Safaraz Ali MBE: What Receiving an Honour Taught Me About Faith, Family and Service
I am proud and deeply grateful to have been awarded an MBE in the King’s Honours for services to diversity and inclusion in business. While my name appears on the citation, this honour was never about individual achievement. It reflects the work of many people, over many years. When I think about what it truly means, my mind goes back more than three decades.
Around 35 years ago, my father once asked me a simple question: “What does a Queen’s honour actually mean?” Like many Asian fathers of his generation, he had a habit of asking his children to explain the news and current affairs back to him. Not because he lacked understanding, but because he wanted to see how we made sense of the world. My dad was no different.
I remember struggling to explain it properly. I told him it was recognition by the country, for service and contribution, rather than something personal to the Royal Family. This was long before Google, smartphones, or instant answers. You had to think carefully and speak from understanding, not convenience. But what stayed with me was not my explanation. It was the principle he lived by.
My father often repeated an Arabic verse from the Qur’an: “Watu izzu man tashā’, wa tuzillu man tashā’.” Honour comes from the Lord, and humility comes from the Lord. That belief grounded him, and it grounds me still. It is a reminder that nothing is truly ours – not success, not position, not praise. It keeps ego in check and intentions clean.
That is why I firmly believe there is no such thing as being self-made. Every step forward is built on sacrifices we did not have to make ourselves: parents who absorbed hardship so their children could have choice, families who prayed when the chips were down, communities who carried one another without recognition, and colleagues, mentors, partners and friends who believed long before results ever showed up. This is as true in business as it is in life.
Father and Son.
As we step into 2026, after what has been a tough 2025 for many, including myself, moments like this matter. Not as validation, but as perspective. They remind us to pause, to be grateful, and to renew ambition with humility rather than ego.
I am deeply thankful to my parents, who are no longer with us; to my wider family; to my business partners; to colleagues; and to the many stakeholders and communities who have walked part of this journey with me. None of this happens alone. Receiving an MBE for services to diversity and inclusion in business is not a finish line. It is recognition of collective effort, shared values, and long-term commitment to creating opportunity where it has not always existed.
May the years ahead bring blessing. May we remain humble and grateful. And may we always remember who carried us here.
Founder of the Year Award Winner
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Safaraz Ali MBE?
Safaraz Ali MBE is a British Social entrepreneur, Birmingham born of Pakistani Origin and well-regarded social impact leader. Safaraz Ali MBE is the Founder & CEO of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards and the Multicultural Apprenticeship & Skills Alliance.
Why was Safaraz Ali awarded an MBE?
Safaraz Ali was awarded an MBE in the King’s Honours 2026 for services to diversity and inclusion in business, recognising long-term work in promoting social mobility and inclusive leadership.
Safaraz Ali MBE Heads the Multicultural Brands movement in Promoting social mobility, diversity, inclusion and equity in apprenticeships & skills, comprising the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards & the Apprenticeship Branding Conference
What does an MBE mean in the UK Honours system?
An MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) recognises outstanding service and contribution to society, business, or community life in the UK.
What sectors does Safaraz Ali work in?
Safaraz Ali works across business leadership, skills and employability, apprenticeships, Learning and development, social mobility, diversity and inclusion, and social impact and social enterprise.
What values influence Safaraz Ali’s leadership approach?
His leadership is shaped by faith, family values, humility, service and the belief that success is collective rather than individual.