Tuesday, 24 November 2009
updated 1 minute ago
13:48 UAE time

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Revealed: Gulf's most admired companies

by Arabian Business Staff on Sunday, 15 April 2007

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The Four Seasons Hotel, one of KHC's most lucrative businesses.

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Sheikh Ahmed, chairman, Emirates Airline.

Across the Gulf, the business community is in rude health. Billions of dollars are flowing through the region, as governments diversify their nations' interests by ploughing oil revenues into developing economies, and Arab companies ride the crest of a wave, recording record profits and expanding at an unprecedented rate.

This week, Arabian Business takes a look at some of those companies driving the economic rise of the region. In compiling our list of the ‘50 Most Admired', we looked for those companies demonstrating a set of distinctive values: Dynamic innovation, effective leadership, strong growth - both financially and geographically - and a firm commitment to breaking new ground in the Middle East and beyond.

We have examined in detail each sector, looking at both public and private companies. As you will see from the list, this has resulted in wide variety among our top 50. Some companies, such as second-placed Emirates Airline, make the list on the back of record growth and profits, year after year. Others, such as relatively small retailer The One, have impressed us with their forward-thinking management style and social responsibility.

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We have had to restrict our choices exclusively to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Otherwise, our list would have run into the hundreds - another encouraging sign for the Middle East.

Not everyone will agree with our choices, and not everyone will agree with our rankings. The companies listed are our choice - they are the companies that make us proud to bear witness to the astonishing growth of the modern Middle East. Let the debate begin.

See the complete list of the 50 most admired companies in the GCC

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READERS' COMMENTS

Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.

Very Funny
Posted by Khaled B on Friday 30 January 2009 at 03:54 UAE time

It is very funny to read the list at this in this world. Arabian Business, after reading this, I think you lost credibility in my eyes.
Please keep in mind that some companies deserve to be there, but never the less, it is very shameful to see the list and how this website / magazine conducted its analysis.

Hilarious ! ! hast to be the moon
Posted by Jack Spratt, Dubai, Uae on Tuesday 16 October 2007 at 20:00 UAE time

Absolutely Hilarious,

On what subjective criteria ?
Please your insulting our business intelligence

Yet no advertising agencies in the middle east -
you have to be joking....

Yet you place The One - ( have you ever visited ? )

Come on your supposed to be a business news link
Arabian Business or Arabian Comedy

List of funnies
Posted by Enas, Bahrain on Sunday 19 August 2007 at 14:00 UAE time

This should be called the list of companies that spend most of their operational budgets on advertising. False Advertising at that.

WE all know how it works
Posted by yusuf on Saturday 21 July 2007 at 01:00 UAE time

After reading a survey recently done by a leading Kuwaiti Newspaper which asked 3 top CEOs of Kuwaiti Companies (only 3 agreed to participate because of the “sensitivity of the issue “) how they viewed the way business magazines rated companies and issued awards, the basic consensus was, if you advertise, or contribute to the economic advancement of the publication, then your company be rated favorably. This was recently published in the Alqabas News paper.

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