Bahrain’s Atif Abdulmalik, CEO of Arcapita Bank, Esam Janahi, chairman of Gulf Finance House and Saud Kanoo, a partner of Amwaj Islands, Bahrain have been announced by Ernst & Young as finalists in the Middle East Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2007.
The Entrepreneur of the Year awards programme recognises outstanding entrepreneurs on a regional and global level who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses. The three finalists from Bahrain were selected from a large number of nominated leading entrepreneurs from ten countries across the Middle East region and now join a total of 20 finalists to participate in the Middle East Entrepreneur of the Year celebratory weekend scheduled to be held in Dubai from 21 - 23 February 2008.
During the three-day event the finalists will have the opportunity to present their entrepreneur success story to a panel of independent distinguished judges. Awards will be given to entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as financial performance; entrepreneurial sprit; strategic direction; national or global impact; innovation and; personal integrity/influence.
All of the entrepreneurs will receive awards which celebrate their success at a gala dinner and awards ceremony on the evening of February 23, 2008 also at which an overall nominated leading entrepreneur will be announced to represent the Middle East finalists at the World Entrepreneur of the Year award ceremony to be held in Monte Carlo in May 2008.
Reacting to the news of being selected as a finalist from such a high calibre field of applicants, Atif Abdulmalik said: “It is an honour to be nominated for this prestigious award in its first year in the Middle East. The award is a positive contribution to the encouragement of entrepreneurship and I am looking forward to the results being announced in February 2008.”
Saud Kanoo further commented by saying: “I am overwhelmed as well as delighted to have been short-listed for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Despite the award still being in its first year, it has already gained such a reputation that even being short-listed makes me feel like a winner. The award recognises the spirit of enterprise - something which I think Bahrainis have as part of their national character. “
“I think this award is a reflection not just of my efforts, achievements and experience but also those of the entire Kanoo family - which has a long history of entrepreneurial activity going back over 110 years. I look forward to the announcement of the winner of the Ernst & Young Middle East Entrepreneur of the Year - and hope that the winner comes from Bahrain.”
Other finalists announced are: Dani Safi, CEO, Tabreed, Abu Dhabi, UAE; BR Shetty, managing director, UAE Exchange Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Arif Naqvi, EVC & CEO, Abraaj Capital, Dubai, UAE; Omar Ayesh, president, Tameer Holding Investments, Dubai, UAE; Sunny Varkey, chairman & founder, Varkey Group, Dubai, UAE; Ayedh Bin Farhan, MD, Al Oula Real Estate Development Co., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Sobhi Batterjee, president & CEO, Saudi German Hospitals, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Samih Darwazah, chairman, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Jordan; Fadi Ghandour, CEO , Aramex, Jordan; Faisal Al Ayyar, managing director & CEO, Kuwait Projects Company, Kuwait; Abdulfatah Marafie, chairman & managing director, The Commercial Real Estate Co, Kuwait; Mohammed Al Alloush, chairman & managing director, First Investment Co, Kuwait; Marzooq Al Rashdan, vice chairman & managing director, Abyaar Real Estate Development, Kuwait; Samir Fancy, chairman, Renaissance Services SAOG, Oman; Maqbool Hamed Al Saleh, chairman, Oman Holdings International, Oman; Wasim Daher, CEO , Azadea Group, Lebanon and Abdulaziz Al Hoshan, chairman, Vodatel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program