MEA Finance Awards 2021 | MEA Finance | 5 October 2021 | The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Residence - Dubai - UAE

The MEA Finance Awards 2021 will provide a high-profile platform to celebrate institutions and individuals who have contributed to the advancement of the banking industry in the Middle East and Africa. The 2021 Awards range of categories will honor winning institutions and individuals for their ingenuity and ability to adapt to the demands of our changing and challenging times, and for helping to create a more robust and inclusive financial system in the region.

This year’s judges will recognize outstanding banks, financial institutions, and service providers based on their:

• Exceptional products and services
• Digital readiness
• Responsiveness to the changing times
• Innovative leadership

Categories

Leaders in Banking and Finance (Editors Choice - individual awards)
• Outstanding Leadership Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Best Technology Executive of the Year for Financial Services - Bank
• Banker of the Year
• Best Technology Leadership Award

Financial Services
• Best Retail Bank - UAE
• Best Retail Bank - Kuwait
• Best Retail Bank - Egypt
• Best Retail Bank - Saudi Arabia
• Best Retail Bank - Bahrain
• Best Retail Bank - South Africa
• Best Retail Bank - Other country
• Best Islamic Bank - Saudi Arabia
• Best Islamic Bank - Bahrain
• Best Islamic Bank - Africa
• Best Islamic Bank - UAE
• Best Islamic Bank - Kuwait
• Best Islamic Bank - Egypt
• Best Islamic Bank - Other Country
• Best Commercial Bank - UAE
• Best Commercial Bank - Kuwait
• Best Commercial Bank - Egypt
• Best Commercial Bank - Saudi Arabia
• Best Commercial Bank - Bahrain
• Best Commercial Bank - Africa
• Best Commercial Bank - Other country

Best Financial Services and Deals of the Year
• Capital Markets Transaction of the Year
• Best Bond Issue of the Year
• Best Global Bank in the Middle East
• Best Islamic Bank for SME’s
• Best Takaful Provider
• Best Cash Management Bank
• Best M&A
• Best Sukuk Deal of the Year
• Best SME Bank
• Best Insurance Provider
• Best Trade Finance Provider
• Best Treasury Management Services

Investment
• Best Asset Management Firm
• Best REIT Management Firm
• Best Investment Bank - Islamic
• Best Brokerage Firm/Solutions Provider
• Best International Real Estate Investment Firm
• Best Investment Bank - Conventional
• Best Private Equity Firm
• Best Investment Management Firm

Private Banking and Wealth Management
• Best Private Bank in the Middle East
• Best Wealth Management Institution for Mass Affluent Clients
• Best Wealth Management Institution for Ultra HNWI’s
• Best Islamic Private Banking Service
• Best Overall Wealth Management Service in the Middle East
• Best Wealth Management Institution for HNWI’s
• Best Pure Play Private Bank in the Middle East
• Best Family Office Service

Financial Advisory & Service Providers
• Best Management Consultancy Firm
• Best Digital Transformation Consultancy Firm
• Best Ratings Agency
• Best Law Firm
• Best Investment Consultancy Firm
• Best Digital Transformation Advisory
• Best Research & Consultancy Firm
• Best Remittance and Foreign Exchange Company

Sustainable Finance & ESG
• Best Sustainable Finance Initiative
• Best Sustainable Asset Management
• Best Sustainable Lending
• Best ESG Strategy

Technology
• Best Mobile Banking Service Implementation
• Best NEO Bank
• Best Online Banking Service
• Best Cybersecurity Implementation
• Best User-experience
• Best Digital Transformation Implementation
• Special Achievement In Digital Innovation
• Best Financial Data Analysis Provider
• Best Cloud Services Provider
• Best Payment Solutions Provider
• Best Cybersecurity Provider
• Best COMMS Infrastructure Provider
• Best Core Banking Service Provider
• Best Digital Banking Innovation Provider
• Best Islamic Digital Banking Provider
• Best Risk Management Solutions Provider
• Best Reg Tech Solutions Provider
• Best Islamic Finance Banking Software Provider
• Best Islamic Fintech Solutions Provider

