2025 WINNERS
Organisation Categories
Gold
Dubai Harbour,
Dubai, UAE
Silver
D-Marin Didim,
Didim, Türkiye
Gold
D-Marin Marsa AL Arab,
Dubai, UAE
Silver
Emirates Palace Marina,
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Gold
Palm Jumeirah Marina
UAE
Silver
Bulgari Marina,
Dubai, UAE
Gold
Emirates Palace Marina,
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Silver
D-Marin Turgutreis,
Turgutreis, Turkiye
Gold
D-Marin Turgutreis,
Turgutreis, Turkiye
Silver
The Pearl Island Marina,
Doha, Qatar
Gold
D-Marin Didim,
Didim, Türkiye
Silver
D-Marin Göcek,,
Göcek, Turkiye
Gold
D-Marin Göcek,,
Göcek, Turkiye
Silver
Palm Jumeirah Marina
UAE
Most Popular Marina Recognition
Gold
The Pearl Island Marina,
Doha, Qatar
Silver
Bulgari Marina,
Dubai, UAE
Project Categories
Dubai Harbour,
Dubai, UAE
Dubai Islands Marina
Dubai, UAE
Individual Categories
Gold
Wayne Shepherd,
Dubai Harbour
Silver
Adel Maani,
Ayla Marina
Gold
Hassan Ahmad,
Jeddah Yacht Club
Silver
Sherzodbek Ganiev,
Palm Jumeirah Marina
Gold
Sara Abdelaziz
Aldar Marinas LLC
Silver
Charles Mayanja,
Emirates Palace Marina
2025 The Jury

Prof. Elhadi Etigani
VP - Corporate Excellence, Business
Development & Excellence
Dubai Electricity & Water Authority

Dr. Jasmina Locke
CEO
Integrated Development Solutions Group - IDSG UNWTO Expert & Auditor

