Home Lists Top 100 most powerful Arabs 2023 This year’s power list honours Arab leaders driving and shaping growth in industry, sports, entertainment, and culture from across the region and beyond by Gulf Business April 18, 2023 The past 12 months have been truly momentous for the Arab world, from the building of some of the world’s most ambitious infrastructure projects to the hosting of two consecutive UN Climate Change Conferences (COPs) and a listing boom that saw Middle East IPOs fetching more than $18bn. The Gulf region remains relatively insulated from the confluence of a slowing global economy, geopolitical tensions and volatility in the financial markets, with real GDP growth expected to moderate from 6.1 per cent in 2022 to 3.4 per cent in 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund. The region is expected to deliver its strongest economic growth in a decade, underscoring the performance of sovereign wealth funds and accelerated investments in technology, sustainability, advanced industrial manufacturing and tourism. This year’s power list honours Arab leaders driving and shaping this growth. They range from astute business leaders to notable personalities in industry, sports, entertainment, and culture from across the region and beyond. Arabs reached new heights in 2022 from space exploration to summiting the tallest mountain in the world and topping entertainment charts. Our female power listers continue to shatter the glass ceiling in the boardroom and beyond. This year, we welcome 12 new entrants to the list – they have made their mark with exemplary contributions across various fields. We also have upward and downward shifts among the honour roll, with a few exiting the list. Read on to discover who made it to our list… Rank Name Title Origin Residence Industry 1 Yasir Al-Rumayyan Chairman, Aramco/governor, Public Investment Fund Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Diversified 2 Dr Sultan Al Jaber Managing director and group CEO, ADNOC UAE UAE Energy 3 HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum Chairman and chief executive, Emirates Group/chairman, Emirates NBD UAE UAE Diversified 4 Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi President and CEO, QatarEnergy/chairman and MD, Industries Qatar Qatar Qatar Energy 5 Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak Managing director and group CEO, Mubadala Investment Company UAE UAE Diversified 6 Amin Naseer President and CEO, Aramco Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Energy 7 Carlos Slim Helú Honorary chairman, América Móvil Lebanon/Mexico Mexico Telecoms 8 Mohamed Alabbar Founder, Emaar/noon.com UAE UAE Real Estate/Retail 9 HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Chairman, Kingdom Holding Company Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Finance 10 Mohamed Al Hammadi Managing director and CEO, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation UAE UAE Energy 11 Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem Group chairman and CEO, DP World UAE UAE Logistics 12 Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri Chairwoman, UAE Space Agency UAE UAE Space 13 Mansoor Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud CEO, Qatar Investment Authority Qatar Qatar Diversified 14 Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Chairman, Mashreq UAE UAE Finance 15 Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa Group CEO, Qatar National Bank Qatar Qatar Finance 16 Hana Al Rostamani Group CEO, First Abu Dhabi Bank UAE UAE Finance 17 Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani Managing director, Investment Corporation of Dubai UAE UAE Diversified 18 Salem Humaid Al Marri Director general, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre UAE UAE Science and Technology 19 Lubna Suliman Olayan Chairperson, Saudi British Bank Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Finance 20 Essa Kazim Governor, DIFC UAE UAE Finance 21 Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak Chairman, Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi/Aldar Properties UAE UAE Tourism/ Real Estate 22 Fahd Hamidaddin CEO, Saudi Tourism Authority Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Tourism 23 HH Prince Naif bin Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer Chairman, Almarai Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia FMCG 24 Sarah Al Suhaimi Chairperson, Saudi Tadawul Group Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Finance 25 Mohammad Saud Al-Osaimi CEO, Boursa Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Finance 26 Saeed Mohammed Al Ghamdi Chairman, Saudi National Bank Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Finance 27 Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg Chairperson and managing director, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group UAE UAE Diversified 28 Reem Al Hashimy CEO, Expo City Dubai Authority UAE UAE Diversified 29 Mohamed Salah Footballer, Liverpool FC Egypt UK Sports 30 Abdulrahman Saleh Al-Fageeh CEO, SABIC Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Industry 31 Sultan AlNeyadi Astronaut UAE UAE Space 32 Helal Al Marri Director general, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism UAE UAE Tourism/ Diversified 33 Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Chairperson, Qatar Museums Qatar Qatar Culture and Society 34 Elie Habib and Eddy Maroun Co-founders, Anghami Lebanese UAE Culture and Society 35 Ayman Mohammed Alsayari Governor, Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Finance 36 Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel Chairman and CEO, Abdul Latif Jameel Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Diversified 37 Khalaf Al Habtoor Founding chairman, Al Habtoor Group UAE UAE Diversified 38 Nayla Hayek Chairperson