Five airlines, including Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air and Etihad have topped a recent comprehensive survey of the top 40 brands in the Middle East.The research was conducted on behalf of Forbes Arabia and accounted for the views of consumers throughout 19 Arab countries.

The list of 40 brands was whittled down from an initial field of 80 companies.

Emirates Airlines scored second place behind regional television giant Al Jazeera. Gulf Air, a joint venture between Bahrain and Oman, took the honour of highest ranked company in Bahrain. It was placed 12th.

Qatar Airways beat Gulf Air by a single place and was ranked 11th. Abu-Dhabi-based, Etihad Airways and regional budget carrier Air Arabia were ranked 18th and 27th respectively.

The results are to be included in the magazine’s November edition and compiled following an online survey conducted for Forbes by UK market research firm YouGov.

The first of its kind, the Forbes Arabia Top 40 Arab Brands list looks at companies that have created strong brands not only in Arab countries, but that are also gaining recognition worldwide.

Overall, companies from eight countries made the final list of 40 firms.

At the recent World Travel Awards, Qatar Airways won Middle East’s Leading Airline and Middle East’s Leading Business Class Airline. Emirates won Middle East’s Leading First Class Airline. Etihad won World’s Leading New Airline.
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