

celebrating today's exceptional business culture
Entries Open 17th September - 23rd January
Finalists Announced - 23rd March


celebrating today's exceptional business culture
Entries Open 17th September - 23rd January
Finalists Announced - 23rd March
Key Dates 2025/26

Award Entries Open - 17th September, 2025, Go to Entry Platform
Early Bird Deadline - 14th November, 2025
Awards Entry Deadline - 23rd January, 2026
Finalists Announced – 23rd March, 2026
Awards Event & Winners Announcement - 12th May, 2026
About Business Culture Awards MENA
About Business Culture Awards MENA
Benefits of recognition for business culture
The Business Culture Awards MENA gives forward-thinking organisations a way to celebrate work which sets their employees up to succeed; recognising how employee experience is fundamental to business performance. By strengthening your culture and sharing the outcomes you are:

• Creating a sustainable competitive advantage that is much harder to imitate than your products or services.
• Focusing on your employee engagement, one of your leading metrics of organisational performance.
• Applying an effective channel to promote, within and outside of your sector, how your company values its unique culture and its people, with promotional badges and assets provided by Business Culture Awards for your own marketing. Plus further promotional material generated by the Awards team, with your approval.
• Gaining access to the powerful Business Culture network and community, which comprises leading practitioners and thinkers in HR and business.
• Demonstrating value to your investors or stakeholders by aligning a stand-out customer brand to an exceptional employer brand.
Benefits of recognition for business culture

The Business Culture Awards MENA gives forward-thinking organisations a way to celebrate work which sets their employees up to succeed; recognising how employee experience is fundamental to business performance. By strengthening your culture and sharing the outcomes you are:
• Creating a sustainable competitive advantage that is much harder to imitate than your products or services.
• Focusing on your employee engagement, one of your leading metrics of organisational performance.
• Applying an effective channel to promote, within and outside of your sector, how your company values its unique culture and its people, with promotional badges and assets provided by Business Culture Awards for your own marketing. Plus further promotional material generated by the Awards team, with your approval.
• Gaining access to the powerful Business Culture network and community, which comprises leading practitioners and thinkers in HR and business.
• Demonstrating value to your investors or stakeholders by aligning a stand-out customer brand to an exceptional employer brand.
PREVIOUS WINNERS




PREVIOUS WINNERS




Meet the Team

A new voice in business literature and an accomplished Executive Leader and trusted expert in customer loyalty, personalised shopper activation, and data optimisation in retail and diverse marketing sectors. Prem’s understanding of consumer behaviours, the changing media landscape, omnichannel personalisation trends, and organisation culture are at the core of his success, and his clients’ success. With his relentless focus on ‘customer and people first’, building robust and mutually beneficial strategic relationships comes naturally. In addition to building an award-winning company culture with a high sense of community my purpose of improving the lives of others is achieved through my services as a Trustee, Coach and Mentor.
Prem is passionate about creating impactful and innovative solutions for his customers, and coaching talented professionals to achieve high performance, high impact teams, and supporting their personal growth ambitions.
Prem's visionary leadership, razor-sharp customer focus, negotiation skills, and ability to simplify complex problems have enabled him to establish profitable and successful long-term partnerships with leading organisations in the UK and the Middle East, such as Sainsbury's Group, NatWest, Riyad Bank, Visa, and American Express.

Zeina Akkawi is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in PR, marketing, events management, and strategic partnerships. She has led high-profile campaigns for governments, luxury brands, tourism boards, and corporates, consistently driving growth and innovation.
In 2007, Zeina founded PAZ Marketing Management, a leading UAE-based firm specializing in PR, events, and marketing. Recognized as “The Queen of the .Coms” for her pioneering work with e-commerce giants like Souq.com and Cobone, she played a key role in Souq.com’s acquisition by Amazon.
Zeina is an active speaker, mentor, and member of the Arab Women Business Council, dedicated to empowering leaders and shaping the future of marketing and PR in the region.

