5. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak

Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak oversaw Mubadala’s most successful year to date in 2025. The sovereign wealth fund’s assets under management jumped 17 per cent to $385bn (Dhs1.4tn), driven by double-digit returns across the UAE portfolio and strong global deal flow. The fund deployed a record $39bn in capital during 2025, while generating $38bn in proceeds, up 27 per cent year-on-year.

Five- and 10-year annualised returns exceeded 10 per cent, placing Mubadala among the world’s top-performing sovereign investors. Key 2025 investments included Whoop, Property Finder and Waymo.

Mubadala’s US investment remains its largest market, particularly in technology, and the fund is expected to remain active there throughout 2026. Al Mubarak made headlines in January 2025 when he announced that Mubadala’s investment committee would include an AI-enabled advisory system from its first 2025 meeting.

He also received the Abu Dhabi Award from UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in 2025 for two decades of leadership and service to Abu Dhabi’s development. As chairman of Manchester City Football Club, he continues to oversee one of global football’s most successful clubs by revenue.