2025 Gulf Business Awards Nominees Announced

Participants mingling at the Gulf Business Awards 2024 in Dubai

The Gulf Business Awards 2025 has announced its list of nominees, marking another significant step for one of the most esteemed business recognition events in the region.

Set to take place on September 24, 2025, at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, the awards will acknowledge the contributions of various companies and individuals who are influencing the business and economic environment in the Gulf.

This year marks the 13th installment of the Gulf Business Awards, which aims to honor innovation, resilience, leadership, and positive impact across diverse sectors such as finance, real estate, healthcare, technology, energy, and travel.

Each edition of the awards showcases accomplishments from both the public and private sectors—featuring startups that challenge conventional models alongside established corporations that enhance regional influence. The newly announced nominees exemplify this variety, highlighting entities and leaders that are essential to the GCC’s evolution.

The shortlisted nominees will advance to the final phase, where a panel of independent judges—including regional specialists, industry veterans, and Gulf Business editorial leadership—will select the winners through a process committed to fairness, transparency, and merit-based evaluation.

The upcoming edition is expected to not only celebrate remarkable business successes but also offer an opportunity for high-level networking and inspiration, attracting key decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and executives from across the region.

Below is the complete shortlist:

Company Awards

Banking Company of the Year

  • ADCB
  • ADIB
  • Emirates NBD
  • Mashreq
  • RAKBANK

Energy Company of the Year

  • Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC)
  • GE Vernova
  • IPT Energy
  • Masdar
  • Petrochem

Healthcare Company of the Year

  • The Brain & Performance Centre – A DP World Company
  • AEON Clinic – Centre for Regenerative Wellness
  • Aster DM Healthcare
  • King’s College Hospital London, Dubai
  • Mediclinic

Hospitality Company of the Year

  • Aleph Hospitality
  • Amsa Hospitality
  • FIVE Hotels and Resorts
  • Kleindienst Group
  • Radisson Hotel Group

Investment Company of the Year

  • AirDXB
  • AIX
  • Century Financial
  • EFG Hermes
  • MBS Global Investments

Logistics Company of the Year

  • AD Ports
  • Aramex
  • Dollar Car Rental
  • DP World
  • Fedex

Real Estate Company of the Year

  • Ellington Properties
  • Object 1
  • Refad Real Estate Investment and Development Company
  • ROSHN Group
  • SOL Properties

Retail Company of the Year

  • Alshaya Group
  • Brands For Less Group
  • Dubai Duty Free
  • Kolshy Portal L.L.C S.O.C
  • Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle

Technology Company of the Year

  • Alaan
  • Crowe Mark
  • FundedNext
  • Virgin Mobile
  • Yango Group

Tourism Company of the Year

  • Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai
  • Dubai Holding & Entertainment
  • Miral Group
  • Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
  • Saudi Red Sea Authority

Transport Company of the Year

  • Blacklane Middle East
  • GE Aerospace
  • Lumi Rental Co
  • Thrifty Car Rental
  • WeRide

Leader Awards

Banking Leader of the Year

  • Ahmed Abdelaal, CEO, Mashreq
  • Mohamed Al Marzooqi, CEO, HSBC UAE
  • Raheel Ahmed, Group CEO, RAKBANK
  • Rola Abu Manneh, CEO – UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, Standard Chartered
  • Ala’a Eraiqat, CEO, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

Energy Leader of the Year

  • Rasso Bartenschlager, General Manager, Al Masaood Power
  • H.E. Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO, Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC)
  • Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer, Masdar
  • Majid Jafar, CEO, Crescent Petroleum
  • Yogesh Mehta, CEO, Petrochem

Healthcare Leader of the Year

  • Dr. Craig R. Cook, CEO, The Brain & Performance Centre, a DP World company
  • Alisha Moopen, Managing Director and Group CEO, Aster DM Healthcare GCC
  • Shaista Asif, Group CEO, PureHealth
  • Sherif Bishara, Group CEO, Mohamed & Obaid Almulla Group and American Hospital Dubai
  • Kimberley Pierce, CEO, King’s College Hospital London, Dubai

Hospitality Leader of the Year

  • Joe Nassoura, General Manager, Fairmont Dubai
  • Muin Serhan, CEO, Amsa Hospitality
  • Bani Haddad, Founder and Managing Director, Aleph Hospitality
  • Marloes Knippenberg, CEO, Kerten Hospitality
  • Kabir Mulchandani, Chairman and Chief Executive, FIVE Holdings

Investment Leader of the Year

  • Bal Krishen Rathore, CEO & Chairman, Century Financial Group
  • Ziad Melhem, Group CEO, CFI Financial Group
  • Osama ElKady, CEO and Co-founder, Incorta
  • Damian Hitchen, CEO, Saxo Bank MENA
  • Wafik Ben Mansour, CEO, Shuaa Capital

Logistics Leader of the Year

  • Ibrahim Alqasim, Director Warehousing & Logistics, Mobily
  • Tarek Sultan, Chairman, Agility Global
  • Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World
  • Abdulaziz Busbate, CEO, DHL Express MENA
  • Taarek Hinedi, Vice President – Middle East & Africa, FEDEX

Real Estate Leader of the Year

  • Egor Maslennikov, Chairman & Founder, Object 1
  • Elie Naaman, Co-Founder and CEO, Ellington Properties
  • Michael Belton, CEO, MERED
  • Badr Abdulla Alhelo AlSuwaidi, Co-Founder and CEO, NABNI Developments
  • Eng. Amer Khansaheb, CEO & Board Member, Union Properties
  • Yousuf Fakhruddin, CEO, Fakhruddin Properties

Retail Leader of the Year

  • John Hadden, CEO, Alshaya Group
  • Fahed Ghanim, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim – Lifestyle
  • Ahmed El Faramawy, Founder and CEO, Kolshy Portal L.L.C S.O.C
  • Toufic Kreidieh, Executive Chairman and Co-founder, Brands For Less (BFL) Group
  • Saifee Rupawala, CEO, Lulu Retail

Technology Leader of the Year

  • Abdullah Jayed, CEO and Founder, FundedNext
  • Mazen Nahawi, Founder & Group CEO, CARMA Media Insight FZE
  • Francis Lapp, CEO, Sunreef Yachts
  • Reda Nidhakou, CEO, VentureOne
  • Andreas Hassellöf, Founder and CEO, Ombori

Tourism Leader of the Year

  • Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO, Saudi Tourism Authority
  • Kabir Mulchandani, Chairman and Chief Executive, FIVE Holdings
  • Mohammed Al-Nasser, CEO, Saudi Red Sea Authority
  • Abdulla Rashed Al Abdouli, CEO, Marjan
  • Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO, Miral Group

Transport Leader of the Year

  • Adel Mardini, CEO, Jetex
  • Azfar Shakeel, CEO, Lumi
  • Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai
  • Mansoor Alfalasi, CEO, Dubai Taxi Company
  • Rahul Singh, MD – Car Rental Division, Dollar and Thrifty UAE

For additional details on the Gulf Business Awards 2025, click here.

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