Gulf Business is issuing a final call for nominations for the Gulf Business Awards 2025, with the submission window set to close soon.

Now in its 13th year, the Gulf Business Awards is the region’s premier platform for recognising excellence, innovation, and leadership across the Gulf’s diverse economic sectors. This year’s edition will take place on September 24, 2025, in Dubai, and will once again bring together senior executives, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers for a high-profile evening of celebration and networking.

From banking and real estate to technology, healthcare, and tourism, the awards span both company and leadership categories, offering a rare opportunity for organisations—large and small—to be acknowledged for their impact on the regional business landscape.

Each nomination is carefully evaluated by an independent panel of judges comprising industry experts, business veterans, and editorial leaders from Gulf Business. The selection process is designed to ensure transparency and recognise genuine achievement across public and private sectors.

Read: Gulf Business Awards 2025: Nominations, registration details revealed

With just days left until nominations close, organisations are encouraged to submit entries only in the most relevant categories that reflect their core strengths and accomplishments.

Submit your nomination here
More about the awards

The Gulf Business Awards 2025 promises to be an inspiring evening, shining a spotlight on the people and companies driving progress, innovation, and transformation across the GCC.

The traditional nine-to-five work model that defined our lives for a century is being superseded by a fluid, skills-based system, augmented by tech and reshaped by evolving workforce expectations.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is at the epicenter of this transformation — accelerated by powerful, converging forces — that position the region as a global testbed for the future of work:

• Government-led digital transformation: From the UAE’s AI curriculum to Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN AI initiative and national infrastructure.
• Gig economy growth: MENA freelance registrations surged 142 per cent in 2023.
• Youth-dominated demographics: 60 per cent of the GCC’s population is under 30, giving the region one of the world’s youngest, most digitally fluent labour markets.
• VC momentum in enterprise tech: Funding is being pumped into AI-native platforms and SaaS tools, reshaping productivity.

Together, these shifts are more than just an evolution in employment. They mark a wholesale reimagining of how work is organised, accessed, and delivered. In this dynamic environment, three venture capital opportunities stand out.

The new hiring stack: A VC playbook for global, on-demand, skills-based talent

Hiring across the GCC is moving beyond just digitisation. A re-engineering is occurring — to match the speed, fluidity, and expectations of a radically reimagined working environment.

Traditional CVs and degree-centric hiring practices are being superseded by real-time assessments and skills-first matching. AI-powered platforms such as Elevatus (Saudi Arabia) are leading this shift, helping companies overcome bias and accelerating talent acquisition by focusing on capability over credentials.

In parallel, companies such as Ogram (UAE) are utilising intelligent systems to deploy pre-vetted talent on demand, often within hours, in sectors including hospitality, logistics, and e-commerce.

Borderless hiring platforms such as Deel (US), Remote (US), and Workpay (Nigeria) are decoupling employment from geography.

Startups now have access to talent across jurisdictions while benefitting from streamlined contracts, compliance, and compensation – among other benefits.

This approach is more than mere convenience. From day one, it is essential to attract and enable a workforce newly defined by mobility, optionality, and seamless onboarding.

The result is a new hiring architecture: distributed, data-driven, and designed for a world where talent is global, liquid, and increasingly empowered.

Beyond SaaS: Investing in the next wave of AI-first enterprise tools

The greatest shift in the future of work is not who gets hired. Rather, it is “how” work gets done. We are entering the age of AI-native productivity, where tools execute on tasks rather than merely assist. AI is streamlining tasks today and will soon run workflows with minimal oversight. Ultimately, AI is poised to fully redefine enterprise models and productivity.

The GCC is leading in sectors where AI-native tools can leapfrog legacy infrastructure. Startups such as Tarjama (UAE) are building Arabic-first AI infrastructure for content creation and translation, equipping regional businesses with tools tuned to local language and nuance.

Meanwhile, solutions such as Queen.ai (UAE) are powering conversational sales and marketing automation for e-commerce, while the Applied AI Company (UAE) is focused on end-to-end workflow automation within heavily regulated sectors.

