The MEA Finance Annual Industry Awards, the region’s pinnacle recognition and celebration of innovation, foremost market management, service excellence and leadership announced the winners for their 2025 event during a gala dinner at The Ritz Carlton Hotel, JBR, Dubai.
Now regarded as the peak regional banking and finance awards programme, the winners for their 2025 event were announced and presented with their awards during a gala dinner at The Ritz Carlton Hotel, JBR, Dubai. The high-profile and keenly anticipated occasion, held every November, recognised the institutions, the businesses and the tireless individuals that are transforming the regional banking and financial landscape to one that has the attention of the world and its leading finance hubs.
The Awards ceremony was attended by over 250 senior leaders in Banking, Finance, Wealth & Investment, Fintech, Financial Technology & Innovation, Financial Advisory & Service Providers to the financial industry across the Middle East and Africa.
The annual awards programme was organised by MEA Finance, the region’s leading dedicated banking and finance media and events business. It definitively benchmarks and promotes excellence in the industry by highlighting outstanding performance in banking and financial technology. The event provides deserved recognition to institutions that have continued the upwards trajectory of the industry, created innovative financial services and solutions to benefit their clients, customers and economies during our times of rapid modernisation and digitisation.
Hundreds of nominations (the highest number to date) were evaluated by a panel of judges, coming down to 88 categories, won by a combination of banks and sector-related businesses and five individual achievement awards. The winners were decided after considered evaluation of their skills in the execution of deals, application of innovation in business and service provision and the consideration of the needs of their range of clients, customers and society, all in the face of epochal technological development and more avid competition .
The full list of the MEA Finance Industry Awards 2025 winners:
- Best Cybersecurity Implementation – Dubai Islamic Bank
- Best Payments Solutions Provider –ACI Worldwide
- Best Digital Banking Innovation Provider – Profile Software
- Best Open Banking Solutions Provider –Infosys Finacle
- Best User Experience/Engagement Provider – GBM
- Best Cybersecurity Provider – Finesse
- Best Digital Transformation Implementation – RAKBANK and Infosys Finacle – Digital Engagement Hub
- Best Financial Data Analysis Provider – Vidrio Financial
- Best Cloud Transformation Innovation – Zand and Infosys Finacle
- Best Islamic Digital Banking Provider – Mashreq
- Best Islamic Fintech Solutions Provider – DDCAP Group™ for ETHOS AFP
- Best Core Banking Service Provider – Mambu
- Best RegTech Solutions Provider – Re/think Middle East
- Best Risk Management Solutions Provider – BPC Smartvista
- Best Financial Technology Provider – GBM
- Best Financial Technology Provider (KSA) – Sarmad
- Best Banking as a Platform (BAAP) Provider – Infosys Finacle
- Best Payments Fintech Initiative – Skiply – RAKBANK
- Most Innovative Fintech Company – Naqood
- Best Fintech Provider for Wealth and Investment Management – additiv
- Most Innovative Fintech Company – KSA – Sarmad
- Best Fintech Company for SMEs – Premium Technology
- Best RegTech Fintech Company – SMARBL LTD
- Best Overall Fintech Company – Network International
- Best Bank and Fintech Collaboration – Nium and Emirates NBD
- AI Security Solutions Provider of the Year – Cyberhub Finesse 24/7 CSOC
- Best Digital Banking Innovation – Mbank
- Best Mobile App Banking Service Implementation – Emirates NBD
- Best Islamic Digital Banking Services – Mashreq
- Best Online Banking Service – First Abu Dhabi Bank – FABeAccess Platform
