The winners of the inaugural Arabia Corporate Social Responsibility Awards were announced last month.

The awards were designed to show that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is increasingly important to the Middle East’s business community, according to Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), who organised the event.

Over 40 companies were shortlisted by a panel of international experts. There were three categories of award, for different sizes of company.

The winner in the large company category was ABB Industries, an engineering giant that provides benefits for workers’ families.

The winner in the medium company category was Oman LNG, a fuel producer which also looks after indigenous wildlife such as turtles, and provides housing for the poor.

The joint winners in the small company category were Al Marzouqi Bin Salem Firefighting Coatings and Environmental Cenre for Arab Towns.

Al Marashi said, “Each of these entities are [sic] bringing to the table their own unique brand of CSR, armouring themselves with more responsible practices.”