Two Omanis have entered the final stage of Ernst & Young’s Middle East Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2007.

The Entrepreneur of the Year awards programme, recognises outstanding entrepreneurs on a regional and global level who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses.

Renaissance Services Chairman Oman’s Samir Fancy and Oman Holdings International (OHI) Chairman Maqbool Al Saleh were selected from a large number of nominated leading entrepreneurs from 10 countries across the Middle East and now join a total of 20 finalists to participate in the Middle East Entrepreneur of the Year celebratory weekend to be held in Dubai from February 21 to 23, 2008.

Other finalists are: Dani Safi, CEO, Tabreed, Abu Dhabi; BR Shetty, Managing Director, UAE Exchange Centre LLC; Atif Abdulmalik, CEO, Arcapita Bank BSC, Bahrain; Esam Janahi, chairman, Gulf Finance House, Bahrain; Saud Kanoo, Partner, Amwaj Islands, Bahrain; Arif Naqvi, EVC and CEO, Abraaj Capital, Dubai; Omar Ayesh, president, Tameer Holding Investments, Dubai; Sunny Varkey, chairman and founder, Varkey Group, Dubai; Ayedh Bin Farhan, MD, Al Oula Real Estate Development Co., Jeddah; Sobhi Batterjee, president and CEO, Saudi German Hospitals Group, Jeddah; Samih Darwazah, chairman, Hikma Pharm aceuticals Plc, Jordan; Fadi Ghandour , CEO, Aramex PJSC, Jordan; Faisal Al Ayyar, MD and CEO, Kuwait Projects Company Holding; Abdulfatah Marafie, chairman and MD, The Commercial Real Estate Co, Kuwait; Mohammed Al Alloush, chairman and MD, First Investment Co KSC, Kuwait; Marzooq Al Rashdan, vice-chairman and MD, Abyaar Real Estate Development Co, Kuwait; Wasim Daher, CEO , Azadea Group Holding SAL, Lebanon and Abdulaziz Al Hoshan, Chairman, Vodatel, Riyadh.

During the three-day event in Dubai, the finalists will have the opportunity to present their entrepreneur success story to a panel of independent judges. The finalists will take part in the World Entrepreneur of the Year award ceremony to be held in Monte Carlo in May 2008. – TradeArabia News Service