For founders, the most compelling opportunities lie in building AI-native tools that address real operational challenges in specific verticals, rather than creating generic platforms.

Investors, however, will generate long-term value from platforms that embed AI into their core operating model, and go beyond just bolting it on. In these ventures, AI will be more than a support businesses. It will shape how businesses run.

The portfolio career play: investing in the platforms powering career fluidity

As the future of work evolves, public and private sectors are creating models where learning, working, and earning form a seamless cycle.

Regional governments are investing heavily in upskilling and human capital development.

Saudi Arabia has committed to training 300,000 AI specialists by 2030, while a new generation of learning-to-earning platforms is creating faster, more adaptive paths from education to employment, tuned to the needs of a workforce in flux.

The rise of portfolio careers is also redrawing professional identity. Rather than climbing a single corporate ladder, knowledge workers are assembling flexible, self-directed careers often spanning multiple sectors, roles, and borders.

Platforms such as Neol (Turkey-based and operating in the UAE) are making this shift tangible, connecting creative professionals to global, project-based opportunities that prioritise autonomy and impact.

For founders, the opportunity lies in building platforms that treat learning as a continuous asset.

For investors, value can be generated from scalable, personalised ecosystems — built for a fluid, multi-career future, adapting as fast as the talent they serve.

Building the infrastructure for the next work era

Relationships, processes, and priorities within the workforce are being re-architected from the ground up. We are witnessing the rise of a new workforce operating system: AI-powered, inclusive, and globally distributed.

For founders, this means creating agile, accessible, and automated solutions. For investors, the next wave of category-defining ventures will embed intelligence into core workflows, not just layered-on AI; enable diverse, borderless access to income and opportunity; and unlock economic mobility – freeing up time for learning, creativity, and purpose.

Explore the future of work in greater depth, with analysis and insights from Global Ventures’ new report.

The writer is a senior partner at Global Ventures.

Hatta will host the Open Sports Day on July 27, part of the Dubai Sports Council’s “Our Summer is Sporty” initiative, aimed at promoting active lifestyles across the emirate.

Supported by the Supreme Committee for the Development of Hatta and organized with several partners, the event is expected to attract over 3,000 participants of all ages and backgrounds.

The event will include free public kayaking competitions and a running race at the Hatta Dam, organized by Super Sports.

The programme also features a range of recreational and competitive sports suitable for families, with an emphasis on community involvement and physical well-being.

Open Sports Day is one of several activities planned in Hatta this summer, which has become an emerging hub for outdoor recreation.

The Hatta Summer Sports Tournament, which runs until July 31 at the Hatta Community Development Hall, includes a corporate football championship, youth football festival, PlayStation tournament, seniors’ walking competition, girls’ badminton and volleyball championships, a tug-of-war competition, and a cultural quiz night at the local club.

In addition, a youth dialogue session, horseback riding, and a children’s tour themed around Hatta Honey are being hosted.

Wellness and sport activities in August at Hatta

Additional programming in August will include a nighttime hiking event in Wadi Hub and a yoga session at the Hatta Dam, further strengthening Hatta’s profile as a year-round sports and wellness destination.

Organisers hope the variety of events, set against Hatta’s rugged mountain landscape, will draw more summer visitors to the region and support its long-term positioning as both a tourist and sports destination in the UAE.

The programming aligns with the broader government objective to activate the country’s natural spaces while encouraging healthier living.

The “Our Summer is Sporty” campaign, led by the Dubai Sports Council, is designed to enhance quality of life by embedding physical activity into everyday life.

It spans a broad array of events across the city including mall runs, beach sports, snow and mountain challenges, aquatic competitions, programming for women and people of determination, training camps, tournaments, and family-friendly entertainment.

The initiative is delivered in partnership with public and private sector organisations, meeting high safety and professional standards to ensure inclusive and engaging experiences.

