Dubai: The Gulf Business Awards, currently in its ninth year, picked out 26 winners, both individuals and companies. The event, hosted on Tuesday (November 23) honoured Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, with the Gulf Business Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Award which is reserved for somebody who has, over the course of many years, been a leading figure in the growth, development and success of the region. The judging panel includes Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar, CEO of Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education; Neil Petch, founder and Chairman of Virtugroup; Thomas Kuruvilla, Managing Partner of Arthur D. Little Middle East; as well as Ian Fairservice, founder and Managing Partner of Motivate Media Group, and Andrew Wingrove, Group Director of Motivate Media Group.

Ian Fairservice said: “This is a very special year for Gulf Business as it marks its 25th anniversary. Gulf Business has been a leading voice for the region’s business ecosystem and these Awards showcase the finest leaders and companies driving the rapid growth in the economy, pushing forward remarkable changes within the communities they serve.”

The 2021 winners of the Gulf Business Awards are:

Banking Company of the Year

• Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

Energy Company of the Year

• Masdar

Healthcare Company of the Year

• G42 Healthcare

Investment Company of the Year

• Yas Holding

Real Estate Company of the Year

• Aldar Properties

Retail Company of the Year

• Noon.com

Technology Company of the Year

• Huawei Middle East

Transport and Logistics Company of the Year

• DP World

Tourism and Hospitality Company of the Year

• Millennium Hotels and Resorts

Banking Business Leader of the Year

• Rola Abu Manneh – CEO, Standard Chartered UAE

Energy Business Leader of the Year

• Paddy Padmanathan – CEO and President, ACWA Power

Healthcare Business Leader of the Year

• Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil – Chairman and Managing Director, VPS Healthcare

Investment Business Leader of the Year

• Bal Krishen – Chairman, Century Financial

Real Estate Business Leader of the Year

• Hussain Sajwani – Founder, DAMAC Properties

Retail Business Leader of the Year

• Mohammad A Baker – Deputy Chairman and CEO, GMG

Technology Business Leader of the Year

• Nidal Abou-Ltaif – President Avaya International (EMEA & APAC)

Transport and Logistics Business Leader of the Year

• Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi – Chairman of the Hope Consortium Executive Committee; Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports

Tourism and Hospitality Business Leader of the Year

• Issam Kazim – CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing

Inspiring Entrepreneur

• Dariush Soudi

Young Business Leader

• Adel Sajan

Promising Newcomer

• Atif Rahman

Sustainability Company of the Year

• PepsiCo AMESA

Disruptor of the Year

• Anghami

SME of the Year

• Dubizzle

Businesswoman of the Year

• Khadija Al Bastaki – Executive Director, Dubai Design District

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Colm McLoughlin – Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free

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