The 12th Annual International Finance Awards ceremony successfully took place in Dubai’s Jumeirah Emirates Towers on January 16, 2025.
The spectacle was graced by H.E. Miss Nipa Nirannoot (Consul-General of Thailand to Dubai & the Northern Emirates), H.E. Hussain Mohammed Al Mahmoudi (CEO of Sharjah Research, Technology, & Innovation Park), H.E. Dalia Khorshid (Group CEO and Managing Director of Beltone Holding), and Mr. Mohamed Al Banna (Founder of Lead Ventures & Strategic Advisor to members of Royal Family Offices in the UAE).
Some of the prominent winners of the International Finance Awards 2024 include the Department of Land & Real Estate Regulation – Ajman, Sadana Clock Tower, Emirates Development Bank, Saudi Automotive Services Company (SASCO), Emirates Islamic, Post For Investment, OQ8 Duqm Refinery, BEEAH, Mashreq Al Islami, Aljazira Capital, Saudi Ground Services Company, Zain Kuwait, Bank AlJazira, Saudi EXIM Bank, Saudi Tabreed, Soudah Development, Beltone, Bahrain Development Bank, Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC), and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, Doha (QFC) Branch.
International Finance had the pleasure of catching up with Bahrain Development Bank Group CEO Dalal AlQais, who was beaming with joy during the awards night after being named ‘Best Emerging Women Banking CEO – Bahrain 2024’. Adding to her elation, her company was also honoured with the ‘Most Innovative Digital Transformation Bank – Bahrain 2024′ award, making it a doubly delightful evening for Dalal.
She said, “I am deeply honoured to receive the awards. It’s not just a personal reflection of my journey, but rather a testament to the time, effort, and clear strategy implemented by the employees of Bahrain Development Bank.”
After winning the ‘Best Foreign Bank – Saudi Arabia 2024’ and ‘Best Cashback Credit Card – Saudi Arabia 2024’ awards, Emirates NBD (KSA) CEO Naser Yousef shared his excitement with International Finance.
An ecstatic Naser Yousef said, “We are thrilled to announce that we have won the Best Foreign Bank award for the fourth consecutive year. This marks my fourth time on stage to accept this honour, and in addition, we have also won the award for the best Cashback Credit Card.”
The CEO also spoke about the company’s growth and assured that Emirates NBD (KSA) will be back next year for their fifth consecutive award.
“Since our establishment in the Kingdom in 2004, we have grown to 21 branches, making us the largest branch network in the region. Being here for the fourth time is a significant achievement, and while it brings us joy, it also adds pressure to ensure we continue to excel and return next year. I must admit, I would be quite disappointed if we do not secure this recognition again next year for the fifth time. This commitment reflects our dedication to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the CEO added.
International Finance also had the opportunity to interact with Beeah CFO Usman Tareen, who praised the company’s leadership and culture.
Beeah was honoured with the ‘Best Financial Department – Environmental Services – UAE 2024’ award, while the company’s CEO, Fahad Shehail, received the ‘Best CEO – Environment Services – UAE 2024’ award.
“We are truly blessed to have such a great team. This is the second consecutive year we’ve won, following our success last year. We are committed to cultivating a culture of high performance and providing our team with the tools they need to excel. We are fortunate to have a leadership team with a vision that supports and facilitates this culture among our members. Our leadership team has worked very hard over the past 12 months, and receiving this award from International Finance means a lot to them. I believe this recognition will pave the way for even more success in the future,” Beeah CFO Usman Tareen said.
Ahmed Ali Abdelrahman, CEO of Post for Investment S.A.E (PFI), expressed his honour upon receiving the ‘Most Innovative Digitisation Private Equity Investment Firm – Egypt 2024’ award.
The CEO said, “It’s truly an honour and I’m thrilled to receive this award for the second consecutive year. This recognition highlights our commitment to digital transformation, which will significantly contribute to making our country more digital-friendly. We are very proud of receiving the award.”
Meanwhile, the Saudi Water Partnership Company earned the prestigious ‘Best Exemplary Public Water Agency – Saudi Arabia 2024’ award.
Sulaiman Turki, the company’s Chief Strategy and Development Officer, expressed his excitement at winning this accolade for the third consecutive year.
He said, “This marks the third consecutive year that Saudi Water Partnership Company has received this award. Our achievement reflects the company’s commitment and the leadership’s dedication, highlighting the efforts we have made in the PPP privatisation model.”
Sulaiman also shared details about the various ongoing projects of the Saudi Water Partnership Company.
“Currently, the company operates more than 14 projects, with seven more under construction and ten projects in the pipeline. Additionally, there are plans for 22 more projects. The company’s portfolio has expanded significantly, growing from 2.3 billion US dollars to an estimated 90 billion US dollars by the year 2031,” he added.
International Finance, a leading provider of business media services, began its journey in 2013 intending to recognise industry talents, leadership skills, net worth, and capabilities on a global scale. It made headlines in 2014 when it introduced its first flagship programme in London. International Finance’s diligent research and development team assisted the latter in identifying the top corporate talent and rewarding them on the strength of their applications and prior achievements.
When considering nominations, International Finance gives preference to C-Level executives and senior management representatives in the financial, banking, asset management, brokerage, insurance, energy, oil & gas, logistics, and utilities sectors from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa.
In 2016, Southeast Asia became the second venue for the International Finance Awards, while in 2018, the company touched the 400 mark in dignitaries attending these award ceremonies. The award ceremony gives opportunities to corporate leaders to build networking with other like-minded ventures. International Finance foresees a future where passion meets excellence.