REVEALED: The World’s 100 Most Powerful Arabs 2013

HH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud, founder and chairman of Saudi’s Kingdom Holding Company, tops the second annual list of the world’s 100 most powerful Arabs, published by Gulf Business magazine in February.

With an estimated personal wealth of over $27 billion – up from around $23 billion last year – the Prince is the world’s richest Arab, as well as the most powerful.

This year’s Gulf Business Power 100 list saw 25 new entrants, with the highest new entries from three women: women’s rights advocate and Olympic athletes Sarah Attar and Wodjan Ali Seraj Shaherkani. Women are gaining increasing influence across the region, with a stronghold of 23 per cent – up 12 per cent from 2012.

28 per cent of the world’s most powerful Arabs were born and raised in Saudi Arabia – up three per cent from 2012.

The UAE has 19 entrants in the 2013 list, down four per cent from 2012 as KSA’s giants build on their wealth and take advantage of the government’s mammoth spending spree.

Qatar also has a strong presence in the list, with 12 per cent of the world’s influential Arabs residing in the tiny state, up one per cent compared with 2012. The emirate has invested £13 billion in London alone, while the upcoming Doha World Cup 2022 has spawned a whole new slew of power brokers.

The Middle East possesses a large and growing population, unsaturated markets and dazzling long-term plans for the future. The Gulf Business Power 100 is a list of the people who will make it happen.

READ THE FULL LIST HERE: The World’s 100 Most Powerful Arabs 2013

✑ Read: Exclusive Interview With Prince Alwaleed, The World’s Most Powerful Arab.

✑ Read: A Day In The Life Of Prince Alwaleed