Farrokh Golchin
Managing Director
StratConn LLC

Tony Dye
CMM
TD Marina Consultancy Limited, UK

Wyndham Tops
Senior Director Marinas and Waterways
Red Sea Global
Prof. Elhadi Etigani
Professor Hadi Eltigani is a fully-fledged academician as well as an all-round practitioner in the fields of quality management and business excellence - with more than 30 years of experience - in UK, Europe, GCC, and across the Middle East.
As an academic he was and still is a Professor of Business Development at key European institutions such as the University of Hertfordshire. He is also a member of the International Academy for Quality (IAQ), established by the original quality gurus such as Dr. Deming, Joe Juran and Val Feigenbaum in the early 1950s.
As a Practitioner in the quality and excellence awards industry in the UAE and the region, he established the Dubai Quality Award (DQA) in its new Criteria back in 1997, the Dubai Government Excellence Programme where he was a member of the technical committee which established its new criteria in 1998. Moreover, he also established the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award in 1999, the Abu Dhabi Government Excellence Award (ADAEP) in 2006, Sheikha Fatima Excellence Award for Arab Youth in 2011. In addition, he helped established the Sharjah Excellence Award, Ras Al Khaimah Government Excellence Award, Ajman Government Excellence Award and Fujairah’s Chamber Excellence Award for the private sector.
With regards to previous jury roles, he has served as a Jury Chairman or member in almost all local awards across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he also served as Jury Chairman for more than five cycles of the King Abdalaziz Quality Award, alongside many prestigious awards for notable organisations within the UAE’s Government and private sector.
Dr. Jasmina Locke
Dr. Jasmina Locke is a senior C-suite leader and global expert in sustainable economic development, with a track record of integrating sustainability, education, and innovation into large-scale development projects. She has held senior leadership roles for over a decade, and as a founding CEO was instrumental in conceptualising and leading SEE Institute, the GCC’s first multidisciplinary net-zero carbon education and innovation hub. In that role, she brought together ESG advisory, executive education, applied research, and public-private partnerships under one roof.
Her work spans governments, international organisations, and investment entities, shaping strategies that unite environmental performance with economic and social impact. Dr. Locke has advised on sustainable urban and destination development for high-profile projects such as EXO2020, King Abdullah Financial District and Bahrain International Circuit. She is recognised for her expertise in building institutions, structuring public-private partnerships, and delivering future-ready solutions that bridge innovation with long-term community and environmental benefits.
Holding a PhD in Sustainable Economic Development, she is frequently invited to international forums as a keynote speaker and panellist. She contributed to COP28 and conceptualised, led and chaired the Global Sustainability Summit in Dubai, placing sustainability within a broader agenda of sustainable economic growth and cross-sector impact. She is a published author whose research has been presented across the Middle East and Europe.
Farrokh Golchin
Farrokh Golchin B. Eng. (Civil) is the Managing Director of StratConn LLC, supplier of equipment and services to marinas in the GCC and beyond.
With over 20 years of experience in the leisure marine industry, Farrokh has held senior roles in various associations and companies, gaining a deep understanding of marinas and their broader impact on the marine sector.
He is a founding member of the LMA (Leisure Marine Association) and has served as Treasurer since its inception. He also works closely with the Global Marina Institute, the Australian Marina Association, British Marine, and the Yacht Harbour Association to bring world-class best practices and educational programmes to the region.
Tony Dye
Tony has been involved in the marina industry for over 22 years, and set up his own consultancy in 2012, having previously been Operations Manager for an independent group operating seven marinas, both coastal and inland in the UK with over 1,700 wet berths and moorings and a boatyard.
He has extensive coastal and inland marina management and operations, and marketing knowledge together with developing marina strategies and implementation.
He was a TYHA (The Yacht Harbour Association) in the UK for 12 years as consultant assessing marinas and boatyards travelling extensively across the Middle East conduction both Gold Anchor and International Clean Marina accreditations. He now mainly acts as consultant to assorted marine related projects.
Tony is the former Chair of the Global Marina Institute, UK, Europe, and Mid-East for five years, having delivered the range of IMM & AMM marina manager courses in conjunction with British Marine and the MIA over the past eight years.
Wyndham Tops
Wyndham Tops, the Senior Director Marinas and Waterways at Red Sea Global, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role. His journey in the maritime industry began at a young age, teaching at a sailing school and delivering yachts worldwide. His time at the prestigious Italian Ferretti Yacht Group solidified his passion for project management, complex construction, high-value sales, and multidimensional luxury. From 2008 to 2016, Wyndham served as the Group Operations & Facilities Manager at RDK Commercial Investments, overseeing a diverse portfolio of Residential & Commercial Buildings, Private Family Palaces, multiple Embassies, and luxury Super Yacht & Super Car fleets. With over 20 years of successful management experience under his belt, Wyndham then took on the role of Director of Leisure at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, before moving on to build the Marinas portfolio at Abu Dhabi Maritime, where he managed 29 marine facilities.
Red Sea Global, where Wyndham is currently based, is at the forefront of luxury, sustainability, and innovation in development. Spearheading new tourism models, Red Sea Global prioritises the well-being of customers, communities, and environments in its projects. As part of Saudi Vision 2030, Red Sea Global is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia and chaired by HRH Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. The organisation is committed to transforming the nation, creating economic opportunities for the people of Saudi Arabia, and enhancing the Kingdom's environmental and cultural heritage. With a diverse portfolio of world-leading destinations along Saudi Arabia's west coast, Red Sea Global is set to redefine luxury tourism and sustainability offerings, while actively protecting and enhancing the natural environment for future generations. Stay tuned for more exciting developments along the coastline as Red Sea Global continues to push the boundaries of responsible tourism.
2025 ASSESSORS

