Middle East CEO of the Year - Gulf News

"Dennis Ross, former Middle East envoy and director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policies, told Gulf News:"

"Dubai has become a service provider with an environment that limits regulation, and what you see in Dubai and the rest of the UAE as well is a very good model, because in the case of Dubai, they developed an economy that doesn't depend on oil."

"Dr Saad Al Barrak, director-general of MTC, told Gulf News:"

"Without competition [in Arab markets] and transparency, businesses will not develop to international standards. The Middle East doesn't have competition even in the relatively free economies, protectionism is high, so they are not mature and as advanced as their international counterparts."

Both could be right. Except I always wonder if the Dubai economy isn't pumped by oil revenues from some source, and what will happen if and when that source gets cut off.

The winners are:

Government CEP of the Year Award:
Qasim Sultan Al Banna, director-general [Dubai Municipality]
Saeed Mattar Bin Beleila, director [Naturalisation and Residency Administration, Dubai]

Industry CEP of the Year Award:
Mohammad Al Mady, vice-chairman and CEP [Saudi Basic Industries Corp, KSA]

Service Sector CEP of the Year Award:
Dr Khaled Al Sultan, director [King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, KSA]

Banking and Finance CEP of the Year Award:
Abdullah Bahamdan, chairman and managing director [The National Commercial Bank, KSA]

ICT CEP of the Year Award:
Dr Saad Al Barrak, director-general [MTC Group, Kuwait]

Young CEP of the Year Award:
Esam Yousif Janahi, CEP [Gulf Finance House, and chairman, Bahrain Financial Harbour, Bahrain]