Crown Prince Hamdan Honours Six Visionaries with Inaugural Dubai-it Award

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed recognises exceptional achievers across banking, real estate, hospitality and entrepreneurship, celebrating the philosophy of transforming ambition into results with speed and excellence

The philosophy of Dubai finds its truest expression not in grand declarations but in the tangible achievements of those who have mastered the art of turning vision into reality at extraordinary pace. On the fourth of November, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, honoured six exceptional individuals and institutions with the inaugural Dubai-it Award, recognising their embodiment of this singular approach to excellence.

The award celebrates what Dubai’s leadership calls the Dubai-it philosophy: the ability to achieve something remarkable with mastery, excellence and in record time. Each winner represents a distinct sector, yet all share an unwavering commitment to translating ambitious ideas into tangible accomplishments that reshape their industries.

Emirates NBD, the region’s largest bank by most measures, received recognition in the Institutions category for its Economic Field achievement. The bank has doubled the size of its business in recent years, becoming the highest-ranked banking brand in the UAE. Its digital transformation has been particularly remarkable: 91% of its customers have embraced digital services, and the bank has built one of the region’s largest integrated digital banking ecosystems, comprising more than 220 services. The bank has expanded its reach into Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Kingdom, India, Singapore and Türkiye, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a regional and global financial gateway.

Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, was recognised as Project Manager of the year for his development of integrated trade ecosystems that have transformed multiple sectors. Under his leadership, the DMCC has grown to encompass more than 26,000 companies from more than 180 countries, employing more than 90,000 people. His vision transformed Dubai into the world’s largest hub for trading rough and polished diamonds, whilst simultaneously strengthening the emirate’s standing in precious metals, coffee and tea trade.

Mahdi Amjad, Founder and Executive Chairman of OMNIYAT, received the Real Estate Projects award for his visionary approach to architecture-led development. His collaboration with world-renowned architects including Zaha Hadid and Foster + Partners has yielded landmarks that have reshaped Dubai’s skyline. The Opus, designed by Zaha Hadid, and The Lana, which brought Dorchester Collection’s first Middle Eastern hotel to the emirate and entered the world’s 50 best hotels list within eight months of opening, exemplify his commitment to transforming bold architectural vision into built reality.

In the Services category, Khalid Al Tayer’s Ounass represents a reimagining of luxury shopping for the digital age. The platform, offering more than 1,300 regional and global brands, has achieved average delivery times of 89 minutes in Dubai, redefined fast service in luxury commerce and established itself as the region’s leading platform for digital luxury commerce.

Charlie Wright, founder of Humantra, embodied the Entrepreneurs award for building the world’s fastest-growing electrolyte brand from a single Dubai office. Within fifteen months, the brand reached more than two million customers across ten global markets, capturing more than 80% of the UAE’s electrolyte market and becoming the most searched brand globally in its category.

Chef Izu Ani received recognition in the Hospitality field for developing leading restaurant and hospitality concepts in Dubai that have expanded to Monte Carlo, London, Marbella, Miami, Bodrum and Saint-Tropez. His portfolio, including Carine, Gaia, Shanghai Me, La Maison Ani, Alaya and Kigo, demonstrates how distinctive culinary experiences conceived in Dubai can achieve global stature in record time.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The Dubai-it Award represents more than recognition of individual excellence; it articulates and celebrates a development philosophy that has become central to the UAE’s approach to achievement across all sectors. By honouring those who have mastered the translation of ambition into results, the award sets a cultural standard that resonates beyond Dubai, influencing how institutions and entrepreneurs throughout the Emirates approach their own ambitions and challenges. As we reported in Crown Prince Hamdan’s celebration of excellence at the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Development Programme, the UAE’s leadership remains steadfastly committed to cultivating a culture of exceptional achievement and institutional mastery.

The diversity of this year’s winners, spanning banking, commodities trading, real estate, retail, supplements and hospitality, demonstrates that the Dubai-it philosophy transcends sector boundaries. Each winner has contributed to the UAE’s global reputation for transforming ideas into world-leading businesses and institutions. This recognition strengthens a sustainable institutional approach based on speed, mastery and impact-making, encouraging every organisation and entrepreneur to reconsider the ceiling of their ambitions and shorten the distance between idea and realisation.

On Simply Luxury: Emirates NBD · OMNIYAT