Digital SMEs dominate Gulf Capital SME awards

DUBAI / Emirates Business

Digital and online businesses have made a splash at this year’s Gulf Capital SME Awards after the list of 2016 winners was revealed by awards organiser MEED.
MEED revealed the names of the UAE’s 12 small and medium sized businesses of the year at the Gulf Capital SME Awards 2016 ceremony, held recently at the Conrad Hotel, Dubai.
Four out of the 12 awards were taken by digital businesses, highlighting the rapid growth digital and e-commerce models.
“It is really exciting to see the growing impact of digital business models at this year’s Gulf Capital SME awards,” says MEED Editorial Director Richard Thompson. “For established companies, the disruptive impact of digital services, Big Data, e-commerce and so on, can be seen as a threat. But for entrepreneurs, it is all about new opportunities. The beauty of the SME sector is that it is agile and can respond quickly to change. And this year’s awards highlight that. I hope the award winners inspire other entrepreneurs to launch their ideas and start up in the UAE.”
Digital companies which scooped awards include compareit4me.com, an online comparison business, which won the Business Innovation of the Year Award; Mini Exchange, an online marketplace for mums and kids, which was recognised as the Online Business of the Year; Marhababy, an online store for new and soon-to-be mums, which topped the Start-up Business of the Year category; and digital consultancy firm Pure Logic, whose CEO, Samuel Lehain, received the Business Leader of the Year trophy. The top award of the night went to solar power provider Enviromena Power Systems, which was named Gulf Capital Business of The year 2016.
Founded in Abu Dhabi in 2007, Enviromena has pioneered the development of solar power in the region, building the region’s first grid connected, utility-scale photovoltaic plant in the Middle East.
“We congratulate all the winners of this year’s edition of the Gulf Capital SME Awards. SMEs need a friendly ecosystem that allows them to grow and succeed in today’s economy,” said Walid Cherif, Senior Managing Director, Gulf Capital, one of the leading alternative investment firms in the Middle East and headline sponsor of the annual Gulf Capital SME Awards.
“The UAE has created this environment for entrepreneurs to build their companies and export great businesses from the region to the world. It is a country built on the spirit of entrepreneurship and is attracting the best regional and international talents. As Gulf Capital celebrates its 10th anniversary with successful investments in the Middle East region, we are delighted to be supporting the awards and SMEs in the
country,” Walid added.
Also joining the winners’ circle are TIME Hotels (RSA Customer Focus of the Year Award), ATS Travel (Emirati Business of the Year Award), Platinum Heritage (Sustainable Business of the Year Award), Innovative HR Solutions (People and Culture of the Year Award), Bull & Roo (Small Business of the Year Award) and SPF Realty (Social Media Campaign of the Year Award). Craig Moore, CEO, Beehive, was given the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Shereen Al Nowais, CEO of Ta’leem Training & Skills Development Centre, picked up the Editor’s Award for her business’ outstanding contribution to UAE society through educating parents, teachers, and the wider community on learning difficulties.