Thursday 04 / December / 2025
Muscat – The Times of Oman Business Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 took place on 2nd December at the prestigious St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort, bringing together over 200 senior government officials, top business owners, industry experts and leading CXOs. Held under the theme ‘Leading the Future of Business,’ the Summit served as a powerful platform for thought leadership, collaboration and recognition.
The full-day event featured in-depth discussions and expert presentations covering pivotal sectors such as banking, investments, oil & gas, logistics, technology, manufacturing, real estate and construction. The sessions explored pressing global challenges—including geopolitical shifts, economic volatility, and rapid digital transformation—and highlighted the need for leaders to navigate with resilience, agility and a strong sense of purpose. Speakers underscored how businesses must align with Oman Vision 2040 to drive sustainable growth and long-term competitiveness.
Organized by Times of Oman in collaboration with Gulf Leaders Circle and Muscat Media Group, the Summit was supported by Infoline, United Securities, Best Infrastructure Developers, AmCham Oman and Floward. The event was held under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sayyid Mohammed bin Thuwaini Al Said, who graced the ceremony as Chief Guest.
A highlight of the event was the high-level panel discussion titled “Thriving Amid Disruption & Transformation: Redefining the Business Playbook.” The panel featured Muhsin Alrustom, Group CFO of ASYAD Group; Alkesh Joshi, Partner at EY; Muadh Al-Omairi, Vice President – Commercial at Infoline; and Rajeev Singh, CEO of Al Maha Ceramics, with the conversation moderated by Deepa Swaminathan, Editor of Gulf Leaders Circle.
Alkesh Joshi spoke about Oman’s economic shift. "Oman’s economic story is transforming in front of us - debt has come down, interest payments have reduced, and nearly half a billion rials of liquidity have been freed up to reinvest in growth. If we stay committed to structural reform and the long-term vision of 2040, this momentum can fundamentally reshape the country’s economic landscape."
Muhsin Alrustom spoke about the complexities managing disruption in the logistics sector. “In logistics, risk isn’t a single variable, it’s a moving target shaped by geopolitics, freight cycles, currencies, and capital costs. Our resilience comes from preparing for all of it: diversifying our fleet, hedging intelligently, and strengthening the systems that keep us competitive. And with Oman’s integrated logistics capabilities across Duqm, Sohar, and Salalah, Asyad aims to respond to global turbulence with confidence and agility.”
Muadh Al-Omairi spoke about transformation in customer experience. "Customer experience today is completely different from what it was even three years ago expectations are faster, smarter, and more digital. At Infoline, technology has helped us shift from a service provider to a solutions partner, and I believe this is how Oman can position itself regionally: as a high-quality, tech-driven service hub.”
Rajeev Singh’s weighed in on the manufacturing sector in the country. "Manufacturing in Oman demands resilience… you’re competing against global players with lower costs, so you have to win on execution, quality, and culture. Our turnaround at Al Maha Ceramics happened because the team chose optimism, focused on productivity, and believed we could build a stronger, more forward-looking company together."
The Summit also included forward-looking presentations by global and regional experts. Adebayo Osolake, renowned banker and former Global Head of Financial Institutions Trade Finance Sales at JPMorgan, presented “The Future of Global Trade: Adapting to a Fragmented World,” offering an incisive look into emerging geopolitical and economic realities. Gaurav Kapoor, Tax Partner at PwC Middle East, delivered a timely presentation titled “Oman’s Next Frontier: Personal Income Tax and the Future of a Vibrant Economy.”
Another notable segment was an engaging fireside conversation with Mustafa Ahmed Salman, Founder, Chairman and CEO of United Securities. He reflected on his three-decade plus journey building a leading investment institution, sharing insights into overcoming challenges, contributing to Oman’s capital markets and advising the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The day concluded with the prestigious Business Leadership Awards 2025, honouring exceptional leaders and organisations shaping Oman’s future.
Among the top personality honours, the Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Mustafa Ahmed Salman, Founder & Chairman of United Securities, and Sunder George, in recognition of their outstanding contributions.
Hussein Al-Lawati, CEO of Development Bank, was named Business Leader of the Year in Banking, while Tariq Al Farsi, CEO of National Finance, received the title of Business Leader of the Year in Finance. The award for Business Leader of the Year in Investments went to Mohammad Al Farei, CEO of Zubair Investments, and Saoud Al Riyami, CEO of Ooredoo, was recognised as Business Leader of the Year in Telecom.
In the logistics sector, Muhsin Alrustom, Group Chief Financial Officer of ASYAD Group, was honoured as Business Leader of the Year in Logistics, while Basil Macki, Non Executive Director at STS Group, received the award for Business Leader of the Year in Oil and Gas Services.
Hussain Al Balushi, Chief Financial Officer of Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company, was acknowledged as Business Leader of the Year in Utilities. Rajeev Singh, CEO of Al Maha Ceramics, was named Business Leader of the Year in Ceramic Tiles, and Gopalakrishnan G, General Manager of Asian Paints Middle East, received the award for Business Leader of the Year in Paints Manufacturing.
Harssha Shetty, CEO of Jindal Steel Oman, was honoured as Business Leader of the Year in Industrial Excellence, while Nitin Sapre, CEO of Europcar Oman, Bahrain & Saudi Arabia, was recognised as Business Leader of the Year in Mobility Services.
Muadh Al-Omairi, Vice President – Commercial at Infoline, received the award for Business Leader of the Year in CX Excellence, and Ali Asgar Shroff, CEO of ABQ Education Group, was celebrated as Business Leader of the Year in Education.
In the instututional categories, Awasr was named Company of the Year in Telecom, while Mitsubishi secured the title of Company of the Year in Automotive (Overall).
GMC was recognised as Company of the Year in the Commercial Vehicles Segment, ROX as Company of the Year in the Luxury New Energy Vehicles Segment, and Changan as Company of the Year in the Premium Segment.
Shanfari Trading and Furnishing Co. was awarded Company of the Year in Interior Fitouts & Furnishing, and Best Infrastructure Developers was named Company of the Year in Construction.
Talent Electric Services earned the title of Company of the Year in Electrosafety Excellence, while Badr Al Samaa Royal Hospital was honoured as Company of the Year in Premium Healthcare.
The Times of Oman Business Leadership Summit & Awards 2025 concluded with a powerful message of optimism and forward-looking ambition—echoing the spirit of a nation steadily progressing towards its Vision 2040 aspirations.
