Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) World has announced the winners of this year’s FHS Awards, recognising leaders and visionaries who have made significant contributions to hospitality, tourism and aviation.

The awards will be presented during FHS World, taking place from September 29 to October 1 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.

The accolades, celebrating leadership, achievement, excellence and innovation, will be presented by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Holding, Dubai Airports and Emirates Group, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and patron of the Future Hospitality Summit, at the awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 29.

Abdulla Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, will receive the FHS Leadership Award.

The honour recognises his role in advancing the UAE’s economic diversification and strengthening tourism and hospitality as strategic pillars of national growth, investment and global competitiveness.

Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, will receive the FHS Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades-long contribution to the global aviation and hospitality industry.

Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench, organiser of FHS World, said: “FHS Awards are reserved for the industry pioneers and leaders whose dedication and innovation have been – and continue to be – pivotal to the success of the Middle East’s tourism and hospitality industry. Following nominations from the FHS Advisory Board, we are delighted to name this year’s winners as His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri and Sir Tim Clark, two true visionaries who are respected globally for inspiring excellence and shaping the future of the industry.”

Al Marri was appointed UAE Minister of Economy in July 2020 and has since played a role in advancing the country’s economic model and positioning tourism as a key driver of diversification and growth.

In June 2025, the UAE Government renamed the Ministry of Economy as the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, expanding his mandate.

As Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, Al Marri has championed the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, greater coordination among the seven emirates, public-private partnerships and a unified national tourism identity.

He also led the UAE delegation at the 2025 UN Tourism General Assembly.

Clark has served as President of Emirates Airline since 2003, overseeing the carrier’s expansion into a major international airline serving 130 cities across six continents through its Dubai hub.

During his tenure, he has guided the airline through major industry challenges, including the Covid pandemic and regional tensions.

Clark began his civil aviation career in 1972 with British Caledonian before joining Gulf Air and later moving to Dubai in 1985 as part of the founding team of Emirates.

His previous honours include CAPA Airline Executive of the Year, Future Travel Experience’s inaugural FTE Visionary Award and Air Transport World’s Lifetime Achievement Award. -TradeArabia News Service