Top 100 Arabs 2025

96. Raed Barqawi

Editor-in-chief, Al Khaleej

Origin: Jordan

Residence: UAE

Sector: culture and society

2024 Rank: 96

For 35 years, Barqawi has been a cornerstone of Al Khaleej, the UAE and wider GCC’s most prominent Arabic daily newspaper, established in Sharjah in 1970 by Abdullah Omran Taryam and Taryam Omran Taryam.

Barqawi is a recognised figure in shaping the UAE’s media landscape.Since 1985, he has provided extensive coverage of local, regional, and international events, conducting numerous interviews with officials and CEOs.

His insights have been shared at major events and through television appearances. Furthermore, Barqawi has served on the board of the Arab Journalism Award for over 15 years.

Beyond his journalistic contributions, Barqawi authored Dare to Dream: How Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Made his Dreams Come True.

Published in both English and Arabic, the book chronicles Dubai’s transformation into a global talent hub under Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership.

Mutaz Essa Barshim

Mo Amer