Over a decade ago, Salah has embarked on this path with a deep-rooted passion for transforming spaces into captivating works of art. It was in the dynamic landscape of Dubai, UAE, that I set out to create events that would leave a lasting impression on all who experienced them.
Salah honed his skills and nurtured his creativity, aiming to elevate aesthetics and craftsmanship to new heights. With a background in producing mega events, exhibitions, he had the privilege of collaborating with renowned brands such as Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Elie Saab, Prada, and more.
His journey has been marked by an unwavering commitment to excellence, from the conceptualization of ideas to their seamless execution. Today, Seamless Production stands as a paragon of artful event experiences, a testament to the transformation of spaces into timeless masterpieces.
Connect: LinkedIn

Serial Entrepreneur | CEO, On The Way Media Agency | Public Speaker & Presenter
Abbas Al-Hazeem is a Kuwaiti-born serial entrepreneur, media strategist, and public speaker known for his distinctive “East-meets-West” approach to business. A graduate of the American University of Sharjah, his exposure to a diverse, multicultural academic environment helped shape the global mindset that defines his ventures today.
Abbas is the Founder and CEO of On The Way Media Agency, a creative multimedia firm launched in collaboration with Australian partners. Under his leadership, the agency blends regional insight with international standards, delivering content creation and marketing strategies to a diverse portfolio of clients. His business philosophy centers on building long-term value and legacy, rather than chasing short-term gains—a principle evident across his career.
His entrepreneurial spirit emerged early. As a schoolboy, he began by selling candy to classmates, sparking his passion for business. He later took on a strategic role in his family’s company, Intercoil International, a prominent regional manufacturer. There, he gained valuable corporate experience in marketing and operations, sharpening his understanding of business scalability and brand development in the multinational space.
In university, he ventured into renewable energy, exploring opportunities that reflected his interest in sustainable business models.
This was followed by the launch of a technical services startup—demonstrating his ability to translate innovative ideas into viable businesses. Each chapter, from childhood hustle to cleantech, refined his skills in sales, leadership, and market disruption.
In 2024, he co-founded On The Way Media Agency, embodying his cross-cultural vision by combining Western creative innovation with Middle Eastern business sensibilities. As CEO, he leads a multicultural team, producing impactful media and campaigns that reflect his values of authenticity, innovation, and purpose-driven storytelling.
Beyond business, Abbas is an engaging public speaker and accomplished presenter. He regularly hosts high-profile events and delivers talks on entrepreneurship, branding, and mental health in the workplace—topics he is deeply passionate about. He is a vocal advocate for mental well-being in business culture, encouraging open conversations that promote resilience and human-centered leadership.
Whether mentoring young founders or consulting with established brands, Abbas Al-Hazeem is widely recognized for his integrity, cultural empathy, and dedication to leaving a lasting impact across every project he leads.
Connect: LinkedIn

Kristiemae Gonzales is a dedicated and results-driven Public Relations professional with over 15 years of experience, specializing in building impactful media relationships and driving brand visibility across print, broadcast, and digital platforms. She has been part of Currently serves as Public Relations Manager, leading high-profile campaigns, securing extensive media coverage, and coordinating interviews, press events, and product launches for a diverse portfolio of clients.
Known for her honesty, dependability, and strong work ethic, Kristiemae thrives in fast-paced environments that demand multitasking, strategic thinking, and precision. Her expertise spans media relations, press release development, brand messaging, influencer collaborations, crisis communication, and event management.
Passionate about crafting meaningful narratives, Kristiemae works closely with clients, spokespersons, and industry leaders to deliver PR strategies that elevate brands, engage audiences, and create lasting impact.
Connect: LinkedIn

Jessa Batatas is a proactive and detail-oriented Public Relations Executive, where she plays a key role in executing media and communications strategies for the agency’s diverse portfolio of clients. Her responsibilities include distributing press releases, pitching media interviews, conducting follow-ups with journalists and editors, and coordinating event management activities.
With a keen eye for detail and a talent for building positive relationships with media professionals, Jessa ensures that clients receive impactful coverage across print, broadcast, and digital platforms. She is committed to delivering results-driven PR support that strengthens brand visibility and fosters meaningful engagement.
Meet the Team

