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…