Adrian Lipolit

Adrienne Doolan

Ali Nimer

Baha’ Mohammad

Bayan AbuShaban

Dr. Barae Dukhan

Hussam Alrazem

Mahmoud Garad

Mark Hamill

Mike Kendall

Mohammed Al Mutawa

Musa Hanhan

Santhakumaran Atmalingam
Adrian Lipolit
Adrian Lipolit is an international sales and marketing executive with over 30 years’ experience driving business transformation, growth, and customer-centric excellence across Romania and Southeastern Europe. His career spans diverse business environments—including start-up launches, organizational turnarounds, and market realignments—where he has consistently delivered sustainable growth, profitability, and customer loyalty.
With deep expertise in business development, operational leadership, and sales transformation, Adrian has led multimillion-pound strategic projects, developed high-performing commercial teams, and implemented systems that enhance conversion, productivity, and retention. His experience extends across multiple sectors, where he has guided organisations in strengthening market presence and embedding customer-centric practices to achieve measurable business results.
Holding advanced qualifications in Organisational Leadership from Ken Blanchard (Amsterdam) and a PhD from the University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Adrian is also certified by the Customer Institute as a Customer Experience Professional. He serves as a judge for leading global award programmes, including the Customer Centricity World Series, the European CX Awards, and the Romanian Customer Care Awards. His international perspective and proven commercial acumen bring a strategic, growth-oriented dimension to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards’ assessment panels.
Adrienne Doolan
Adrienne Doolan is a sustainability leader and entrepreneur with extensive experience advancing climate action, sustainable business transformation, and social development across multiple sectors. As the founder of a sustainability consultancy serving organisations and SMEs, she has guided numerous entities in embedding responsible practices, influencing policy, and implementing green procurement and circular economy principles throughout the region.
An active advocate for climate justice, Adrienne serves on the Board of the United Nations Global Compact local network UAE and as a Regional Head for the UN NGO Coalition on Social Development. She has been a featured speaker and moderator at global sustainability forums, including COP27, COP28, and Biodiversity COP16, and has curated several high-impact events that promote dialogue and collaboration on sustainability and climate resilience.
Educated at Erasmus University Rotterdam and the University of Michigan in sustainability and development, Adrienne combines academic insight with practical impact. Her experience includes judging regional and international sustainability award programmes and leading initiatives that empower organisations to align their operations with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through her strategic vision and advocacy, she brings a forward-looking and values-driven perspective to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards’ assessment panels.
Ali Nimer
With over 27 years of experience in strategic planning, service excellence, and quality management, Ali Nimer has established a distinguished track record in driving organisational transformation and operational improvement. His professional journey spans the public and private sectors, where he has led large-scale initiatives in process optimisation, customer experience enhancement, and change management.
An accredited EFQM Assessor and certified lead auditor for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001, Ali has contributed to several regional and national award programmes, including the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award (SKEA) and the King Abdullah II Government Excellence Award. His experience also includes leading unified municipal service transformation projects, business process reengineering programmes, and strategic performance management frameworks that delivered measurable impact.
Holding a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Anglia Ruskin University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Planning and Leadership, Ali combines academic rigour with practical insight. His deep understanding of excellence frameworks, coupled with his ability to align strategy with customer-centric operations, allows him to bring a balanced and outcome-oriented perspective to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards’ assessment panels.
Baha’ Mohammad
Baha’ Mohammad is an accomplished industrial engineer with over 18 years of experience leading organisational excellence and transformation across diverse sectors, including government, utilities, telecommunications, and services. His work has focused on building performance-driven cultures and embedding quality and customer experience practices that elevate institutional capability and impact.
Specialising in excellence frameworks, international standards, process optimisation, and customer-centric innovation, Baha has played a key role in integrating digital transformation and sustainability principles into long-term organisational strategies.
A licensed EFQM Assessor, COPC Implementation Leader, and certified lead auditor and trainer, he has led numerous national and international assessment teams and guided organisations toward measurable improvement and sustained success. Through his analytical depth and practical understanding of excellence models, Baha brings a structured, evidence-based approach to assessment and a proven ability to identify what truly differentiates leading organisations.
Bayan AbuShaban
Bayan AbuShaban is a sustainability and ESG professional with nearly two decades of experience advancing environmental performance, climate action, and sustainable development across the public sector. His expertise lies in integrating sustainability principles into organisational strategies, infrastructure projects, and service delivery models—driving measurable progress toward national and global climate goals.
