Attendees at the Gulf Business Awards 2025
The Gulf Business Awards 2025, held on September 24 at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, was nothing short of spectacular. Now in its 13th year, the event once again cemented its reputation as the region’s premier platform for celebrating innovation, resilience, leadership, and excellence across industries.
With more than 400 of the Gulf’s most influential executives, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers in attendance, the evening was a celebration not only of the winners, but of the remarkable progress and transformation taking place across the region’s business landscape.
The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi provided the backdrop for an evening of recognition and networking. Guests were welcomed to a red-carpet reception before gathering for a gala dinner that combined fine dining with thought-provoking conversations. The setting underscored the prestige of the Gulf Business Awards, elevating the sense of occasion for honourees, judges, and attendees alike.
Honouring visionaries and innovators
As always, the highlight of the night was the announcement of the award winners across company and leadership categories spanning banking, real estate, healthcare, technology, tourism, energy, and more.
Among the evening’s most celebrated honourees was Gerald Lawless, executive and former CEO of Jumeirah Group, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Lawless was recognised for his decades-long impact on the hospitality sector and his role in shaping Dubai into a global tourism and leisure hub.
In his speech Lawless remarked: “I would like to dedicate this award to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. I have had such a privilege to have worked directly for His Highness in the creation and the establishment of the Jumeirah Group back in 1997 and I’ve spent beautiful years looking after that great company. I am so proud of what it has achieved, and so now it continues to achieve.”
Another major highlight was the Business Leader of the Year Award, presented to Rola Abu Manneh, CEO – UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, Standard Chartered. During her tenure, she has overseen significant growth in the UAE business and championed women’s empowerment and inclusive leadership across the region.
The Company of the Year Award went to Miral Group, the Abu Dhabi-based creator of immersive destinations and experiences. Miral was recognised for its ambitious projects, sustainable development ethos, and contribution to positioning Abu Dhabi as a global tourism and entertainment capital. From Yas Island to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Miral continues to embody the transformative power of visionary planning and execution.
The judging process
Winners were selected by an esteemed independent panel of judges, who brought decades of experience across media, finance, technology, and healthcare to the process.
The panel included Ian Fairservice, managing partner and group editor-in-chief, Motivate Media Group; Mishal Kanoo, chairman, The Kanoo Group; Jawad Jalal Abbassi, head of MENA, GSMA; Reenita Das, partner and senior vice president, Frost & Sullivan; and Gareth van Zyl, group editor, Gulf Business.
Fairservice noted: “Over more than a decade, these awards have become a benchmark for excellence, spotlighting the visionaries, trailblazers and companies shaping the region’s future. Gulf Business has been proud to chronicle this journey through our magazine and digital platforms, capturing the remarkable growth and transformation of the Gulf.”
Together, the judges ensured a fair and transparent evaluation process, focusing on merit, impact, and relevance to the region’s business ecosystem. Their insights and rigorous assessments helped to shine a spotlight on deserving winners while underscoring the depth of talent and innovation across the Gulf.
Beyond the awards themselves, the evening served as a powerful networking platform. Executives and entrepreneurs from across the GCC engaged in meaningful conversations about investment, digital transformation, and the region’s evolving economic priorities.
In his closing remarks, Gareth van Zyl, group editor of Gulf Business, said: “This year’s Awards underscored not only the incredible progress we’ve seen across the Gulf’s business ecosystem, but also the exciting future that lies ahead. These winners are setting new benchmarks for innovation and impact.”
Listed below are all the winners.
Company Awards
Banking Company of the Year: RAKBANK
Logistics Company of the Year: AD Ports Group
Transport Company of the Year: Thrifty Car Rental
Technology Company of the Year: Crowe Mak
Leader Awards
Energy Leader of the Year: Rasso Bartenschlager, General Manager, Al Masaood Power
Healthcare Leader of the Year: Dr. Craig R. Cook, CEO, The Brain & Performance Centre, a DP World company
Hospitality Leader of the Year: Joe Nassoura General Manager, Fairmont Dubai
Logistics Leader of the Year: Tarek Sultan, Chairman, Agility Global
(Note: representatives from the respective companies accepted the awards on the winner’s behalf)
Real Estate Leader of the Year: Yousuf Fakhruddin, CEO and Managing Partner, Fakhruddin Properties Group
Investment Leader of the Year: Bal Krishen Rathore, CEO & Chairman, Century Financial Group
Retail Leader of the Year: John Hadden, CEO Alshaya Group
Technology Leader of the Year: Andreas Hassellöf, Founder and CEO – Ombori
Tourism Leader of the Year: Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO, Miral Group
Transport Leader of the Year: Adel Mardini, CEO, Jetex
Editor’s Choice Awards
Overall Awards
Business Leader of the Year: Rola Abu Manneh, CEO, UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, Standard Chartered Bank
