As the region shifts and industries transform, Fast Company Middle East’s Most Innovative Companies 2025 list looks at the most groundbreaking companies in every industry, offering a snapshot of innovation today and a playbook for the future.

In preparing the 2025 Most Innovative Companies list, we mined hundreds of applications from companies across the region, mindful of balancing the innovations that defined the year with those that will be relevant in the year ahead. We looked for companies with an edge, reshaping their businesses and the sector, and addressing the reinvention of our society. Those companies are simply more compelling and vital to their fields right now, and those are the ones we're honoring on the Most Innovative Companies 2025 list.


Here are the companies that aren’t just keeping up—they’re setting the pace, and this is both heartening and inspiring.

  • Winners

For redefining mobility with AI and sustainability

ADNOC Distribution is transforming mobility with AI, sustainable practices, and a customer-focused approach, expanding renewable energy networks and loyalty ecosystems while reducing carbon intensity.

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For smarter, cleaner, connected mobility and retail

ADNOC Distribution builds a connected mobility and retail ecosystem, featuring about 100 new stations. The company utilizes AI and operational excellence to boost loyalty, non-fuel retail, and sustainability.

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For technology-driven, immersive journalism

Asharq News redefines audience engagement across the GCC by combining AI avatars, mixed reality, and data visualization. Its proprietary content tools have doubled engagement and achieved record viewership.

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For patient-centered, connected healthcare

Aster DM Healthcare delivers integrated digital and physical care across the GCC through the myAster app, a Smart Hospital network, AI diagnostics, and robotic-assisted surgeries, enhancing accessibility, continuity, and patient safety.

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For building a scalable circular ecosystem for electronic devices

Basatne creates scalable circular systems for electronics, reducing e-waste, lowering emissions, and delivering measurable ESG value.

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For redefining trust, transparency, and technology in real estate

Bayut enhances trust and transparency in UAE real estate with AI-powered tools, streamlining property valuations, professional standards, and instant insights for agents and consumers.

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For generative AI adoption and regional productivity

BCG integrates GenAI across Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha through training programs, proprietary tools, and inclusive initiatives. This approach leads to high AI adoption, empowering consultants to utilize AI in strategy, branding, and client delivery.

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For SME financing and promoting financial inclusion

Beehive connects SMEs to investors with AI-powered digital lending, Sharia-compliant financing, and fast approvals, funding over 2,590 businesses.

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For AI and nature-driven architectural design

BEGA Architects utilizes AI, nature-inspired design, and robotic fabrication to create sustainable, adaptive buildings and city-scale solutions that have a measurable impact on both culture and the environment.

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For advancing digital asset adoption, education, and financial inclusion

Binance expands digital asset adoption and financial inclusion through education, Sharia-compliant investing, and community programs with measurable social and economic impact.

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For advancing women’s participation and financial inclusion

Binance advances digital finance adoption in the Middle East, supporting women’s participation through Sharia Earn, blockchain education programs, and DeFi solutions.

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For redefining luxury mobility through sustainable, inclusive services

Blacklane delivers premium, eco-conscious chauffeur services with EV fleets, multi-channel booking.

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For sustainable, personalized luxury retail

Chalhoub Group enhances luxury retail with Layla AI, circular marketplaces like reMUSE, and sustainable merchandising practices, boosting engagement, revenue, and operational efficiency while reducing waste and supporting eco-conscious commerce.

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For advancing cyber resilience and securing the UAE’s digital future

CPX delivers AI-driven cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, strengthening resilience and enabling secure digital growth.

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For intelligent marketing systems

Digitas transforms marketing into an intelligent and adaptive system by utilizing AI, experience design, and data to streamline operations, enhance personalization, and drive measurable efficiency.

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For shaping an AI-powered digital future

e& deploys AI across operations, customer experience, and connectivity to drive digital inclusion, operational efficiency, and sustainable innovation at scale.

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For embedding sustainability across operations and customer engagement

e& embeds sustainability across operations and services, cutting emissions, promoting circularity, and generating measurable social and economic outcomes.

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For integrating wellness, art, and sustainable living

Ellington Properties creates design-first residential communities, integrating wellness, art, and sustainable living. It promotes access, culture, and environmental responsibility.

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For integrated, sustainable energy and mobility

EtihadWE has created a low-carbon, customer-focused energy ecosystem with smart meters, EV charging network, and decentralized renewable energy system.

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For smart, low-carbon, customer-focused energy

EtihadWE integrates electricity, water, and mobility into an innovative, low-carbon system, deploying half a million smart meters, rooftop solar panels, improvements in desalination efficiency, and an EV charging network to reduce emissions and empower two million residents.

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For sustainable luxury hospitality

FIVE Holdings’ FIVE Luxe JBR blends solar-powered luxury, IoT-enabled efficiency, water recycling, and circular waste management.

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For building brands through creativity and inclusion

FP7 McCann blends creativity, and inclusion to craft culturally resonant campaigns that drive measurable impact and shape the region’s creative future.

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For merging global reach with local impact

GMG has expanded globally, diversified its portfolio, and pioneered sustainability efforts, positioning itself as an industry leader.

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For culturally grounded, performance-driven products

Huda Beauty integrates cultural storytelling, high-performance formulations, and community engagement. Products are designed with consumer insights, support local communities, and reflect inclusivity and social impact.

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For creating culturally grounded beauty experiences

Huda Beauty turns consumer insights into high-performance, culturally resonant products, while supporting heritage and community initiatives.

