Top 100 most powerful Arabs 2023
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Top 100 most powerful Arabs 2023

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

Gulf Business
100 most powerful arabs 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.


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