Reaching For The Stars

Harvey S. Firestone famously said, “Success is the sum of details”, and that certainly applies to bold visionary HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal.

The charismatic Emirati has since 2009 served as the Executive Chairman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and over the past decade he has worked tirelessly towards transforming Sharjah’s economic infrastructure. Al Sarkal has achieved this by leading projects and partnerships across major sectors such as tourism, healthcare, environmental, logistics, real-estate, retail and light manufacturing.

“My work is inspired by innovation and self-development,” he says. “One must take on challenges that they strive to overcome. In my opinion, the impossible is just a thought… it is not a fact. Life in the United Arab Emirates has taught us that we can change anything if we simply believe in the idea”

“I am an athletic person, with a passion for riding bicycles and driving cars on a racetrack. A car is not simply a vehicle that transports you from one place to another. A car is a part of your identity, brimming with design, details and elegance.”

Sliding into the driver’s seat of the Rolls-Royce Ghost, Al Sarkal comments on how the elegant limousine embodies immaculate quality in every detail and design element. He says the level of craftsmanship on show in the Ghost’s cabin positions it in a different echelon to other vehicles. It’s a reflection of the same pursuit of excellence with which Al Sarkal approaches his work.

The high-achieving Emirati also remarks on how the rear quarters of the new Ghost are not only more opulent than before, but also far more spacious. The all-new second-generation model is 89mm longer and 30mm wider than the old car, and this has liberated noticeably more leg and shoulder room. Al Sarkal goes on to add that the dimensional stretch also gives the new Ghost a more substantial road presence and a genuine sense of gravitas. “I think it’s really cool how 20 LEDs are hidden within the top of the grille to offer subtle illumination,” he says.

Al Sarkal fires up the near-silent V12 and, once on the move, he comments on how the beautifully calibrated air suspension soaks up any road surface imperfections to deliver a magic-carpet ride.  He also admires how quiet the car is, thanks to its use of the latest sound-deadening material (100kg of it). Ultra-quiet and refined it may be, yet the Ghost is also an electrifying performer, sprinting from 0-100kph in 4.8sec and effortlessly reaching its top speed of 250kph.

As we cruise down the highway, Al Sarkal observes how the open-pore wood that decorates the dashboard would have required countless man-hours to achieve such a flawless finish. He also comments on the immaculately made stainless-steel air vents, plus the beautifully damped rotary knobs to control the fan speed. He turns up the volume on the stereo system, and the cabin resonates to concert-like sound quality, thanks to 18 speakers that are fed by an amp with a 1300W output.

As we continue on our journey, it comes to mind that there are many parallels between HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal and the Rolls-Royce Ghost. The eloquent Emirati’s unceasing quest for excellence is perfectly complemented by the imposing vehicle, which sets new standards for what an ultra-premium limousine should be.