A new voice in business literature and an accomplished Executive Leader and trusted expert in customer loyalty, personalised shopper activation, and data optimisation in retail and diverse marketing sectors. Prem’s understanding of consumer behaviours, the changing media landscape, omnichannel personalisation trends, and organisation culture are at the core of his success, and his clients’ success. With his relentless focus on ‘customer and people first’, building robust and mutually beneficial strategic relationships comes naturally. In addition to building an award-winning company culture with a high sense of community my purpose of improving the lives of others is achieved through my services as a Trustee, Coach and Mentor.
Prem is passionate about creating impactful and innovative solutions for his customers, and coaching talented professionals to achieve high performance, high impact teams, and supporting their personal growth ambitions.
Prem's visionary leadership, razor-sharp customer focus, negotiation skills, and ability to simplify complex problems have enabled him to establish profitable and successful long-term partnerships with leading organisations in the UK and the Middle East, such as Sainsbury's Group, NatWest, Riyad Bank, Visa, and American Express.

Zeina Akkawi is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in PR, marketing, events management, and strategic partnerships. She has led high-profile campaigns for governments, luxury brands, tourism boards, and corporates, consistently driving growth and innovation.
In 2007, Zeina founded PAZ Marketing Management, a leading UAE-based firm specializing in PR, events, and marketing. Recognized as “The Queen of the .Coms” for her pioneering work with e-commerce giants like Souq.com and Cobone, she played a key role in Souq.com’s acquisition by Amazon.
Zeina is an active speaker, mentor, and member of the Arab Women Business Council, dedicated to empowering leaders and shaping the future of marketing and PR in the region.

Over a decade ago, Salah has embarked on this path with a deep-rooted passion for transforming spaces into captivating works of art. It was in the dynamic landscape of Dubai, UAE, that I set out to create events that would leave a lasting impression on all who experienced them.
Salah honed his skills and nurtured his creativity, aiming to elevate aesthetics and craftsmanship to new heights. With a background in producing mega events, exhibitions, he had the privilege of collaborating with renowned brands such as Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari, Elie Saab, Prada, and more.
His journey has been marked by an unwavering commitment to excellence, from the conceptualization of ideas to their seamless execution. Today, Seamless Production stands as a paragon of artful event experiences, a testament to the transformation of spaces into timeless masterpieces.
Connect: LinkedIn

Serial Entrepreneur | CEO, On The Way Media Agency | Public Speaker & Presenter
Abbas Al-Hazeem is a Kuwaiti-born serial entrepreneur, media strategist, and public speaker known for his distinctive “East-meets-West” approach to business. A graduate of the American University of Sharjah, his exposure to a diverse, multicultural academic environment helped shape the global mindset that defines his ventures today.
Abbas is the Founder and CEO of On The Way Media Agency, a creative multimedia firm launched in collaboration with Australian partners. Under his leadership, the agency blends regional insight with international standards, delivering content creation and marketing strategies to a diverse portfolio of clients. His business philosophy centers on building long-term value and legacy, rather than chasing short-term gains—a principle evident across his career.
His entrepreneurial spirit emerged early. As a schoolboy, he began by selling candy to classmates, sparking his passion for business. He later took on a strategic role in his family’s company, Intercoil International, a prominent regional manufacturer. There, he gained valuable corporate experience in marketing and operations, sharpening his understanding of business scalability and brand development in the multinational space.
In university, he ventured into renewable energy, exploring opportunities that reflected his interest in sustainable business models.
This was followed by the launch of a technical services startup—demonstrating his ability to translate innovative ideas into viable businesses. Each chapter, from childhood hustle to cleantech, refined his skills in sales, leadership, and market disruption.
In 2024, he co-founded On The Way Media Agency, embodying his cross-cultural vision by combining Western creative innovation with Middle Eastern business sensibilities. As CEO, he leads a multicultural team, producing impactful media and campaigns that reflect his values of authenticity, innovation, and purpose-driven storytelling.
Beyond business, Abbas is an engaging public speaker and accomplished presenter. He regularly hosts high-profile events and delivers talks on entrepreneurship, branding, and mental health in the workplace—topics he is deeply passionate about. He is a vocal advocate for mental well-being in business culture, encouraging open conversations that promote resilience and human-centered leadership.
Whether mentoring young founders or consulting with established brands, Abbas Al-Hazeem is widely recognized for his integrity, cultural empathy, and dedication to leaving a lasting impact across every project he leads.
Connect: LinkedIn

