A record number of voters took part in this year's Banker Middle East Industry Awards, recognising the achievements of their peers. Thousands of bankers, lawyers, accountants, industry analysts, news providers and other financial experts in the MENA region vote every year to determine the winners in 23 categories. Blom Bank bagged the top award for the Best Bank, while Emirates NBD was voted as the Best Retail Bank and HSBC Private Bank and Gulf Finance House were named Best Private Bank and Best Islamic Finance House respectively. Mubasher Financial Services was awarded the Best Brokerage House award.
More than 250 senior banking executives showed up to the dinner, hosted in the Gulf Hotel in Bahrain. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa. chief executive of the economic development board of Bahrain delivered the opening speech and also presented the Lifetime Achievement award to Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al-Ghurair, the chief executive of Mashreq Bank for his contributions within the banking sector.
1. Best Bank- Blom Bank 2. Lifetime achievement award- Abdul Aziz Abdulla Al-Ghurair- CEO Mashreq 3. Best Retail Bank- EmiratesNBD 4. Best Banking Technology Provider- SunGard 5. Best Investment Bank- Alpen Capital 6. Best Islamic Bank- Dubai Bank 7. Best Commercial Bank- Doha Bank 8. Best Foreign Bank- Standard Chartered 12. Best Private Equity House- Abraaj Capital 13. Best Hedge Fund Company- MAN Investments 14. Best Project Finance House- NBK 15. Best Corporate Finance House- Samba 16. Best Trade Finance House- Ahli United Bank 17. Best Asset Management House- Abu Dhabi Investment Company 18. Best Mortgage/Home Finance House- Kuwait Finance House 19. Best Brokerage House- Mubasher Financial Services 9. Best Private Bank- HSBC Private Bank 10. Best New Bank- Noor Islamic Bank 11. Best Islamic Finance House- Gulf Finance House 20. New Product Award- Khaleeji Commercial Ban 21. Best Bank Customer Service/Contact Centre- NBK 22. Best use of Technology- Dunia Finance 23. Best Advertising/MarketingCampaign- Gulf Bank24. Banker of the Year ? Majed Al Sayed Bader Al Refai- Founder, Managing Director and CEO Unicorn Investment Bank
