Ali Alshimmari, Managing Director and CEO of Global South Utilities, has received a major national honor from the Central African Republic.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra awarded Alshimmari the rank of Commander of the Order of Central African Merit. It is the country’s highest civil order.
The award follows the completion of a major solar power project in Sakaï. Global South Utilities, a UAE-based company, delivered the project in just 10 months.
The solar plant has a capacity of 50 megawatts. It also has 15 megawatt-hours of battery storage. The project is the largest infrastructure project in the history of the Central African Republic, according to the company.
The new plant is expected to increase the country’s electricity generation capacity by more than 60%. It is also expected to provide power to more than 300,000 households.
The project could also bring major environmental benefits. Global South Utilities expects the plant to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 50,000 tonnes each year.
The award recognizes Alshimmari’s role in delivering the project. It also highlights the wider goal of improving access to electricity and supporting economic growth in the Central African Republic.
Alshimmari said he accepted the award with deep gratitude. He also said the honor belongs to the people and partners who helped complete the project.
He said the team made a commitment to the Central African Republic and delivered on that promise. He added that the project’s biggest reward would be seeing the new infrastructure create jobs, support communities and help the country grow.
Alshimmari also praised the UAE’s leadership for supporting international partnerships. He said these partnerships can help deliver large projects that support long-term development.
He thanked President Touadéra and the government of the Central African Republic. He also thanked the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development for its role in financing the project.
Concessional financing from the fund was important to the development of the solar plant. Such funding can help emerging markets build major infrastructure while managing the cost of long-term investment.
The Sakaï project is part of a wider push to improve energy access in the Central African Republic. Reliable electricity can support homes, businesses, schools and health services.
For the country, more power generation can also help reduce pressure on existing energy systems. Solar power and battery storage can provide a cleaner source of electricity while adding more stability to the grid.
Alshimmari has become known as a young UAE leader in renewable energy. He is also a Fellow of the UAE National Experts Program.
The latest honor is not his first recognition in Africa.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno of Chad previously awarded Alshimmari the rank of Officer of the National Order of Chad. That award followed his work on the Noor Chad solar power project.
The Noor Chad project was also completed in a short period. It added to Alshimmari’s record of working on renewable energy projects in emerging markets.
Alshimmari also received recent recognition at the Reuters Energy Industry Awards 2026 in New York. He was highly commended in the Growth Enabler of the Year category.
That recognition focused on his work in renewable energy and infrastructure. It also highlighted his role in building long-term partnerships and supporting economic growth in emerging markets.
The Central African Republic award adds to that record. It also highlights the growing role of UAE companies in major energy projects outside the Gulf.
The Sakaï solar plant now stands as a major step in the country’s energy development. With more power capacity and battery storage, the project could help improve access to electricity for hundreds of thousands of households.
For Alshimmari and Global South Utilities, the project also marks a major achievement in renewable energy development.
The award from President Touadéra places a national focus on that work. It shows the importance the Central African Republic has placed on the project and its expected impact on the country’s future.
