The UAE dominated the Middle East and North Africa Stevie Awards 2025 — which took place in Ras Al Khaimah at the Waldorf Astoria — with 66 public and private institutions receiving 157 awards, Al Bayan reports. Saudi Arabia came in second with a total of 86 awards.

The details: Public institutions including the General Civil Aviation Authority and the Roads and Transport Authority received Gold Stevie awards, while the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development received a Silver Stevie. Private institutions that received accolades include First Abu Dhabi Bank, Damac Properties, and Adnoc Logistics and Services.

Forbes Middle East’s 10 MENA Women Making Their Mark in Marketing list features six UAE entrants. Our friend Muna Al Ghurair, group head of marketing and corporate communications at Mashreq, features in the ranking.

Other Emirati women among the top 10:

  • Mashael Saleh Alshehri, executive VP of marketing and branding at Binghatti;
  • Suzanne Abou Eid, senior director of marketing and communication at Bloom Holding;
  • Nouf Mohamed Al Boushelaibi, chief marketing officer and executive director of strategic marketing and communications at the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi;
  • Marwa Kaabour, group head of marketing and corporate communication at Al Masaood;
  • and Lamia Hariz, group head of corporate communications, marketing, and investor relations at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.

Four UAE universities ranked among the top 500 in the QS WorldUniversityRankings 2025. United Arab Emirates University rose 29 places to 261st place, Khalifa University climbed 28 spots to 202nd, American University of Sharjah advanced 32 places to 332nd, and University of Sharjah moved up 31 spots to 434th.

PLUS- Mashreq Al Islami wins digital transformation award: Our friends at Mashreq’s Islamic banking arm, Mashreq Al Islami, received the Best Islamic Bank Digital Transformation – Middle East 2024 award at the Global Banking Finance Awards, according to the company statement.

Tags: