The Winners
Best e-Government Initiative
Major General Mohammed Al MarriUAE Ministry of Interior - Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department.
Over the past few years, the development on online government services across the Gulf has been phenomenal. But the judges felt that one which really stood out was Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department. Dubai e-government services were launched in 2001, and since then 90% of government services have gone online. The UAE Ministry of Interior has achieved great success by moving its naturalization and residency services online.
Airline of the Year
Peter Baumgartner, Executive Vice PresidentEtihad Airways
Probably the toughest fought this year. Despite the down turn, Gulf airlines have continued to show remarkable growth, none more so than Abu Dhabi´s national carrier Etihad Airways. Just five years old, the airline has flown nearly 14 million passengers on more than 87,000 flights. The judges felt that the customer service delivered by Etihad made it a clear winner this year.
Retail Bank of the Year
Mr. Suvo SarkarEmirates NBD
Emirates NBD, the Middle East´s biggest bank by assets, was formed in October 2007 following merger of Emirates Bank and National Bank of Dubai. The group has a presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Kingdom and Jersey. At 30th June 2008 total assets were AED 286 billion, giving it a market share of 20.5%. Emirates NBD is the leading retail banking franchise in the UAE, with 115 branches and over 486 ATMs spread across the UAE.
Investment Bank of the Year
Mr. Mathew Wakeman, Head of ResearchEFG Hermes
This year, our judges look at both the profitability of investment banks in the region, and the size of assets under management. Using these criteria, the clear winners were EFG Hermes. Egypt´s largest investment bank has had strong growth in 200, with acquisitions in Kuwait and Oman.
Retail Company of the Year
Mr. Tawhid Abdullah, Managing DirectorDamas
UAE based Damas now has a network of 438 showrooms across the Middle East, GCC, North Africa and India. Now listed on the Dubai International Financial Exchange, it has become a truly global company.
Telecom Company of the Year
Mr Nasser Bin Obood, Chief Corporate Affairs OfficerEtisalat
This is one sector that has continued to perform strongly in 2008, and we have seen many companies deliver impressive results. But once again, it is the UAE´s biggest telecom company Etisalat that has stolen the show. It has seen the global financial crisis as an opportunity to purchase new assets in 2008 it took its investments to $11billion in 16 countries.
Developer of the Year
Mr. Abdullah bin Sulayem, Operations Director, Palm DeiraNakheel
Our judges felt that this year, the criteria should be about delivery. And when it comes to delivery, it has been a remarkable year for Nakheel. It´s flagship Palm Jumeriah project is just one example of a dream being realized. Five years ago, many experts were skeptical when they saw the sheer scale of Nakheel´s ambitions. Today they have all been proved wrong.
Hospitality Company of the Year
Mr. Marc Dardenne, CEOEmaar Hospitality
Once again, the judges looked not just at ambition, but delivery. Which led them to one clear winner, Emaar Hospitality. In tandem with the development and management of first class leisure facilities, Emaar Hospitality has rolled out The Address Hotels and Resorts during 2008, with a commitment to building a world-class 5 star hotel chain in under a decade. The first of The Address Hotels is located in the UAE, in Downtown Burj Dubai by all accounts, a fabulous achievement.
Technology Company of the Year
Mr. Hazim El Hijaj, CEOMicro Automation Industries
Our winner is Micro Automation Industries (MAI), a company based in Techno Park, Dubai. It has more than 30 years of expertise and accumulated expertise in the field of engineering design, development, prototyping and manufacturing. MAI has carved a niche as the best in the field of power protection and electronic control systems.
Small Business of the Year
Dr. Ata Atmar, Managing DirectorBateel
Bateel specializes in the production and distribution of a complete range of dates, and date and non-date gourmet confectioneries. The company is headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with a regional office in Dubai, UAE and employs over three hundred people. It has become a truly world class brand.
Young Business Person of the Year
Ahmed Al DhaheriInjaz Mena Investments has had a great year in 2008. It specializes in private equity investments in telecommunication, real estate and engineering sectors; investment banking services including corporate finance and asset management. In June this year, under Ahmed's leadership, it delivered a 47% increase in net profits.
Environmental Services of the Year
Mr Ziad Tassabehji, Director of Innovation and InvestmentsMasdar
Our judges felt there could only be one winner, Masdar, a company that has truly become a world class brand, and done so much already in the field of research and development of new technologies.
Construction Company of the Year
Dubai Contracting Company (DCC)Again there have been many strong performances in 2008, but our judges felt the strongest was by Dubai Contracting Company. It has completed 12 major projects, including the prestigious World Trade Centre Residences in Dubai and has 18 more projects underway. These include the flagship Fairmont Palm Residences and Hotel.
Editor´s Choice
Anas KozbariEach year, the editors of Arabian Business recognize an individual who they feel has made a significant contribution to business on a regional level. This year, our editors have chosen Mr. Anas Koznari. Anas Kozbari founded Invest Group OverSeas (IGO) in 2004. He and the management team at IGO have positioned the company to be a leading force in property investment and development in Syria and across other regional markets. Under Kozabri´s guidance, IGO formed a partnership with Emaar Properties, the largest developer in the Middle East, building a massive real estate project in Syria, called the 8th Gate Project.
Businesswoman of the Year
Fatima Al-JaberThe contribution made the business by women in the region just keeps on growing, and once again in 2008 has been very impressive.
None more so than Fatima al-Jaber, chief operating officer of the UAE's Al-Jaber Group. At Al-Jaber Group, she manages all of the group's contracting, logistics, industrial, trading, investment and real estate subsidiaries. An engineer by profession, Al-Jaber worked with the Abu Dhabi government from 1998 until 2005. Al-Jaber currently acts as deputy chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen's Council and sits on the board of directors of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Businessman of the Year
Mr. Fadi GhandourIt was back in 1982 that Fadi Ghandour founded Aramex back then a small courier company based in Jordan. By 1997 it had listed on Nasdaq, becoming the first ever Arab company to do so. Thanks to the brilliant leadership of Fadi Ghandour it has grown to become the world´s 5th largest courier company. And 2008 saw even greater growth, with a strong list of acquisitions.
Business Leadership
Joseph GhossoubOur judges have recognize an individual who has become not just a successful leader of his own organization, The Holding Group - but very much a global business leader, Mr. Joseph Ghossoub. One of the most influential and successful men in media, through his presidency of the International Advertising Assocation he has made Arab issues global issues.
Lifetime Achievement
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al MaktoumThe Lifetime Achievement Awards goes to a very special leader, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
Sheikh Ahmed started his career in the aviation industry in 1985, with the launch of Emirates Airline.
By 2007 the airline was the eighth-largest airline in the world in terms of international passengers carried and fifth-largest in the world in terms of scheduled international passenger-kilometres flown. The airline ranks amongst the top 10 carriers worldwide in terms of revenue. This year however came two remarkable achievements: the airline crossed the $1 billion dollar mark in net profits, and took delivery of the new Airbus A380.
Sheikh Ahmed also provides valuable leadership outside the airline industry he is deputy chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, which formulates policies and strategies for the emirate of Dubai.
