Adnoc rose two places to become the sixth most valuable oil and gas brand globally, overtaking TotalEnergies and BP. Victor Besa / The National
Adnoc rose two places to become the sixth most valuable oil and gas brand globally, overtaking TotalEnergies and BP. Victor Besa / The National
Adnoc rose two places to become the sixth most valuable oil and gas brand globally, overtaking TotalEnergies and BP. Victor Besa / The National
Adnoc rose two places to become the sixth most valuable oil and gas brand globally, overtaking TotalEnergies and BP. Victor Besa / The National

Adnoc ranked UAE’s most valuable brand and second in Middle East


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Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has retained its position as the UAE's most valuable brand for the seventh consecutive year with a value of $18.9 billion, while Apple remained the world's most valuable brand, according to a new report by consultancy Brand Finance.

The oil major increased its brand value by 25 per cent year-on-year, becoming the Middle East region's second most valuable brand after Saudi Aramco, according to the Brand Finance Global 500 report released on Tuesday.

Adnoc rose two ranks to become the sixth most valuable oil and gas brand globally, overtaking international oil giants TotalEnergies and BP, and has become the world's fastest growing energy brand.

“This achievement underscores that the true value of our brand lies in the positive impact we create for our community. As Adnoc's global presence grows, we remain deeply committed to delivering sustainable growth and unlocking opportunities that benefit the UAE and its people for generations to come,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc.

David Haigh, chairman and chief executive of Brand Finance, said that under Dr Sultan's leadership “Adnoc has solidified its status as the UAE’s leading brand while achieving remarkable progress on the global stage”.

Dr Sultan was ranked first among global energy chief executives and seventh place overall in the Brand Guardianship Index, making him the highest-ranked chief executive outside the US and Europe, according to the Brand Finance report.

Adnoc, responsible for most of the UAE’s oil production, is increasing its international presence. The company recently announced the launch of XRG, a lower-carbon energy and chemicals investment unit, with an enterprise value of more than $80 billion.

Adnoc's growth has propelled it up 23 spots to 105th in the Brand Finance Global 500 – its highest-ever global ranking – while it achieved a Brand Strength Index score of 87.9 out of 100, making it the strongest brand in the UAE.

Brand value is determined through several factors, including marketing investment, stakeholder equity and business performance according to the brand valuation consultancy.

Adnoc's brand strength has improved due to its decarbonisation efforts, artificial intelligence innovations and diversified international growth, Brand Finance said.

The company is increasingly focusing on AI and digital technologies to increase efficiency and lower emissions related to its operations. Last year, it generated $500 million by introducing AI solutions after the integration of more than 30 AI tools across its value chain, from field operations to corporate decision-making, the company said in March last year.

The company was rated the strongest business-to-consumer brand in the UAE, based on consumer sentiment, the report found.

Adnoc's global brand strength increased to 81.9 points according to Brand Finance’s methodology, maintaining a “AAA-” brand strength rating for the second year in a row.

Aramco Middle East's most valuable brand

The world’s biggest oil-producing company, Saudi Aramco, reached a brand value of $41.7 billion in 2025, retaining its title as the most valuable brand in the Middle East, the London-based consultancy said.

Saudi Telecom Company, the kingdom’s biggest mobile operator, recorded a 16 per cent rise in brand value to $16.1 billion. It makes STC rank the third most valuable brand in the region and claim the title of the most valuable telecoms brand in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, e&, the UAE telecoms and technology company, ranked the fastest growing brand by value in the world this year, recording an eight-fold increase in brand value to $15.3 billion. This places e& among the top ten most valuable telecoms brands globally.

This comes as e& enters the final stage of a three-year group rebrand, set to transition brand equity from Etisalat to e& as a platform for international growth, the report said.

“Middle Eastern brands continue to make their mark on the global stage, with a combined $127.4 billion brand value contribution to the Brand Finance Global 500 2025 ranking,” Mr Haigh said.

Saudi Arabia led the Middle East region, contributing $75.5 billion with five Saudi brands, each increasing in brand value, among the world’s top 500.

In the Middle East, telecom and banking giants like STC, e&, QNB, Al-Rajhi Bank and SNB continued to drive growth, each climbing in rank and brand value, “underscoring the rising influence and global competitiveness of Middle Eastern brands”, Mr Haigh said.

Apple overtakes Microsoft and Google

Apple held on to the title of the world's most valuable brand, recording an 11 per cent increase in value to $574.5 billion.

This growth keeps Apple ahead of its closest rival, Microsoft, whose brand value grew 35 per cent to $461 billion. Except for 2023, when Apple briefly trailed Amazon by a margin of just one per cent, it has held the top spot as the world’s most valuable brand since 2021.

Google, the world’s third most valuable brand, increased its brand value by 24 per cent to $413 billion.

“Ongoing investments in AI have enhanced Google’s reputation for innovation while strengthening its consumer appeal and trust,” Brand Finance said.

In numbers

1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:

  • 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
  • 150 tonnes to landfill
  • 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal

800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal

Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year

25 staff on site

 

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

Avengers: Endgame

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin

4/5 stars 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Need to know

Unlike other mobile wallets and payment apps, a unique feature of eWallet is that there is no need to have a bank account, credit or debit card to do digital payments.

Customers only need a valid Emirates ID and a working UAE mobile number to register for eWallet account.

Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

What is the definition of an SME?

SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.

A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors. 

The biog

Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi

Age: 23

How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them

Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need

Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman

Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs 

Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Company profile

Company name: Nestrom

Started: 2017

Co-founders: Yousef Wadi, Kanaan Manasrah and Shadi Shalabi

Based: Jordan

Sector: Technology

Initial investment: Close to $100,000

Investors: Propeller, 500 Startups, Wamda Capital, Agrimatico, Techstars and some angel investors

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
Updated: January 21, 2025, 4:51 PM`