CIRTA Electro Mechanical Maintenance takes home the Emirati Business of the Year award. DUBAI — The search for the UAE's most outstanding businesses, entrepreneurs and business leaders has finally ended with the announcement of the winners of the inaugural Gulf Capital SMEinfo Awards. The winners represent a diverse range of businesses from different commercial sectors which last year posted a combined turnover of over AED 100 million, highlighting a robust financial performance across the board. In addition, the winning SMEs recorded a 22 percent average growth rate in the last two years, indicating consistent development and expansion even in the most challenging of business conditions. Bayt.com, the leading recruitment website in the Middle East and North Africa, won the Gulf Capital Business of the Year, impressing the judges with its strong financial performance and consistent growth, highlights of which include registering its eight-millionth member this year. Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences scooped the MasterCard Small Business of the Year award for its pioneering efforts in bringing cutting edge genetic technologies to the Middle East. The RSA Start-up Business of the Year honor was awarded to Saluki Media, a boutique media production company that, within a year, has already produced over 50 TV commercials and 65 hours of international broadcast television; and has also recently signed a $1.5 million deal for an Arabic reality TV show. CIRTA Electro Mechanical Maintenance is this year's best among Emirati-owned businesses, taking home the Emirati Business of the Year award for having successfully grown its business that is now recognized as a pioneer in the distribution and implementation of underground technology systems such as underground street lighting cabinets and polycarbonate manholes in the UAE and Qatar. Meanwhile, Cobone.com secured the distinction of being the best web-based business – accumulating over 1.5 million customers since it launched and facilitating over 100,000 transactions a month - by winning the Online Business of the Year award. The hotly contested Entrepreneur of the Year award was given to Prabissh Thomas, owner of PTL Solar, which has been providing and promoting world class energy-efficient and reliable solar energy solutions in the Middle East and Africa. The Business Leader of the Year award was bestowed on Lama Bazzari, Founder and CEO of NStyle International. – SG
