Mo Salah, Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi Win Top Honours At GQ Middle East Awards

Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah won the coveted title of ‘Man of the Year’ from Arabian Business sister publication GQ Middle East.

Salah, 27, was featured as a cover star on GQ Middle East in December 2018 – his first ever for the magazine – which celebrated his journey from humble beginnings in Egypt to becoming one of the world’s best-known football stars and a cultural icon across the Middle East.

Speaking at the star-studded GQ Middle East’s ‘Men of the Year 2019’ awards at the Louvre in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening, Salah dedicated his award to his fans, particularly those in his native Egypt.

“They always support me,” he said. “Everywhere I go I feel the love and support.”

The Men of the Year awards – GQ Middle East’s first – recognises ‘newcomers, lifetime achievers and men and women who have left an indelible mark on 2019’s cultural landscape’.

Also at the awards was Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, who accepted an award on behalf of her late twin brother, designer Sheikh Khalid Sultan Al Qasimi, who passed away in the UK on July 1.

Ali Akawi, CEO of ITP Media Group

Earlier in the day, Sheikha Hoor announced plans to take over Sheikh Khalid’s company, London-based fashion label Qasimi.

“Khalid, my twin, was a creative genius from a very young age,” she said. “He worked tirelessly to make the Qasimi label what it is today, and it’s my mission to continue his legacy. We hope to make him proud.”

Other winners included Iraqi surgeon Munjed Al Muderis, singer Cheb Khalid, fashion designer and TV personality Tan France, Turkish TV star Cagatay Ulusoy, supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio, and ‘Aladdin’ star Mena Massoud.

“It’s been an amazing year, and I’ve been very proud to share it with Egypt and the Middle East,” Massoud said.  

GQ’s Men of the Year awards were first held in the UK in 1998, with winners including actor Sir Michael Caine and football star David Beckham. Since then, the event has grown considerably, with this year’s crop of winners including activist Greta Thunberg, rapper Stormzy and actors Ian McKellen, Taron Egerton and Richard Madden.

More information on each of this year's GQ Middle East award winners can be found here. 

Full List of Winners:

International Man of Style: Tan France

Television Star: Cagatay Ulusoy

Breakthrough Model: Mariano Di Vaio

International Artist: Sabine Marcelis ­­

Lifetime Achievement Award: Adunis

Fashion Icon: Alessandra Ambrosio

Breakthrough Talent: Mena Massoud

Social Force Award: Munjed Al Muderis

Legend: Cheb Khaled

Editor’s Special Award: The late Sheikh Khalid Sultan Al Qasimi

Woman of the Year: Nadine Labaki

Man of the Year: Mohamed Salah