the EXECUTIVES Transforming the GCC Finance Sector
The Finance Middle East Awards returns in 2026 for its third edition, celebrating the firms and executives driving meaningful impact across the GCC’s financial industry.
This year’s awards will recognise achievements across a range of categories, reflecting the breadth of innovation and leadership shaping banking, wealth management, trading, sovereign wealth investments from the Gulf.
The awards ceremony will convene the region’s most influential financial institutions and professionals in Dubai, recognising industry-defining accomplishments over the past year.
Browse through categories
The Finance Middle East Awards 2025 features 24 distinct categories, recognising achievements across financial institutions and individual leadership. Entries are open across all categories, with companies permitted to submit multiple nominations, including separate submissions within the same category using different case studies.
To be eligible, companies or nominees must be actively operating in the Middle East region.
1.
Bank of the Year
This award recognises a bank operating in the GCC that has demonstrated exceptional performance, strategic initiatives, and significant contributions to the banking sector over the past year. Entrants should provide evidence of financial growth, innovative product or service launches, customer satisfaction improvements, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
2.
CFO of the Year
This category honours a Chief Financial Officer whose leadership and vision have significantly influenced their institution and the broader financial industry in the GCC. Entrants must detail strategic initiatives led by the nominee, their impact on work culture, and how the individual is transforming the firm’s long-term strategy beyond financials.
3.
Finance Director of the Year
This award is presented to an Islamic bank that has excelled in delivering Sharia-compliant financial services, demonstrating innovation, growth, and adherence to Islamic banking principles. Entrants should provide evidence of product innovation, market growth, customer satisfaction, and commitment to Sharia principles.
4.
Finance Manager of the Year
This category celebrates a fintech firm that has significantly disrupted or enhanced the financial services landscape in the Middle East through technological innovation. Entrants must highlight technological innovations, market adoption, partnerships, and impact on the financial industry.
5.
Leadership Impact Award
This award recognises a financial institution or fintech that has effectively leveraged artificial intelligence to improve operations, customer experience, or product offerings. Entrants should detail AI applications, outcomes achieved, and benefits to stakeholders.
6.
Rising Star of the Year
This category honours a startup that has shown remarkable growth, innovation, and potential within its initial years of operation. Entrants must showcase innovation in their business models, growth metrics, funding milestones, and future plans.
7.
Young CFO of the Year
This award recognises an individual in the early stages of their finance career who has made significant contributions and shows exceptional promise as a up-and-coming CFO. Entrants should provide examples of projects led, the impact made, and endorsements from another member of C-suite: CTO, COO, CEO.
8.
Lifetime Achievement Award
This category awards a project or program within the financial sector that has effectively promoted sustainability and responsible finance practices. Entrants must detail the initiative’s objectives, implementation, measurable impact, and alignment with ESG goals.
9.
Asset Manager of the Year
This award recognises a Chief Financial Officer who has exhibited exceptional financial stewardship, strategic planning, and leadership within their organisation. Entrants should highlight financial strategies implemented, outcomes achieved, and leadership contributions.
10.
Best Use of AI in Finance
Honouring a breakthrough product, platform, or initiative that reshapes how financial services are delivered. The award highlights innovation that drives efficiency, inclusion, or access—setting new standards for the industry through emerging tech, AI, or blockchain integration..
11.
Capital Markets House of the Year
This award recognises one of the Gulf’s leading financial centres, aligning with the aspirations and ambitions of Vision 2030. From Oman’s new financial centre, the IFC Oman, to the extraordinary achievements of DIFC, KAFD, ADGM, and QFI: this award recognises a specific achievement of GCC diversification in action.
12.
Consultancy of the Year
This category awards an advisor who has excelled in facilitating mergers and acquisitions, showcasing strategic insight and successful deal execution. Entrants must provide details of M&A deals advised on, roles played, and outcomes achieved.
13.
Family Office of the Year
This award recognises the most reliable and innovative cryptocurrency platform offering secure digital asset trading, strong compliance, and user-centric features. The winner will have demonstrated significant traction, trust, and technological advancement in the Middle East’s growing crypto ecosystem.
14.
Finance Innovation of the Year
This honour is reserved for an individual whose career has significantly shaped the financial industry in the Middle East. The award celebrates decades of leadership, vision, and influence across banking, investment, or regulation, with a lasting contribution to industry development.
15.
Fintech Firm of the Year
This award celebrates the most innovative provider enabling seamless payments across digital and physical channels. The winner will be recognised for reliability, innovation, integration capabilities, and impact on improving the payment experience for businesses and consumers.
16.
Insurance Company of the Year
Awarded to the insurance provider that has excelled in innovation, product development, customer service, and claims management. The recipient will have driven growth while adapting to evolving risk landscapes and regulatory standards, setting benchmarks for operational excellence.
17.
IPO Issuer of the Year
This award celebrates the most innovative provider enabling seamless payments across digital and physical channels. The winner will be recognised for reliability, innovation, integration capabilities, and impact on improving the payment experience for businesses and consumers.
18.
Islamic Bank of the Year
This award is presented to an Islamic bank that has excelled in delivering Sharia-compliant financial services, demonstrating innovation, growth, and adherence to Islamic banking principles. Entrants should provide evidence of product innovation, market growth, customer satisfaction, and commitment to Sharia principles.
19.
M&A Advisor of the Year
Recognising the leading infrastructure provider for financial transactions, this award goes to the most efficient and secure payment processing network. The winner must demonstrate scale, uptime, innovation, and regional relevance in enabling digital and real-time payments across sectors.
20.
Payment Solution Provider of the Year
This category rewards an asset manager delivering consistent investment performance, risk management, and client service. The winner must demonstrate leadership in fund innovation, ESG strategy, and alignment with investor objectives across institutional and retail portfolios.
21.
Startup of the Year
This category honours a venture capital firm that has actively invested in financial innovation across the region. The winner will be a key enabler of fintech growth, known for its funding activity, portfolio success, and strategic support to early-stage companies.
22.
Sustainable Initiative of the Year
Awarded to the leading initiative of ESG regulation in the GCC. As finance adjusts to environmental concerns, ensuring that development is tied to long-term planning for all third parties, this award recognises the impact and innovation tied to a specific piece of regulation by a firm in the Gulf.
23.
Trading Platform of the Year
Awarded to the top-performing trading platform that combines seamless user experience, market access, execution speed, and support. The recipient will have enabled investors—retail or institutional—to access a broad range of asset classes with transparency, security, and efficiency.
24.
Wealth Manager of the Year
This award recognises a wealth manager who has delivered exceptional client service, investment performance, and innovative wealth management solutions. Entrants should showcase client satisfaction, portfolio performance, and creative strategies.
MEET THE JUDGES
Hanadi Khalife
Head of Middle East
ICAEW
Jean Abou Assi
Financial Services Consulting Leader
PwC Middle East
Dr. Jelena Janjusevic
Deputy Global Head of Accountancy, Economics and Finance
Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University Dubai
Omar Odeh
Consulting Leader
EY MENA
Sam Gidoomal
Managing Director, Portfolio Advisory Group
Alvarez & Marsal
OUR SPONSORS
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VENUE
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JW Marriott Marquis Dubai – 68th – Sheikh Zayed Rd – Business Bay
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Find out more about the awards
The Finance Middle East Awards recognise excellence and innovation in the region’s financial sector. We honour companies and individuals setting new benchmarks in banking, investment, fintech, and financial leadership.
For editorial inquiries or information about individual award categories, please contact the editor at nivetha.dayanand@itp.com.
For sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to ines.benrejeb@itp.com.