With a strong background in environmental management, Bayan has led initiatives in sustainability reporting, greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory management, and climate risk adaptation aligned with international standards such as ISO 14064 and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). He has contributed to the development of decarbonisation roadmaps, carbon neutrality strategies, and circular economy frameworks that support long-term climate resilience and net-zero transitions.
Holding an MSc in Management of Natural Resources and a BSc in Environment and Earth Science, Bayan brings both strategic vision and technical depth to his work. His ability to align sustainability strategy with operational excellence makes him a valuable member of the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards’ assessment panels, where he contributes deep expertise in environmental performance, sustainability innovation, and ESG integration.
Dr. Barae Dukhan
Dr. Barae Dukhan is a specialist in organisational excellence and development, with over 16 years of experience supporting public and private entities in achieving superior performance and global recognition. His work has focused on guiding government institutions in Dubai—such as those in the economic, transport, and commerce sectors—to attain excellence certifications, integrate ISO-based management systems, and win leading awards built on the EFQM model.
A certified assessor and team leader, Dr. Barae has led more than 20 assessment teams across industries including transportation, banking, healthcare, manufacturing, and construction. He has played a prominent role in regional and international award programmes such as the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award, Dubai Human Development Award, and the Global Islamic Business Award. His leadership contributed to multiple achievements, including securing the prestigious EFQM Diamond Category for the Licensing Agency at Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority.
Dr. Barae holds a PhD in Islamic Economics and Finance from Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, a Master’s degree in Quality Management (with Distinction), and a Bachelor’s degree in Food Engineering from the Middle East Technical University. Combining academic rigour with hands-on excellence consultancy, he brings a deep understanding of both organisational and economic systems to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards’ assessment panels.
Hussam Alrazem
With over 18 years of experience in quality management, auditing, and business excellence, Hussam Alrazem brings deep expertise in ISO standards and excellence frameworks. His professional background spans consultancy, assessment, and training across multiple sectors in the Middle East and North Africa, where he has supported organisations in developing robust management systems and achieving international certifications.
A certified EFQM Assessor and ISO Lead Auditor, Hussam has played a pivotal role in numerous national and regional excellence programmes. He has successfully led and contributed to more than 50 ISO certification projects—covering standards such as ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, and 22301—and over 25 excellence model assessments. His work reflects a strong focus on continuous improvement, strategic alignment, and operational excellence.
Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Hussam has served as an assessor for several prominent award programmes, including the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award and the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards. Through his analytical rigour and commitment to international best practices, he brings a structured and system-oriented perspective to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards’ assessment panels.
Mahmoud Garad
Mahmoud Garad is an experienced customer experience (CX) and business excellence leader with over 15 years of expertise in shaping and executing customer-centric strategies across diverse industries in the EMEA region. His work focuses on transforming organisations into customer-driven enterprises by embedding excellence and CX principles into strategy, operations, and performance management systems.
With a strong command of data analytics and design thinking, Mahmoud has led numerous initiatives that redefined end-to-end customer journeys, enhanced engagement, and strengthened satisfaction and loyalty outcomes. His ability to connect business objectives with measurable CX results has positioned him as a trusted advisor in service transformation and organisational excellence.
Holding a Master’s degree in Quality Management, Mahmoud has extensive experience as an assessor and judge in multiple regional and international excellence programmes, including the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award, Egypt Government Excellence Award, Customer Centricity World Series, and Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards. He has also contributed to the development and enhancement of several award frameworks in the UAE and GCC. Through his balanced understanding of strategy, data, and human experience, Mahmoud brings a structured, evidence-based, and pragmatic perspective to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards’ assessment panels.
Mark Hamill
Mark Hamill brings over 15 years of international experience in customer experience, service excellence, and business performance management across the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. His career has centred on enabling organisations to achieve sustainable success through improved customer engagement, operational efficiency, and leadership alignment.
