The annual awards ceremony was held for the first time in Dubai. The awards were presented by May Chidiac, President of the May Chidiac Foundation, alongside media personalities including Rani Raad, known for his 25 years of leadership at Warner Bros. Discovery, Tunisian businesswoman Ouided Bouchamoui, former CNN Beirut bureau chief Brent Sadler, founder and CEO of the Cairo-based Noor Group Basel Dalloul, director of media representation giant Choueiri Group Pierre Choueiri, Orascom chairman Naguib Sawiris, Lebanese philanthropist Maha Chair, press freedom adviser Mogens Schmidt and Ipsos MENA director Edouard Monin.
Saudi Media and Research Group CEO Jomana al-Rashid received the Media Industry Excellence Award; and Rima Maktabi, Al-Arabiya's UK bureau chief, was also honoured.
The ceremony was a treat for the audience, with performances by Lebanese stars Assi el-Hallani and Maya Diab.
Photo: Jouma al-Rashid, copyrights About Her.