Dubai’s community spirit took centre stage as The Lovin’ Dubai Awards 2026 Presented by Emirates NBD brought together some of the city’s biggest personalities, inspiring changemakers, entrepreneurs and local heroes for an unforgettable evening of recognition and celebration at the Amazing Room, V Hotel Dubai, on 26 October 2026.
Hosted by Lovin Dubai, part of Augustus Media, the highly anticipated event welcomed a star-studded guest list, including personalities from Dubai Bling and Desi Bling, Kris Fade, Anas Bukhash, Hala Kazim, and Adel and Sana Sajan, alongside leading content creators, business leaders and members of Dubai’s vibrant community.
Beyond the glamour, red-carpet moments and entertainment, the evening celebrated what truly makes Dubai extraordinary: its people.
Returning for its second edition, The Lovin’ Dubai Awards continued its mission of recognizing the individuals, businesses and initiatives that contribute to the city’s unique identity. From unsung community heroes and inspiring entrepreneurs to cultural icons, sporting talents and rising stars, the awards shone a spotlight on those making a meaningful impact across Dubai.
A Celebration Powered by Dubai’s Community
At the heart of The Lovin’ Dubai Awards is a simple yet powerful concept: celebrating the people who make the city what it is, with winners chosen by the community itself.
Following weeks of public voting across the region, Dubai residents came together to recognize the personalities, businesses and changemakers who have made a positive impact across ten award categories.
The evening was filled with heartfelt celebrations, special performances from some of Dubai’s exciting emerging talents, and inspiring stories that highlighted the achievements of the city’s local heroes.
More than an awards ceremony, the event brought together people from different backgrounds, industries and walks of life, united by their love for Dubai.
Recognising the People Who Make Dubai Extraordinary
The Lovin’ Dubai Awards 2026 honoured the remarkable individuals, businesses and changemakers whose contributions continue to shape the city’s vibrant community.
Among the winners was Sujith Varghese, who received the Lovin’ Spirit award, recognizing his inspiring achievements and determination. Hala Kazim was honoured as Lovin’ Community Champion for her positive influence and contributions to the community, while Dina Taji received the Lovin’ Acts of Charity award for her dedication to rescuing and rehabilitating cats in Dubai.
Celebrating the city’s cultural identity, Ebrahim Abbas took home the Lovin’ Pillar of Culture award for his engaging content that brings Emirati traditions and heritage to life. Meanwhile, Salam Daqqaq was recognised with the Lovin’ OG Chef award, celebrating her contribution to Dubai’s culinary landscape.
The awards recognized Sima Ganwani Ved as Lovin’ Business Visionary, Karmah Gerges as Lovin’ Rising Star, Virdah Javed Khan as Lovin’ Feed Favorite, Home Bakery as Lovin’ Made in Dubai, and Riyan Malhan as Lovin’ GOAT, celebrating their contributions across business, talent, content creation, and Dubai’s local scene.
Beyond the community-voted categories, two special honorary recognitions celebrated individuals whose contributions have left a lasting impact on Dubai. Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman of Danube Group, received the Lovin’ Icon award, while Kris Fade was honored with the Lovin’ Legacy award.
Together, the winners reflected the diversity, creativity, ambition and community spirit that make Dubai one of a kind.
Bringing Dubai Together with the Support of Our Partners
The Lovin’ Dubai Awards 2026 was proudly presented by Emirates NBD, whose partnership helped bring the celebration of Dubai’s communities to life.
The event was supported by a network of brands and organizations committed to championing local talent, recognizing achievements and creating meaningful community connections.
MG Motor joined as the official category sponsor of the Lovin’ Rising Star award, celebrating emerging talent and bringing its striking MG Cyberster to the event.
The celebration also brought together event partners including Masafi, Cadbury, The View at The Palm , V Hotel Dubai and Solas, each contributing to the experience and helping make the evening a memorable celebration for nominees, winners and guests.
The support of these partners helped transform the awards into an experience that brought together Dubai’s businesses, creators, influential personalities and community members under one roof.
More Than an Awards Night: A Celebration of Dubai’s Spirit
The Lovin’ Dubai Awards forms part of Lovin’s wider vision of celebrating local communities, championing authentic stories and recognizing the people who make a difference.
Through its growing network of local platforms and community-driven initiatives, Lovin continues to connect audiences with the stories, experiences and personalities that shape the cities they call home.
With its second edition bringing together some of Dubai’s most recognizable personalities and inspiring community heroes, The Lovin’ Dubai Awards 2026 reinforced a message at the heart of the Lovin brand: the greatest stories are the ones created by the community itself.
As the celebrations came to a close, one thing was clear: Dubai’s greatest strength has always been its people, and their stories deserve to be told, shared and celebrated.
Augustus Media 