The award was received by Ali Al-Ahmed, chief corporate communications officer, Etisalat UAE, on behalf of Etisalat chairman Mohammad Omran at a ceremony held with the support of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice-president and prime minister and ruler of Dubai.

The Forbes Middle East Awards reward the efforts, achievements and positive contributions of UAE companies in the intellectual development of the UAE’s economy and society. The award ceremony took place during the launch of the first issue of Forbes Middle East in English, and took place at the Atlantis Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

Etisalat’s Chairman Mohammad Omran said: “It’s a great honor to receive this prestigious award from Forbes Middle East. I consider it a tribute to the efforts of our 53,000 employees in 17 countries and am pleased to convey our shared appreciation for the recognition, and also to applaud their efforts.

“Etisalat’s successful business strategy is based on several key elements which include strong leadership, innovation, excellence in customer service and operating in a responsible manner. This award reflects the success of Etisalat’s efforts in these areas, as well as the individual performance of the management team,” he added.

Khuloud Al-Omian, editor in chief of Forbes Middle East said: “It is a well deserved win for Etisalat, a company that has made significant contributions to the development of telecommunications infrastructure in the UAE and achieved remarkable international success. Etisalat has maintained outstanding performance, with its total assets now valued at around $20 billion and annual revenues of $8.7 billion. It has also developed a strong business portfolio in 17 markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.”