- Best Use of AI and ML in Banking – Mashreq Bank – Integrated AI Solution for Business Growth & Improved Client Experience
- Best Digital Transformation Implementation – RAKBANK
- Overall Best User Experience/Engagement – Mashreq Bank – CONVERGENCE
- Special Achievement in Digital Innovation – Mashreq Bank – Trade Asset Sell-down Platform
- Best Payment Solutions Implementation – ADNOC
- Best Digital Banking Service – Mashreq
- Best AI Deployment/Implementation – United Arab Bank
- Best Use of AI in Asset Management – Plurimi Wealth (Dubai) Limited
- Best Islamic Bank – Mashreq Al Islami
- Best Overall Islamic Consumer Finance in the Middle East – Dubai Islamic Bank
- Best Islamic Consumer Finance – Mashreq
- Best Innovation in Islamic Finance – Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank – ADIB
- Best Retail Bank in the Middle East – Emirates NBD
- Best Premium Banking Services – RAKBANK – RAKBANK Elite
- Best Global Retail Bank in the Middle East – Standard Chartered Bank
- Best Commercial Bank – National Bank of Fujairah PJSC
- Best Treasury Management Services – First Abu Dhabi Bank – White Label Treasury Management System (TMS)
- Best Trade Finance Bank – National Bank of Fujairah PJSC
- Best Cash Management Bank – First Abu Dhabi Bank
- Best Bank for Corporate Services – Mbank
- Best Construction Project Management Banking Solutions – FAB Building Management Solutions (FBMS)
- Best Sukuk Deal of the Year – Dubai Islamic Bank
- Best M&A – Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC)
- Best Investment Bank – GFH Financial Group
- Best Bank for SME Bank Accounts – Mashreq
- Best Islamic Bank for SMEs – Emirates Islamic Bank PJSC
- Best SME Bank – National Bank of Fujairah PJSC
- Best Private Bank in the Middle East – Mashreq Private Banking
- Best Wealth Management Institution for HNWIs – US$1 Million to US$20 Million – Standard Chartered Bank
- Best Wealth Management Institution for Ultra HNWIs – US$50 Million and above – Blue Ocean Capital Advisors Ltd
- Best Client Value Proposition – Mashreq Private Banking
- Best Domestic Private Bank – First Abu Dhabi Bank
- Best Family Office Service – Mashreq Private Banking
- Best Foundation Services – Ocorian
- Best Private Client Services – M/HQ
- Best Digital Innovation and Services in Wealth Management – Mashreq
- Best Overall Wealth Management Service in the Middle East – Standard Chartered Bank
- Best Global Private Bank in the Middle East – Barclays Private Bank
- Best Family Office Platform Provider – BNY Wealth
- Best Succession Planning Services – First Abu Dhabi Bank
- Best External Asset Manager (EAM) Service – Mashreq Private Banking
- Most Innovative Trading App – Sarwa Capital Wealth (Limited)
- Best Private Client Wealth Journey Strategy – Ocorian
- Best Investment Management Firm – GFH Financial Group
- Best Sustainable Finance Initiative – Sustainable Impact Capital & Holding
- Leader in Financial Inclusion – Dubai Islamic Bank
- Best ESG Strategy – GFH Financial Group
- Best Law Firm – KARM Legal Consultants Pvt Limited
- Best Company Incorporation and Freezone Business Start Up in the Middle East –Virtuzone
- Best Residency and Citizenship by Investment Firm – Next Generation Equity (NGE)
- Best AI and Digital Transformation Advisory – e& enterprise – Data & AI Practice
- Fintech Leadership Award – Murat Cagri Suzer, Group Chief Executive Officer, Network International
- Best Technology Executive of the Year for Financial Services – Mohamed Abdel Razek, Group Head of Technology, Transformation & Information, Mashreq
- Best Technology Executive of the Year – Ossama El Samadoni, General Manager, Gulf Business Machines (GBM) Dubai
- Most Transformative Leadership Award – Ibrahim Ali Al Mheiri, Group Head of Islamic Banking, Mashreq
- Banker of the Year – Amit Malhotra, Global Head of Retail Banking, Chairman ADIMAC & ADIB Securities, Board Member ADIB Capital, ADIB
