More than 300 entrepreneurs and SME business leaders have registered for the Gulf Capital SME Awards, to be held next month in Dubai, UAE, which has resulted in 86 companies making the final short list across 16 categories.

The winners for the 16 categories will be announced at the gala awards ceremony taking place at the Ritz Carlton DIFC on September 25.

Each of these 86 companies will proceed to the final stage of judging which comprises a presentation to an independent panel of more than 30 judges representing some of the most successful global and regional businesses, government stakeholders and influencers.

The Gulf Capital SME Awards, now in its 7th edition, aims to celebrate and honour organisations and leaders that are propelling the growth of the economy, creating new jobs, launching new business models, transforming people management and customer strategies, driving community impact and introducing new innovative technologies.

The UAE economy is seeing rapid diversification and growth led primarily by the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which forms the backbone of an exciting new business landscape in the Gulf. Over the last 10 years, a total of 34,151 business licenses were issued at a growth rate of 30.76 per cent, according to data from Diligencia’s database Clarifiedby.com.

“Through this partnership with MEED, Gulf Capital aims to identify and recognise entrepreneurial and innovative businesses that support the growth of the economy and introduce new technologies and business models to the region. We are very encouraged by the quality and calibre of entries this year and we look forward to hosting another successful event”, said Dr Karim El Solh, co-founder and CEO of Gulf Capital, one of the largest alternative asset management firms in the Middle East and the founding partner of the awards.

Among the companies shortlisted are Accumed, BizX Mass, Blissart, Business Experts Gulf, Carlease Rent a Car, DTP, Electric Way, Eleven Percent Consultancy, Ethos Integrated Solutions, FED - Falcon Eye Drones, Leelas Lunches, Levtech Consulting, Parisima Talent, Phanes Group, Planters Horticulture, RETOLD, The Camel Soap Factory, Yallacompare.

In addition to founding partner Gulf Capital; the awards are supported by an ecosystem of partners including Beehive, Diligencia, In5, Italian Industry & Commerce in the UAE, Khalifa Fund, Micropolis and Tie Dubai.

Furthermore, the awards are independently audited by global advisory firm Grant Thornton to ensure the highest degrees of credibility for any awards programme in the region.

MEED Group commercial director Sonia Kerrigan said: “We have nurtured a successful partnership with Gulf Capital since 2012 to serve our cohesive vision of empowering and promoting SME’s in the UAE. The UAE serves as an incubator for technology driven people and sustainability focussed companies that will see abundant opportunities for growth and development.” – TradeArabia News Service