As a champion for women in finance, Ahlam is deeply committed to fostering inclusive leadership. “Women often face unconscious bias, limited mentorship, and self-doubt,” she explains. “My advice to them: invest in your knowledge, speak up. Your perspective adds value.”

Ahlam is focused on further integrating finance as a strategic enabler in government transformation projects, aligned with Dubai and the UAE’s long-term economic vision. She envisions a future where finance leads value creation through advanced analytics and sustainable models that drive innovation across sectors.

Her journey is one of determination, innovation, and belief in the power of finance to shape meaningful change.