Revealed: Winners at the Gulf Business Awards 2017
A total of 27 awards were handed to the winners during the gala
The prestigious annual Gulf Business Awards took place in a dazzling ceremony on Sunday evening at Fairmont The Palm hotel in Dubai, with some of the region’s top business executives in attendance.
The sixth edition of the event saw a total of 27 awards given away during the evening.
The awards – judged by an independent panel and public voting – sought to celebrate excellence in the corporate world and recognised companies and business leaders across nine industries. Awards were also given to across other special categories to recognise innovation and CSR.
For his enormous achievements and ceaseless contributions to the growth of the UAE – especially in aviation, the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award for 2017 was awarded to HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; chairman and CEO of Emirates Group; and chairman of Dubai Supreme Fiscal Committee, Dubai Airports and Emirates NBD.
The coveted Gulf Business Company of the Year award was won by local company DarkMatter, while the recipient of the 2017 Business Leader of the Year award was HE Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, CEO of Mashreq Bank.
This year also saw the introduction of the Happiness and Positivity company of the year award – which was bagged by DHL Express.
The judging panel included: Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, group CEO of Tecom Group; Arif Naqvi, founder and group CEO of The Abraaj Group; Mark Beer OBE, CEO of DIFC’s Dispute Resolution Authority; Ian Fairservice, Motivate managing partner and group editor-in-chief; and Neil King, editor of Gulf Business.
The evening was hosted by Motivate Publishing in association with headline sponsor King’s College Hospital London and category sponsors: Samsonite, Jacobsons Direct, Shapoorji Pallonji and Strathclyde.
Don’t miss: In pics: Gulf Business Awards 2017 – Companies of the year
In pics: Gulf Business Awards 2017 – Business leaders of the year
In pics: Gulf Business Awards 2017 – Special category winners
COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS
Lifetime Achievement Award: HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; chairman and CEO of Emirates Group; chairman of Dubai Supreme Fiscal Committee, Dubai Airports and Emirates NBD
Gulf Business Company of the year: DarkMatter
Gulf Business Business Leader of the Year: HE Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, CEO of Mashreq Bank
Companies of the year
Energy
Masdar
Tourism and hospitality
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
Aviation and transport
Dubai Airports
Banking
Emirates NBD
Technology
DarkMatter
Media and marketing
OSN
Healthcare
Aster DM Healthcare
Real estate
Danube
Retail
Souq.com
Business leaders of the year
Energy
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar
Tourism and hospitality
HE Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing
Aviation and transport
Magnus Olsson and Mudassir Sheikha, co-founders of Careem
Banking
HE Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, CEO of Mashreq
Technology
Faisal Al Bannai, founder and CEO of DarkMatter
Media and marketing
Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC Group
Healthcare
David Hadley, CEO of Mediclinic Middle East
Real estate
HE Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar
Retail
Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free
Special categories
Businesswoman of the year
Sima Ved, founder and vice chairperson of Apparel Group
Innovator of the year
HUB1006
SME of the year
NOW Money
CSR initiative of the year(public vote)
Daman – ActiveLife
Entrepreneur of the year (public vote)
Nayla Al Khaja, D-Seven / The Scene
Happiness & Positivity Company of the Year
DHL Express