Having led more than 30 global award programmes, Mark has extensive experience in designing and managing large-scale benchmarking and recognition frameworks that drive continuous improvement and innovation. His expertise spans customer service assessment, business process review, and digital transformation, helping organisations translate strategy into measurable impact.
Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies from the University of Northumbria, Mark is also a recognised authority in applying global standards such as the International Customer Service Standard (ICXS). He has served as a judge and assessor for numerous international award programmes, including the DGEP, UK CX Awards, Omani CX Awards, and Service Olympian Awards. His global exposure, analytical depth, and results-oriented mindset make him a valuable member of the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards’ assessment panels, where he contributes a balanced and world-class perspective to every evaluation.
Mike Kendall
Mike Kendall is a global customer experience (CX) and innovation leader with decades of experience guiding organisations through customer-centred transformation. His work spans multiple industries, where he has helped leading brands unlock growth through human-centred design, rapid experimentation, and customer-driven strategy.
An expert in design thinking, lean innovation, and agile methodologies, Mike has built CX innovation labs, led enterprise-wide transformation programmes, and coached executive teams to adopt data-informed and customer-first decision-making. His work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review and presented at leading international conferences, reflecting his thought leadership in building customer-obsessed cultures and products that drive measurable business impact.
A Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Certified Net Promoter Associate, Mike serves as a judge for prestigious global award programmes including the Customer Centricity World Series, the North American Customer Centricity Awards, and the U.S. Customer Experience Awards. He has also served as a Senior Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. With his deep expertise and global perspective, Mike brings analytical rigour and creative insight to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards’ assessment panels.
Mohammed Al Mutawa
With 20 years of experience in excellence assessment, Mohammed Khamis Al Mutawa has led evaluations for high-profile awards, including DGEP, SKGEP, and SKEA. He holds a Master’s degree in Quality Management and is pursuing a PhD in Autonomous AI Management. Mohammed is a certified EFQM Assessor and a certified innovation manager, specialising in digital transformation, strategic planning, and quality management. He has assessed over 95 organisations, ensuring transparency and best practices across various industries. His expertise extends to business continuity, risk management, and process reengineering, making him a key contributor to excellence and innovation in both governmental and private sectors.
Musa Hanhan
Musa Hanhan is a seasoned customer experience (CX) strategist with over 20 years of international experience in experience design, strategy, and product management. He has helped global organisations across various industries build and execute customer-centric strategies that enhance loyalty, engagement, and long-term business performance. His work focuses on embedding customer-focused thinking within leadership and culture to drive sustainable competitive advantage.
A recognised authority in the CX field, Musa holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology and multiple international certifications, including CCXP from the Customer Experience Professionals Association, CX Practitioner from Bain & Company, and Service Design from the DesignThinkers Academy in Amsterdam. He is also a Certified NPS Professional, a U.S. Patent Holder, and recipient of the 2018 CX Impact Award by CXPA. In 2024, he was named among the Top 50 CX Influencers by Network Magazine.
Musa has served as an assessor for several international customer experience award programmes, including the Service Centricity Excellence Awards (SCXA), Global Customer Experience Awards (GCXA), and Customer Centricity World Series (CCWS). With a unique combination of technical insight, design expertise, and strategic acumen, he brings a deep, holistic understanding of experience excellence to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards’ assessment process.
Santhakumaran Atmalingam
Santhakumaran Atmalingam (Santha) is a highly regarded customer experience (CX) strategist, consultant, and keynote speaker with over two decades of corporate and advisory experience across Asia. As the founder of CX Expert Asia, he has helped multinational and government-linked organisations design and deliver world-class customer and patient experience programmes tailored to the cultural and operational dynamics of the region.
With a strong foundation in customer journey mapping, CX design, and service transformation, Santha is recognized for his ability to help organisations cultivate customer-obsessed cultures and embed long-term CX capability. His career spans telecommunications, healthcare, and service industries, where he has led transformation initiatives that significantly improved satisfaction, retention, and brand perception.
Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Hons) from UKM, Malaysia, and accredited as a Customer Experience Specialist (ACXS), Santha is also an international awards judge for the Customer Centricity World Series, European, North American, APAC, and Malaysian CX Awards. His global perspective, regional insight, and passion for elevating service excellence bring a dynamic and culturally attuned dimension to the Abu Dhabi Maritime Awards’ assessment panels.
VENUE DETAILS
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre ADNEC Group
Khaleej Al Arabi Street
P.O. Box 5546
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates