Who were the stars of 2014? - ArabianBusiness.com

It’s that time of the year again when we look back at all those grand promises made by grand people during 2013 and see how many of them were kept. It’s probably the worst time possible to make a judgement given the recent collapse in oil prices, which has also resulted in the Dubai Financial Market slipping below the 4,000 mark.

But putting that aside, I think it is worth highlighting what I consider to be my three “star players” in the past 12 months. First off, telecoms giant Etisalat. It’s not a company that necessarily over excites investors, given the one-year share price return is only 4 percent. But given this is the biggest listed company in Dubai, slow and steady is actually a welcome thing. It is also worth noting the performance of the group since Ahmad Julfar took the helm in 2011. After a difficult period of restructuring, he has emerged as a true global leader, helping Etisalat become the 12th biggest telecoms firm on the planet. What impresses me most is the way Julfar has focused heavily on the group’s non-UAE revenues, which by 2015 could account for 50 percent of total revenues. That is, by any measure, a remarkable achievement. more >>>