Fourth Middle East Oil Baron pulls record vote

Voting, which was carried out online via www.pipelinedubai.com and through the magazine's readership, has now closed and the fourth Middle East Oil Baron will be 'crowned' with his trade-mark Stetson at the biggest-ever Oil Barons' Ball, to be held on the lawn of Nad Al Sheba in Dubai on November 15.

"The results took many of us at Pipeline by surprise and suffice to say that the next Oil Baron comes from within the private sector and achieved the record poll by a very close margin," said Eileen Michael, Publisher, Reflex Publish ME FZ LLC, which produces Pipeline Magazine.

The oil baron is the person judged by his peers to be an outstanding individual from within the Middle East's energy industry. Title holders are residents of the region, have demonstrated strong community spirit and have been shown to be innovators and active promoters of the Middle East's energy sector.

"Nominations this year showed even greater breadth of field and it was a tightly run result," said Michael.

The identity of the Middle East Oil Baron will be revealed at the Oil Barons' Ball - the largest annual social gathering of senior oil executives from around the region - when last year's winner, industry veteran Frank Rooney will hand over the title.

Up to 2,000 oil and gas executives from around the region are due at the ball which is now the industry's acknowledged social event and has the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saaed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai, and Chairman of the Emirates Group.

"This will be the biggest ball yet with a star-studded line up of entertainment from two of the finest Motown tribute bands - The Drifters and The Four Tops," explained Michael. "The two are planning to present a 15-piece finale to close the evening which we anticipate will be the most memorable yet."

The Oil Barons' Ball 2006 is sponsored by Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange, Richmond Real Estate, The Courtyard Marriott, Cadillac, Elite Concepts, National Oilwell Varco, Nukote Coating Systems, Simmons & Simmons, Studio 52 Art Production, Top Oilfield Engineering Services, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa and Dubai Exotic Limo.