Year in review: The faces and places that pushed business forward in 2016 – in pictures

Mohamed Alabbar, the chairman of Emaar Properties, speaks on his path to success at the Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Forum in February at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National

Hamad Al Shirawi, left, and his brother Abdulla have <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/retail/20160613/emirati-brothers-find-the-picture-perfect-first-business">set up a Dubai branch of a US-based business </a>that creates custom-framed portraits within 90 minutes. Reem Mohammed / The National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/personal-finance/money--me-publicis-senior-art-director-learning-to-save-and-invest">Kamel Ajerdi</a>, the senior art director at Publicis Group, said in our weekly Money & Me feature that he has become more of a saver over the years. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Middle East’s <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/business-aviation-exhibition-in-dubai--in-pictures">leading business aviation exhibition,</a> or Mebaa, took place in December with about 50 executive aircraft on display, including the regional debut of the Falcon 8X business jet. Pawan Singh / The National

A scale model of <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/property/danube-launches-sixth-affordable-housing-project-in-dubai">the Glamz Residence by Danube,</a> which was to contain 258 studio apartments, plus a number of one-bed and two-bed units. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Sultan Al Jaber, the Minister of State and Adnoc Group chief executive, <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/adipec">was the keynote speaker of the opening ceremony at Adipec.</a> Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

Mutassem Al Sharji of Oman <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/arabs-unseen-omani-is-on-a-journey-of-self-discovery">started the Enriching Experience,</a> a social enterprise for intellectual discussion that encourages tolerance. Issa Bin Saleh Al Kindy for The National

Morgan Parker, the man charged with delivering the <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/property/jumeirah-central-executive-overwhelmed-by-interest">Dh73.4 billion Jumeirah Central project in Dubai</a>, has said he is confident it will attract investors because it is ‘the greatest piece of real estate in the region’. Satish Kumar / The National

Dancers on the opening day of the <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/china-considers-uae-to-be-more-than-an-end-market">China Trade Week exhibition at Adnec.</a> China is now the UAE’s No 2 trade partner after India, despite the bilateral trade volume declining last year by 11.5 per cent. Delores Johnson / The National

The Indian government <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/india-pledges-to-double-farmers-incomes--in-pictures">pledged to double farmers’ incomes</a> by allocating 55 billion rupees to its new crop insurance scheme. Agriculture is a major contributor to the India’s economy. Subhash Sharma for The National

Chris Maranis, the business development manager for Exus, <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/the-life/as-bad-loans-in-uae-rise-debt-collection-systems-come-under-the-spotlight">builds debt-collection systems,</a> which have come under the spotlight in the UAE. Yannis Kontos for The National

Karim Karam, left, a professor of engineering systems management, and Hamad Al Raqbani, a research engineer, in a driverless vehicle at the Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi. <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/the-life/driverless-cars-could-be-on-uae-roads-by-expo-2020">Driverless cars could be on the roads</a> of the UAE by Expo 2020. Christopher Pike / The National

A trader at the floor of <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/markets">Dubai Financial Market.</a> Reem Mohammed / The National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/property/bildco-starts-rebuilding-with-dubai-concrete-block-factory-and-new-steel-mill">The Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan</a> poses with Kush Bhatia, left, the son of the Conares chief executive Bharat Bhatia, to announce the installation of the company’s new pipe mill at its facility in the Jebel Ali Free Zone. Christopher Pike / The National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/shipping/20160528/somaliland-project-opens-up-africa-for-dp-world#4">DP World signed a US$442 million agreement</a> with the Government of Somaliland to develop and operate a regional trade and logistics hub at the Port of Berbera. Pawan Singh / The National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/abu-dhabi-weighs-more-cost-effective-solar-technologies">The Shams 1 plant,</a> south of Madinat Zayed, was one of the first concentrated solar power plants in the region. Christopher Pike / The National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/etihad-showcases-plans-to-transform-air-travel-experience#7">Etihad uses 3D</a> to take passengers virtually through economy class, business class, first class and The Residence on its craft as part of its showcase for its future plans at its Innovation Week in November. Delores Johnson / The National

