Four UAE enterprises - Emirates Group, Etisalat, Dubai World and Emaar Properties - have found their way onto the 100 Global Challengers 2009 list issued by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The UAE is the only Arab country with four companies in the list. Kuwait has one. 'In spite of the difficulties facing different business entities in the region and in the world as a result of the current economic crisis, 19 new companies entered the list, including Dubai World, Emaar Properties, Emirates and Etisalat from the UAE, and Agility from Kuwait' the BCG report said.

The five companies represent the Gulf and the Middle East on the list of 100. The rest of the new entries came mainly from China, with four new business giants, three from India, two from Russia and one each from Brazil, Chile, Hungary, Indonesia and Mexico.