Unicorn Investment Bank managing director and chief executive officer Majid Al Sayed Bader Al Refai has been named Banker of the Year at the Banker Middle East Industry Awards.

Held under the patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain, the ninth Annual Banker Middle East Industry Awards took place yesterday (June 10) at the Gulf Hotel, celebrating and recognising the achievements and successes of the banking and finance industry in the Mena region.

And three other Bahrain financial institutions were also celebrating success at the event.

The awards ceremony was attended by Central Bank of Bahrain governor Rasheed Al Maraj.

Khaleeji Commercial Bank took the Best New Product category, Ahli United Bank won the Best Trade Finance House award and Gulf Finance House was named best Islamic Finance House.

Blom Bank of the Lebanon was voted Best bank.

"The Banker Middle East Industry Awards set the benchmark for excellence amongst the region's financial institutions," said CPI Financial chief executive officer Nigel Rodrigues, whose firm publishes Banker Middle East.

"Our awards recognise and reward the growth and achievements of the banking and finance industry in the Mena region, allowing new and old, large and small institutions to triumph and be acknowledged by their peers for recent successes."

"We are proud to organise this prestigious event, highlighting the continued successes of MENA region banks in the toughest economic climate virtually in living memory." said CPI Financial managing editor Robin Amlot.

"Our winners are leading the way back to continued prosperity."

Banker Middle East is now in its 10th year of publication and covers a range of topics from retail to investment banking, private equity, project finance, wealth management and Islamic finance. – TradeArabia News Service