‘In the old days, you got up from your seat and you went to the courthouse for information, or even sometimes to the morgue. Now it’s all electronic,’ <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/what-wall-streets-private-eye-did-next-built-a-new-company">observes Jules Kroll,</a> the co-founder and chairman of K2 Intelligence. Michael Nagle for The National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/abu-dhabi-aviation-diversifying-business">Abu Dhabi Aviation </a>is the biggest commercial helicopter operator in the Middle East. Above, one of the company’s Bell helicopters. Satish Kumar / The National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/the-life/emirati-designer-treats-her-handmade-dresses-like-gems">Fidda Al Marzouqi </a>has set up her own fashion label called Cabochon, named for a gemstone that has been polished but not faceted. Delores Johnson / The National

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman and chief executive of Emirates, <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/emirates-skypharma-officially-opened-at-dubai-international-airport--in-pictures#1">at the inaugural event of Emirates SkyPharma,</a> a Dh600 million cargo-handling extension with a special cool storage facility dedicated to pharmaceutical shipments. Reem Mohammed / The National

Saeed Al Yammahi checks on his design of a tele-operated mobile robot <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/the-life/abu-dhabis-petroleum-institute-shows-talent-beyond-energy">at the Ebtikar Innovation contest</a> at the Petroleum Institute in April. Ravindranath K / The National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/sme-profile-dolphin-creatives-street-artists-perform-to-standing-ovation#2">The Dolphin Creative street artist</a> Otto Bas Sotto from Italy does some balloon tricks with the help of a volunteer from the audience. The company brings street performers from across the globe to jobs in the UAE. Victor Besa for The National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/the-life/day-in-the-life-dubai-doctor-is-a-medical-detective-at-work">Dr Shefali Verma</a> is a partner at the Institute of Biophysical Medicine in Dubai Healthcare City. She describes herself as a medical detective. Victor Besa for The National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/revolution-spurs-a-new-era-of-considerations">Dr Anna Middleton </a>is the lead social scientist at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridge, UK, and is working on ethical issues related to genomics. Stephen Lock for the National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/currency-issues-hit-hikmas-2015-profit">Hikma Pharmaceuticals</a> is a fast-growing multinational pharmaceutical group founded in 1978 in Jordan. Salah Malkawi for The National

Workers operating in the <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/property/bildco-starts-rebuilding-with-dubai-concrete-block-factory-and-new-steel-mill">Bildco cement factory</a> in Mussafah. Mona Al Marzooqi/ The National

Mohamed Ahmed Al Qamzi is the executive director of the Internal Equities Department at <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/banking/adia-at-40-mohamed-ahmed-al-qamzi-is-the-man-tasked-with-outperforming-market-indexes">Adia, which turned 40 this year.</a> Delores Johnson / The National

Sarah Hermez, <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/arabs-unseen-beirut-entrepreneur-far-out-of-her-comfort-zone">the founder of Creative Space Beirut,</a> says she wanted clothing design to be accessible to the masses. Bryan Denton For The National

Ahmed Al Hajri was the first in line to <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/uae/technology/uae-residents-queue-through-the-night-for-iphone-7">receive the iPhone 7 </a>at the Apple store in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates. Pawan Singh / The National

<a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/masdars-tafila-wind-farm-lights-up-more-than-80000-jordan-homes--in-pictures">Masdar’s Tafila wind farm,</a> which puts out 117 megawatts, is powering more than 80,000 homes and is the first utility-scale renewable energy project in Jordan.

Skyscrapers in the King Abdullah financial district in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April. <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/business/property/saudi-arabia-construction-market-has-dropped-80-per-cent-says-al-khodari-chief">Construction in the country dropped 80 per cent this year,</a> according to the chief executive of Saudi Arabia’s only publicly traded builder. Waseem Obaidi for The National

Executives, entrepreneurs, entertainers, farmers and a security guard – these were among the faces of the news in our section this year. Their images accompanied stories of innovation, improvement and creation in the UAE’s economy and abroad. Together, they tell a picture of a world moving forward.

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