2020 Winners

Financial Services

Best Retail Bank (UAE) - Mashreq Bank
Best Retail Bank (Saudi Arabia) - Al Rajhi Bank
Best Retail Bank (Bahrain) - Ahli United Bank Bahrain
Best Retail Bank (Egypt) - ADIB Egypt
Best Islamic Bank - ADIB
Best Commercial Bank (UAE) - Commercial Bank of Dubai
Capital Markets Transaction of the Year - Odin Investments
Best Global Bank in the Middle East - Standard Chartered Bank
Best SME Bank - National Bank of Fujairah
Best Takaful Provider - Noor Takaful
Best Private Bank - GFH Financial Group
Best Wealth Management Firm in the Middle East - BNP Paribas Wealth Management
Best Investment Bank - NCB Capital
Best Trade Finance Provider - The Saudi British Bank
Best Transaction Banking - Standard Chartered Bank
Best Cash Management Technology Provider - Infosys Finacle
Best CSR Programme – Financial Institutions - Aafaq Islamic Finance

Covid-19 Responsiveness Special Awards

Best Retail Response to the Covid-19 Crisis - Ajman Bank
Best Commercial Response to the Covid-19 Crisis - Mashreq Bank

Investment Awards

Best Private Equity Firm - Alkhabeer Capital
Best International Real Estate Investment Firm - Walton International Group Limited
Best Brokerage Solutions Provider - ADSS
Best Investment Management Firm (UAE) - Century Private Wealth
Best Investment Management Firm (Saudi Arabia) - Alkhabeer Capital
Best Investment Management Firm (Bahrain) - GFH Financial Group

Service Providers to the Banking Sector

Best Investment Consultancy Firm - Century Financial Consultancy
Best Research & Consultancy Firm - KPMG
Best Digital Transformation Consultancy Firm - Arqitek
Best Ratings Agency - S&P Global Ratings

Technology

Best Mobile Banking Solution (Saudi Arabia) - Bank Albilad
Best Mobile Banking Solution (UAE) - Mashreq Bank
Best Mobile Banking Solution Provider - Infosys Finacle
Best Neo Bank - FAB – Payit
Best Online Banking Service - Bank Albilad
Best Cybersecurity Implementation - Help AG
Best User-Experience - FAB - Payit
Best Digital Transformation Technology Provider - Maveric Systems
Best Digital Transformation (UAE) - Commercial Bank of Dubai
Best Digital Transformation (Saudi Arabia) - Tayseer Finance
Best Digital Transformation (Bahrain) - Ahli United Bank
Best CSR Programme – Financial Technology Provider - DDCAP Group
Best Payment Solutions - Edenred
Best Payment Solutions Provider - Temenos
Best Cybersecurity Provider - Trend Micro
Best Communications Infrastructure Provider - United MAK Group & IPC
Best Core Banking Service Provider - Temenos
Best Digital Banking Innovation Provider - Avaya
Best Islamic Finance Banking Software Provider - Path Solutions
Best Islamic Fintech Solutions Provider - DDCAP Group for Ethos Asset Facilitation Platform
Special Achievement in Digital Innovation - BPC

Leaders in Banking and Finance

Best Mobile Banking Solution (Saudi Arabia) - Bank Albilad
Outstanding Leadership Award - Ebrahim Oboud Baeshen, Office Managing Partner, KPMG Saudi - Jeddah
Banker of the Year - Hisham Alrayes, Group CEO and Board Member, GFH Financial Group
Best Technology Executive of the Year for Financial Services - Mohammed Kateeb, Chairman & CEO, Path Solutions
Best Technology Leadership Award - Ashar Nazim, Founder and CEO, Aion Digital