Kristiemae Gonzales is a dedicated and results-driven Public Relations professional with over 15 years of experience, specializing in building impactful media relationships and driving brand visibility across print, broadcast, and digital platforms. She has been part of Currently serves as Public Relations Manager, leading high-profile campaigns, securing extensive media coverage, and coordinating interviews, press events, and product launches for a diverse portfolio of clients.
Known for her honesty, dependability, and strong work ethic, Kristiemae thrives in fast-paced environments that demand multitasking, strategic thinking, and precision. Her expertise spans media relations, press release development, brand messaging, influencer collaborations, crisis communication, and event management.
Passionate about crafting meaningful narratives, Kristiemae works closely with clients, spokespersons, and industry leaders to deliver PR strategies that elevate brands, engage audiences, and create lasting impact.
Connect: LinkedIn

Jessa Batatas is a proactive and detail-oriented Public Relations Executive, where she plays a key role in executing media and communications strategies for the agency’s diverse portfolio of clients. Her responsibilities include distributing press releases, pitching media interviews, conducting follow-ups with journalists and editors, and coordinating event management activities.
With a keen eye for detail and a talent for building positive relationships with media professionals, Jessa ensures that clients receive impactful coverage across print, broadcast, and digital platforms. She is committed to delivering results-driven PR support that strengthens brand visibility and fosters meaningful engagement.
"We are very happy and excited to have won the Business Culture awards in two prestigious categories. Winning these awards motivates us to work harder to do better and bigger things in the future. Appreciate you sharing the judges’ feedback which I am sure will help all of us in improving and coming out with more impactful award submissions next year.”
Chief Values Officer, UST
"We were absolutely thrilled with the recognition! I appreciate you sending promotional assets along with judging comments: these not only help us promote the win, but also bring back a few learnings for our future initiatives”
Employer Brand Strategist, Personio
Meet Our Judges
- Ceri ConnollyHRD Insurance, Pensions & Investments and Interim Group DE&I Director, Lloyds Banking Group
- Tim PointerOperating Partner & Portfolio Chief People Officer, Three Hills
- Stephanie AtkinsonHead of HR, William Fry
- Lena TailorVP Talent Development, Business Partnering & Inclusion, GoCardless
- Fran WilliamsHuman Resources Director UK&I, DFDS
- Ali MohammedStrategic HR Consultant Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Kate Griffiths-LambethDirector, DEMAT
- Aggie MutumaCEO, Mahogany Inclusion Partners
- Karen Terry WeymouthHR Strategy Director, University of Warwick
- Simon ClementsTalent Director, Drax Group
- Simon GosneyHead of Learning & Development, Dimensions UK
- Sue SwanboroughGroup HRD, Aquila Food Group Holdings
- Liam McEntegartManaging Director, REAL Fundraising
- Andy StokerChange Director, Studio Banana
- Liz PannamanOrganisational Development Lead Transport for London
See all Judges here
Register Your Interest
Award Entries for the MENA region are now open.
You can go straight to the Entry Platform to get started. Or, if you'd like to receive more information and to be contacted by the MENA Awards Team first, register here.
Not ready to enter but want to be a part of the Business Culture Community? There’s still so much to be gained from joining a community of individuals focused on building great workplace culture. You may have embarked on culture work in your business but you’re not ready to share it yet, or maybe you simply want to learn from others’ approaches. Either way, keep in the loop by registering with us here.
By registering your details, you will be kept up to date with relevant news, insights and upcoming events from Business Culture Awards MENA and TKOP World.
Find out about Awards & Events Sponsorship
Evolving and nurturing business culture is a leading concern of those you want to do business with. HR and other business leaders are keen to learn more about innovative solutions which will support them in building positive, productive cultures and exceptional employee experience; including transformation, wellbeing, learning, coaching, talent and inclusion solutions. Find out more about how we work with solution providers to amplify your brand.