Swatch Group/ president and CEO of Harry Winston Swiss Switzerland Retail 39 Sheikh Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz AlRajhi Co-founder AlRajhi Bank Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Finance 40 Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi Chairman, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) UAE UAE Diversified 41 Olayan Mohammed Alwetaid Group CEO, stc Group Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Telecoms 41 Olayan Mohammed Alwetaid Group CEO, stc Group Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Telecoms 42 Mohammed Alshaya Executive chairman, Alshaya Group Kuwait Kuwait Retail 43 Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi Vice chairman and CEO, Zain Group Kuwait Kuwait Telecoms 44 Mohamed Mansour Founder and board member, Mansour Group Egypt Egypt Diversified 45 Faisal Al Bannai Chairman, EDGE Group UAE UAE Science and technology 46 Hatem Dowidar CEO, e& Group Egypt UAE Telecoms 47 Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi Managing director and CEO, AD Ports Group UAE UAE Logistics 48 Karim Awad Group CEO and chairman of the Executive Committee, EFG Hermes Holding Egypt Egypt Finance 49 Mohammed bin Mahfoodh Alardhi Executive chairman, Investcorp Oman Oman Finance 50 Khalid Al Rumaihi CEO, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company Bahrain Bahrain Diversified 51 Nassef Sawiris Executive chairman, OCI/co-owner, Aston Villa FC Egypt UK Diversified 52 Akbar Al Baker Group chief executive, Qatar Airways Qatar Qatar Aviation/ Tourism 53 Naguib Sawiris Managing director and CEO, Orascom Investment Holding Egypt Egypt Diversified 54 Adel Abdulla Ali Group CEO, Air Arabia Bahrain UAE Aviation 55 Jassim Alseddiqi Board managing director, Shuaa Capital UAE UAE Finance 56 Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo Managing director and CEO, Ooredoo Qatar Qatar Telecoms 57 Mohammad A Baker Deputy chairman and CEO, GMG UAE UAE Retail 58 Mohammad Ali bin Rashed Lootah President and CEO, Dubai Chambers UAE UAE Diversified 59 Ala’a Eraiqat Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank UAE UAE Finance 60 Issam Kazim CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing UAE UAE Tourism 61 Kutayba Yusuf Alghanim Executive chairman, Alghanim Industries Kuwait Kuwait Diversified 62 Elie Saab Fashion designer Lebanon Lebanon Culture and Society 63 Abdulla Jassem Kalban Managing director, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) UAE UAE Industry 64 Mona Ataya Founder and CEO, Mumzworld Palestine UAE Retail 65 Ghaith Al Ghaith CEO, flydubai UAE UAE Aviation 66 Wadha Ahmed Al-Khateeb CEO, Kuwait National Petroleum Company Kuwait Kuwait Energy 67 Hesham Al Qassim CEO, wasl Asset Management UAE UAE Real Estate 68 Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah Chairman, UAE Fatwa Council Mauritania UAE Culture and Society 69 Badr Jafar CEO, Crescent Enterprises UAE UAE Diversified 70 Mishal Kanoo Chairman, The Kanoo Group Bahrain/UAE UAE Diversified 71 Amal Suhail Bahwan Vice chairperson, Suhail Bahwan Group Oman Oman Diversified 72 Tarek Sultan CEO and vice chairman, Agility Kuwait Kuwait Supply Chain 73 Khaled Mohammed Balama Governor, Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) UAE UAE Finance 74 Fadi Ghandour Executive chairman WAMDA/co-founder, Aramex Jordan UAE Finance/Logistics 75 Mazin Rashid Lamki CEO, Energy Development Oman Oman Oman Energy 76 DJ Khaled Musician Palestine US Culture and Society 77 Mohammed Abu Ghazaleh Chairman and CEO, Fresh Del Monte Palestine - US US FMCG 78 Dr Amina Al Rostamani COO, AW Rostamani Group UAE UAE Diversified 79 Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar Deputy group CEO, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) Kuwait Kuwait Finance 80 Ronaldo Mouchawar Co-founder, Souq.com and VP, Amazon MENA Syria UAE Retail 81 Hussain Sajwani Founder and chairman, Damac Properties UAE UAE Real Estate 82 Rayyanah Barnawi Astronaut Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Space 83 Ons Jabeur Tennis player Tunisia Tunisia Sports 84 Munib Al Masri Chairman and founder, Edgo Group Palestine Palestine Diversified 85 Othman Benjelloun Chairman and CEO, Bank of Africa Morocco Morocco Finance 86 Juma Al Majid Founder, Juma Al Majid Group UAE UAE Diversified 87 Lana Nusseibeh UAE Ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations UAE UAE Diplomacy 88 Mohammed Al Amoudi Owner, MIDROC Saudi Arabia/ Ethiopia Saudi Arabia Diversified 89 Zaid S Al Khayyat Managing director, Al Khayyat Investments UAE UAE Diversified 90 Huda Kattan Founder, Huda Beauty Iraq/US UAE Culture and Society 91 Khalid Al Ameri and Salama Mohamed Social media influencers UAE UAE Culture and Society 92 Mona Almoayyed Managing director, Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons, Chairperson, Edbaa Bank Bahrain Bahrain Diversified 93 Nouran Gohar Squash player Egypt Egypt Sports 94 Nezha Hayat Chairperson and CEO, Moroccan Capital Market Authority Morocco Morocco Finance 95 Amr Diab Singer Egypt Egypt Culture and Society 96 Rami Malek Actor Egypt/US US Culture and Society 97 Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch Founder and CEO, Aksal Group Morocco Morocco Retail/Real Estate 98 Raed Barqawi Executive editor-in-chief, Al Khaleej UAE UAE Culture and Society 99 Reema Juffali Racing driver Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Sports 100 Nayla Al Baloushi Mountaineer UAE UAE Sports End note: Gulf Business looked at the events of 2022-23 and rated each individual case on the basis of four criteria: financial capital, human capital, expansion plans and level of personal fame. In general, Gulf Business has excluded politicians and royalty, unless the contenders have a strong leaning towards business activity. We have included Arabs from across the world.