Grant Thornton partner Dana Al Yazeedi earns global accolade at IIA Excellence Awards
Dana Al Yazeedi, a partner at Grant Thornton’s team in the UAE, has earned global recognition at the IIA Excellence Awards, a prestigious global competition recognising outstanding achievements in the internal audit profession.
Organised annually by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the international professional association representing internal auditors worldwide, the awards celebrate professionals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation and impact within the field of internal auditing.
Held this year in Singapore, the IIA Excellence Awards 2026 recognised 11 internal audit leaders and 2 teams from across the globe. Among the winners, Al Yazeedi stood out as the only award recipient from the Middle East, earning the ‘Young Professional of the Year’ title in recognition of her rapid career progression and significant contributions to the profession.
Al Yazeedi has been with Grant Thornton in the UAE since late 2024 and is a partner in the Business Risk Services practice. She has more than 14 years of experience spanning internal audit, risk management and corporate governance, having built a career across both the public and private sectors.
Prior to joining Grant Thornton, she served as Internal Audit Division Director at Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health, where she led several high-impact initiatives. These included establishing a corporate compliance and integrity function, transforming the internal audit office to improve efficiency and effectiveness, and securing a ‘Generally Conforms’ rating through an External Quality Assessment.
Before that, Al Yazeedi was Internal Audit Director at the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi. Earlier in her career, she held roles at Mubadala Investment Company, Emirates Investment Authority and the UAE Accountability Authority, where she began her professional journey as an external auditor.
Commenting on the recognition, Al Yazeedi said: “I am honoured and humbled to be recognised with this global award. This recognition means a great deal to me as someone who has always believed in the power of internal audit to build trust, strengthen governance and help organisations create lasting value.”
She added: “I am grateful to The Institute of Internal Auditors, my colleagues, mentors, clients and everyone who has been part of my journey. Representing Grant Thornton and the UAE Internal Auditors Association on the global stage is a privilege that I do not take lightly.”
Al Yazeedi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Abu Dhabi University and a Diploma in Accounting and Finance from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). She also holds several professional certifications, including Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). In addition, she is an alumna of McKinsey & Company’s Leadership Program.
Other winners at the IIA Excellence Awards 2026 include Osman Turgut (Turkey), Larry Harrington (US), Mike Levy (US), Daines Mbao (Tanzania), Stephen Odipo (Kenya), and BMW (Germany).
