252 teams. One champion team. A spectacular celebration of knowledge showcasing the brilliance of the UAE’s corporate community
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The 3rd edition of the IBPC Dubai Corporate Quiz delivered an extraordinary showcase of intellect, agility, and corporate camaraderie, as 252 teams competed for the coveted title of Dubai’s Smartest, with reigning champion Pratyush Goel of Abu Dhabi Investment successfully defending his crown – this time along with his partner Kalai representing Al-Shaya.
In a contest defined by strategy, speed, and scholarship, Pratyush once again proved his mettle, pulling ahead decisively with his partner in the final rounds to retain the title under intense pressure.
Welcoming the participants at the beginning of the evening, Siddharth Balachandran, Chairman of IBPC Dubai, remarked, “The IBPC Corporate Quiz is a celebration of knowledge, of curiosity, critical thinking, and the shared joy of learning. Each year, it brings the UAE professional community together to honour intellect, exchange ideas, and recognise the power of informed minds in shaping the future.”
The evening featured a dynamic two-part quizzing format. The preliminary round was conducted by renowned quizmaster Rashmi Furtado, President and Quiz Host at Greycaps, one of Asia’s premier live quizzing companies. Known for her sharp wit and engaging style, she sets the tone with a high-calibre, multi-dimensional written prelim round, that tested participants across business, innovation, pop culture, science, and global affairs. Participants tackled questions referencing global brands and icons such as Kodak, Tiffany & Co., Walt Disney, Tesla, Netflix, FedEx, Pepsi, and Nike, underscoring the breadth and depth of corporate knowledge on display and as acknowledged by the quizmasters, the average score in the high cut-off prelims reflects UAE’s overall improving intellect levels.
The eight shortlisted teams represented some of the region’s most respected organisations, including Ericsson, Deloitte, National Bank of Bahrain, Alshaya Group, Godrej Consumer Products, and Blue Star Limited. With them, taking centre stage for the finals, was the legendary Giri Balasubramaniam, popularly known as “Pickbrain”, the maestro with the mic who transforms trivia into pure entertainment. With his trademark energy, humour, and razor-sharp repartee, he elevated the competition into a thrilling intellectual spectacle filled with surprises and spirited audience engagement.
The final competition unfolded across four intellectually demanding rounds – Around the World, Innovation, Saluting the Pioneers, and Beyond the Box – with thought-provoking references to figures such as Jane Goodall, Hans Zimmer, global brands like IKEA, Tanishq and inventors including Thomas Edison. From QR codes to business frameworks and scientific breakthroughs, the quiz celebrated curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking.
Summing up the spirit of the evening and echoing the sentiments of the audience, H.E. Mr. Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India for Dubai and Northern Emirates who was in attendance for the full evening, remarked – “I am speechless and proud to see the intellect at its best.” Also in attendance were IBPC Vice Chairman Sunil Sinha, IBPC Dubai Secretary General Dr Sahitya Chaturvedi, as well as stalwarts of the local community, including; Major Sharafuddin Sharaf, Vice Chairman of Sharaf Group; Suresh Kumar, Chairman Emeritus of IBPC Dubai; Ankur Gupta, Head – Corporate Affairs & Growth, Tata Sons MENA, and Aditya Singh, Head of International Jewellery Business at Titan Company Ltd, to name a few.
The 2026 edition aligns with IBPC Dubai’s expanding membership, particularly among youth, women, and emerging professionals, positioning the Corporate Quiz as more than a competition but more of a platform for ideas, connections, and corporate camaraderie.
With prizes ranging from luxury stays and curated experiences to gadgets, airline tickets, and Jewellery gift vouchers, the evening blended high-stakes competition with high-energy celebration.
As Pickbrain said when describing the winning team, Veni, Vidi, Vici. In Dubai’s corporate arena, knowledge truly reigned supreme.