Forbes CEO forum comes to the Middle East for the first time DUBAI: Television news channel Al Jazeera won the top spot in a list of the best-known Arab brands compiled by Forbes magazine s Arabic edition, besting Dubai-based Emirates airlines. Qatar-based Al Jazeera, which has been criticized by Washington for airing messages from al Qaeda leaders, ranked first in the online survey in 19 Arab countries that tested a brand s trust, recognition and adaptability, Forbes Arabia said. The list of 40 brands, the first complied by Forbes Arabia, was dominated by the United Arab Emirates, home to many of the Gulf Arab firms that are expanding outside the region, backed by governments looking to invest record oil revenues. [The] list looks at companies that have created strong brands not only in Arab countries but that are also gaining recognition worldwide, said Sulaiman Al-Hattlan, editor of the Arabic edition of Forbes magazine, which compiles an annual list of the world s billionaires, in a statement. Emirates is the largest Arab airline and was one of 19 UAE companies on the list, which will be published in the magazine s November issue. Among the others was Al Arabiya, which is a Saudi-owned broadcaster that is the main rival of Al Jazeera, which has won millions of Arab viewers and angered Washington and some Arab governments with its coverage of the war in Iraq and Islamic militancy. At number 10 was Dubai-based Emaar Properties, the largest Arab developer by market value, which bought US homebuilder John Laing Homes for $1.05 billion in June. Nakheel, a state-owned developer that is building three palm-frond shaped islands off the coast of Dubai, was ranked 30th, one place ahead of Mecca Cola, which is touted by its makers as an Islamic alternative to Western soft drink brands. The online survey was conducted for Forbes Arabia by UK market research firm YouGov. Only companies operating in all Arabic speaking countries were eligible for the list, the magazine said. Forbes, publisher of Forbes magazine, America's leading business publication, will be presenting its prestigious, world renowned CEO Forum for the first time in the Middle East from Feb. 26-28, 2007. The Forbes CEO Forum, hosted by Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company (QDREIC), is titled "Driving Growth: Risk and Reward in the Middle East . The Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, the Chief Executive of Qatari Diar, Nasser Hassan Al Ansari and Dr. Sulaiman Al Hattlan of Forbes Arabia, will host a press conference in Doha for the media to announce the Forum, session topics and speakers at the event, and in addition to answer questions on the Forum and Qatar's support. Agencies
