Guests networking at last year’s Gulf Business Awards 2024 in Dubai
The Gulf Business Awards 2025 has officially revealed its shortlist of nominees, marking the next milestone in one of the region’s most respected business recognition platforms.
Scheduled for September 24, 2025, at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, the awards will once again honour the companies and individuals shaping the Gulf’s economic and business landscape.
Now in its 13th year, the Gulf Business Awards continues to celebrate innovation, resilience, leadership, and impact across sectors including banking, real estate, healthcare, technology, energy, and tourism.
Each year, the awards highlight achievements across both the public and private sectors — from startups disrupting traditional models to established conglomerates driving regional influence. The newly revealed shortlist reflects this diversity, showcasing businesses and leaders that are playing a pivotal role in the GCC’s transformation journey.
Nominees will now move forward to the final stage, where an independent panel of judges — comprising regional experts, industry veterans, and Gulf Business editorial leadership — will determine the winners through a process designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and merit-based recognition.
The 2025 edition promises not only to celebrate outstanding business achievement but also to provide an evening of high-profile networking and inspiration, attended by decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and executives from across the region.
See below for the entire shorlist:
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
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 Hospiltality
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