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For developing AI technologies tailored to regional needs

IBM delivers enterprise AI and quantum-powered solutions that enhance productivity, sustainability, and measurable business outcomes across the region.

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For fostering women-led scientific and cultural impact

L’Oréal empowers Arab women scientists and reshapes cultural narratives through FWIS grants, mentorship, campaigns such as Sit El Beit, and initiatives that foster social change and economic outcomes across the region.

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For driving AI-powered personalization and efficiency

L’Oréal uses AI to personalize marketing, improve efficiency, and integrate sustainability into campaigns, driving measurable impact and empowering teams to focus on strategy.

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For immersive and playful storytelling

L’Oréal Middle East uses AR and VR to make beauty discovery interactive, culturally relevant, and measurable while reducing environmental impact.

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For blending technology and human connection

Leo Burnett fuses human intuition and AI to create campaigns that connect, inspire, and deliver measurable cultural impact.

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For AI-driven defense and sustainable security

Lockheed Martin integrates AI, digital systems, and sustainable defense practices to enhance regional security, industrial capacity, and workforce expertise.

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For AI-driven precision healthcare and longevity

M42 connects AI, genomics, and clinical expertise across healthcare networks, including the Jordan Digital Health Center and Abu Dhabi Biobank, supporting precision medicine, AI-assisted diagnostics, and preventive care.

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For reshaping creativity with cultural intelligence

Ogilvy combines AI, data, and cultural insight to deliver human-led campaigns that resonate, drive results, and shape sustainable growth.

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For building a people-first, collaborative culture

MCN connects agencies and markets into a unified system that drives integrated creativity, measurable business growth, and sustainable impact.

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For connected, collaborative agency networks

MCN fosters a collaborative, people-first culture across 15 agencies and 11 markets with flexible work models, professional development, cross-agency campaigns, and partnerships, achieving engagement, retention, and a reduction in travel emissions.

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For building resilient local industries and empowering future-ready talent

PepsiCo is driving regional growth by advancing local industry, sustainability, and social empowerment, while fostering entrepreneurship and climate-tech for lasting economic and environmental impact.

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For accessible, data-driven real estate

Property Finder leverages AI and data to improve property discovery and market transparency across MENA.

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For building the region’s retail media ecosystem

Publicis Media MENA integrates data, technology, and commerce to build connected retail media networks that drive measurable impact for both brands and retailers.

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For pioneering a system that converts purpose into performance

Publicis Groupe ME & Turkey drives purpose-led talent development through the Meaningful Action Operating System, learning journeys, mobility programs, and leadership initiatives.

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For reshaping brands’ connection with consumers

Publicis Media Middle East is pioneering retail media by building data-driven networks that connect brands to consumers at the point of purchase, driving measurable sales impact and unlocking new revenue streams.

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For transforming preventive healthcare with AI-driven longevity insights

Pura leverages AI to deliver predictive, preventive healthcare and personalized longevity insights, improving health outcomes and supporting sustainable healthcare systems.

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For turning health-focused CSR into measurable, inclusive national programs

PureHealth turns CSR into measurable programs that advance prevention, inclusion, and national well-being while creating social and economic impact.

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For integrated, AI-powered healthcare and longevity

PureHealth is enhancing efficiency, personalization, and accessibility in healthcare through an AI-enabled app and advanced specialist and preventive care.

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For helping brands stay in sync with cultural shifts

Saatchi & Saatchi transforms cultural insights into real-time campaigns that increase relevance, engagement, and social impact.

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For unified digital banking and sustainable growth

SAIB unifies digital banking, fintech partnerships, and internal product development, delivering fast onboarding, integrated apps, and new revenue streams.

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For creating AI-powered AR and VR activations that combine culture & creativity

Tactical leverages AI-powered AR and VR to deliver interactive experiences that engage audiences, drive measurable outcomes, and support sustainability.

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For redefining creativity through AI

TBWA/RAAD amplifies human creativity with AI-powered tools to deliver culturally relevant, high-impact campaigns, driving both business and social progress.

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For advancing purposeful innovation

Weber Shandwick MENAT blends technology, creativity, and inclusivity to deliver insight-driven campaigns, advance leadership equity, and create measurable social impact.

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For customer-first digital banking and wealth management

Wio Bank offers digital-first banking and wealth management with AI insights, crypto and global portfolios, hands-free wealth solutions, and integrated business accounts, serving over 100,000 SMEs.

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For redefining media for the AI era

WPP Media Middle East is redefining media for the AI era, integrating data, creative, and media through its proprietary platform while equipping employees to harness AI at scale.

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For AI-driven Arabic entertainment

Yango Play delivers Arabic streaming, music, and gaming through AI-powered personalization, supporting regional creators, and providing culturally tailored entertainment.

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For driving AI-led cybersecurity, data innovation, and transformation

ZainTECH applies AI and data-driven solutions to strengthen cybersecurity, digital services, and operational efficiency while fostering innovation and sustainable impact.

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For secure, efficient, digitally empowered enterprises

ZainTECH combines cloud, AI, and cybersecurity across eight markets, enabling governments and businesses to operate securely and efficiently while reducing carbon footprints and building local talent.

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For using AI and data science to accelerate digital transformation

ZainTECH integrates advanced technology, AI, and analytics to help organizations accelerate data value, monetize assets, and leverage data visualization that tracks trends and predicts outcomes.

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For mobile payments that empower businesses and consumers

Ziina enables mobile-first payments and financial access for SMEs and consumers, issuing prepaid cards, Tap to Pay, in-chat payments, and multi-currency settlements.

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