Read: Dubai Fitness Challenge unveils refreshed brand identity

More than 32,000 violators of the UAE’s Entry and Residency Law were apprehended between January and the end of June 2025, according to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

Read-This UAE company is hiring 17,300 professionals – see all details

The arrests came as part of a broad series of inspection campaigns conducted across the Emirates under the slogan “Towards a Safer Society.” The initiative is part of the authority’s ongoing efforts to enhance compliance with immigration laws and ensure the lawful residence and employment of foreigners.

Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of the Authority, said the primary goal of the campaigns is to reduce the number of violators and uphold social stability. “These campaigns aim to guarantee a dignified life for residents and visitors by ensuring they live and work within the framework of the law,” he said.

Legal action, deportations underway

Al Khaili emphasised that the authority’s strategy includes not only enforcing the law but also raising public awareness about the importance of legal compliance. “We are committed to instilling a culture of lawfulness in society,” he said. “Those who are found to be in violation are given an opportunity to rectify their status or face deportation in accordance with legal procedures.”

Of the individuals apprehended, approximately 70 per cent have already been deported after completing the required legal processes. Others are currently in detention and will be referred to the relevant authorities for further action.

The Director General stressed that inspection campaigns will continue across all emirates. He added that dedicated task forces are working around the clock to identify and apprehend violators, and that strict penalties—including fines—will be imposed on both the violators and those who employ or shelter them.

“The Entry and Residency Law includes strong deterrents for anyone who breaks the law or helps others to do so,” Al Khaili noted.

Public urged to support law enforcement

Al Khaili called on all members of society to comply with the Entry and Residency Law and to avoid employing or assisting violators. He emphasized that public cooperation is vital to maintaining security and social order.

“The law is clear, and its enforcement protects the safety and integrity of our society,” he said.

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has started supplying cooling services to the first phase of the Al Habtoor Tower project. The tower, positioned as the world’s largest residential icon, spans an area of 3,517,313 square feet.

According to Empower, all phases of the district cooling connection for the development are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027. Once fully operational, the project will receive a total cooling capacity of 7,200 refrigeration tons (RT), which is nearly 75% of the peak cooling demand of the Burj Khalifa.

The service launch follows an agreement signed in April 2024 between Empower and Al Habtoor Group. Under the agreement, Empower will supply its district cooling services to the Al Habtoor Tower through its Business Bay district cooling plant.

The company confirmed that the cooling services will be delivered using advanced technologies that optimise energy efficiency and minimise carbon emissions. The distribution network has been designed in accordance with leading environmental standards.

“The scale and diversity of Empower’s portfolio reflect our steadfast commitment to delivering the highest standards of quality and reliability to customers across all sectors. We remain dedicated to providing sustainable cooling solutions that keep pace with Dubai’s rapid urban and population growth, support its environmental vision, and align with the UAE’s broader objectives of conserving natural resources, advancing a green economy, and achieving carbon neutrality,” said H.E. Ahmad bin Shafar, CEO of Empower.

“We take pride in our partnership with Al Habtoor Group to deliver our industry-leading services to the Al Habtoor Tower. This collaboration stands as a testament to the growing confidence in Empower’s expertise and capabilities in supporting landmark developments that shape the emirate’s urban landscape. We remain committed to expanding our operations and playing an active role in advancing the sustainability of Dubai’s real estate sector,” he added.

Bin Shafar also emphasised Empower’s plans to continue expanding its services while leveraging advanced technologies. These efforts will follow a strategic plan focused on sustainable development, in line with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to establish Dubai as a global green economy hub and achieve the world’s lowest carbon footprint by 2050.

Al Habtoor Tower is one of the most prominent projects in Empower’s portfolio. The 350-metre tower will feature 87 floors, 1,701 residential units, and a suite of luxury amenities. It is expected to accommodate up to 5,000 residents.

Empower already provides environmentally friendly district cooling to all projects within Al Habtoor City, including luxury hotels and mixed-use residential towers. This partnership highlights the continued trust in Empower’s energy-efficient cooling solutions and aligns with the sustainability goals of leading real estate developers.